Best Benjamin Britten Podcasts (2024)

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The Life of Benjamin Britten 7:49

15h ago7:49

7:49

Welcome to another episode of Busy Kids Love Music, your go-to podcast for introducing young listeners to the world of classical music! In today’s episode, we’re kicking off a new three-part series about one of the most celebrated British composers of the 20th century—Benjamin Britten. What We’ll Explore in this Episode: - Britten’s Early Life & Mu…

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Nov 3 War Requiem - Benjamin Britten and Wilfred Owen 7:40

8h ago7:40

7:40

Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt after being bombed in WW2, with its shell left standing next to the new cathedral a symbol of Resurrection and Reconciliation. It commissioned a War Requiem from Benjamin Britten which incorporated Wilfred Owen's poetry with a Latin Requiem Mass SettingBy Tim Byron

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Nov 9 Satan and the Book of Enoch 13:16

8h ago13:16

13:16

We remember the death of William Morfill, the first professor of Russian and Slavonic languages in Britain, He translated the non-canonical Book of Enoch which had been preserved in Bulgarian texts and describes how Satan was cast out of heavenBy Tim Byron

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Nov 8 The Samaritans and Chad Varah 7:57

5d ago7:57

7:57

By Tim Byron

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Nov 7 Pope Benedict consecrates Barcelona's Sagrada Famiiia 7:27

9h ago7:27

7:27

The Sagrada Familia was Anthony Gaudi's magnus opus and attracts more than 3 million visitors every year to Barcelona. Today we remember how Pope Benedict consecrated the unfinished basilica - and opened it to the public to worship - which was Gaudi;s intention and dreamBy Tim Byron

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Nov 6 George Williams and the YMCA 8:06

4h ago8:06

8:06

George Williams inspired by the ideals of Muscular Christianity founded the YMCA to offer young men an alternative and healthy life to the urban malaise he saw in London, The movement spread around the world and invented basketball and volleyball as part of its legacyBy Tim Byron

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Nov 5 Guy Fawkes and York Minster 9:43

3h ago9:43

9:43

Guy Fawkes was from York and to commemorate his failure to blow up the House of Lords a special light show was projected onto the beautiful and famous York Minster. Today we look at both the story of Guy Fawkes and the beautiful York Cathedral and its links to the Emperor ConstantineBy Tim Byron

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Nov 4 J R R Tolkien's Theological Mythology 12:18

9d ago12:18

12:18

The Lord of the Rings has been hugely successful as a book and a film series, all over the world, We look at the theology that underpins J R R Tolkien's Middle- Earth that has been popular all over the worldBy Tim Byron

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Nov 2 The Theology of Failure according to John Navone 7:19

9h ago7:19

7:19

One of the most intriguing works of Christology is the Theology of Failure by John Navone. An edition was published today in 1974 and it has had a lasting influence on Pope FrancisBy Tim Byron

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Nov 1 Michelangelo's Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel 8:49

4h ago8:49

8:49

After four years work - the Sistine Chapel was opened for public viewing on all Saints Day. Michelangelo's Ceilings is now seen as one of the greatest artistic achievements of all time - with more than three hundred figures. it shows the creation, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the Great Flood - the first chapters of the book of Genesis .…

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Oct 31 Catholics and Lutherans agree on Justification 6:52

3h ago6:52

6:52

The understanding of justification by faith alone was the theological faultline at the heart of the reformation. Today almost 5oo years later a joint statement was released in agreement between Lutherans and CatholicsBy Tim Byron

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Oct 30 Nat Turners Slave Rebellion 7:22

14d ago7:22

7:22

The Slave Nat Turner believed that he was divinely inspired to lead an uprising of slaves in Virginia. He would be killed for his effortsBy Tim Byron

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Oct 29 St Andrew, his relics and Scotland 9:32

2d ago9:32

9:32

Today we look at the story of St Regulus being shipwrecked in Scotland with relics of St Andrew. How he became the national saint and the story behind his saltireBy Tim Byron

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Oct 28 The Good Pope and the Cuban Missile Crisis 11:18

3d ago11:18

11:18

John XXIII was born into a simple farming family and was proud of his humble beginnings. He Was mourned after his death as 'Il Papa Buono' and mas made Time Magazine Man of the year after his intervention in the Cuban Missile CrisisBy Tim Byron

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Oct 27 Constantine, the Edict of Milan and The True Cross 13:59

4d ago13:59

13:59

Constantine was the first Roman Emperor to be baptised a Christian, This was an incredible turnaround after many terrible persecutions of the Roman authorities, killing tens of thousands of Christians. We look at the spiritual experience that may explain this and the influence of his mother St Helena and her quest to find the true cross…

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Oct 26 Alfred the Great - Christianity unites England 8:41

5d ago8:41

8:41

When Alfred defeated Guthrum at the Battle of Eddington and then proceeded to be his mentor and oversee his baptism - England was at a turning point. From Being the embattled King Of Wessex he oversaw the beginning of the unification of England and the assimilation of many DanesBy Tim Byron

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Oct 25 Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales 8:42

6d ago8:42

8:42

Geoffrey Chaucer's stories of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St Thomas a Becket have lead to him being called the father of English Literature, We look at his life, his writing and his ambiguous relationship with the churchBy Tim Byron

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Oct 24 Chartres Cathedral - Jewel of Civilisation 12:50

7d ago12:50

12:50

A series of churches and cathedrals have stood in Chartres since the 4th Century. A testament to resilience and perseverance, the current one dating back nearly eight hundred years is a UNESCO world heritage site. Its stained glass are some of the most famous in the world and its labyrinth still attracts many pilgrims.…

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Oct 23 Chang Kei Shek is baptised in China 10:42

8d ago10:42

10:42

Chang Kei Shek was the longest leader of China in the 20th Century - although his later years he spent in Taiwan - escaping from the Communists. Today we remember his baptism due to his mother-in-lawBy Tim Byron

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The Phantom of the Opera 6:24

22d ago6:24

6:24

Welcome to Episode 134 of Busy Kids Love Music! As we approach Halloween, we're diving into one of the most famous and captivating musical stories of all time: The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In this episode, you'll learn all about this beloved musical and the story behind it. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The backstory of The…

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Oct 22 Tillich - God as the Ground of Being 8:30

9d ago8:30

8:30

Paul Tillich became on of Protestantism's most influential thinkers of the 20th Century. His life and career had two parts in Germany and the America. Scarred by his experience of World War One he had to flee the country when Hitler came to powerBy Tim Byron

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Oct 21 Gerard Manley Hopkins - The priest who was a poet 11:05

10d ago11:05

11:05

Hopkins has been described as the most influential Victorian Poet with his creative us of language and sprung rhythm. A Jesuit priest - he had a lifelong struggle balance his poetic impulses with his religious onesBy Tim Byron

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Oct 20 Schillebeeckx and the empty tomb 10:51

12d ago10:51

10:51

Edward Schillebeeckx was a provocative and influential theologian. His book on Christology today lead him to be invited to Rome to answer some questions about what he was teaching about the resurrectionBy Tim Byron

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Oct 19 Solidarity, Poland and the assassination of a priest 7:53

12d ago7:53

7:53

Today in1984 the Polish priest Jerzy Popiełuszko was beaten to death by three Security Police officers. He was a friend of Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement who overthrew the communistsBy Tim Byron

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Oct 18 Caravaggio and the Mafia 25:35

13d ago25:35

25:35

Caravaggio was one of the greatest artists of the European Renaissance. He also lead one of the wildest lives. We look at how one of his paintings was stolen in Palermo. We also look at what motivated him and his turbulent lifeBy Tim Byron

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Oct 17 The Nobel Peace Prize and Mother Teresa 10:09

22d ago10:09

10:09

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious prizes in the world. We look at famous Christians who were awarded it , as well as who didn't and the speech given by the first nun to be awarded it - Mother TeresaBy Tim Byron

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Oct 16 The Quantam Physicist who became a priest - Polkinghorne 14:12

15d ago14:12

14:12

John Polkinghorne believed that science and religion provided a binocular vision of the truth. He left a prestigious post in Physics and Cambridge University to become an Anglican priestBy Tim Byron

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Oct 15 How we measure time - Pope Gregory's Calendar 8:10

17d ago8:10

8:10

The Gregorian calendar is now almost universally used. This is the story about how Pope Gregory promulgated it after some revisions were made of the Julian Calendar which slightly overestimated the solar orbit of planet EarthBy Tim Byron

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Oct 14 Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janiero 9:36

1M ago9:36

9:36

We remember how today the public where given access to this iconic statue of Christ overlooking Rio. With his arms stretched out the statue can be seen anywhere in the city of 7 million people by anyone,By Tim Byron

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Oct 13 The miracle of Fatima as witnessed by 50,000 14:25

19d ago14:25

14:25

Today in 1917 reports went around the world of a miracle of the Sun that was witnessed by a crowd of 50.000 in Portugal. The 'miracle' had been predicted by three peasant children from Fatima who had been seeing a 'Lady of the Rosary' who had urged prayer in order to stop the First World WarBy Tim Byron

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Oct 12 God and Humanity - Analogia Entis, Erich Przywara's universal rhythm 11:07

21d ago11:07

11:07

The discussion between Karl Barth and the Polish Jesuit Erich Przywara about the analogy of being - mortal humanities relationship to God the immortal creator, has been one of the richest between Catholic and Protestant theologians in modern timesBy Tim Byron

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Oct 11 Vatican 2 Opens 14:57

21d ago14:57

14:57

The Second ecumenical council of the Vatican was attended by between 2,100 and 2,300 bishops from all over the world, at its different sessions that lasted 4 years. It was the biggest ever council and set the direction of the church in the modern worldBy Tim Byron

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Oct 10 Carlo Acutis - the first millenial saint 7:42

22d ago7:42

7:42

15 year old computer geek Carlo Acutis died of Luekemia in 2005 - he was beatified in 2020. Thousands of people visit his shrine in Assisi every day. Could he become the first millenial saint?By Tim Byron

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Oct 9 Fr Gabrielle Fallopio and Fallopian tubes 7:16

23d ago7:16

7:16

The man who ushered anatomy into the renaissance age after stagnating with 1300 years of Galen was Fr Gabrielle Fallopio. He gave his name to the Fallopian tube, Fallopian Canal, and Fallopian ligament.By Tim Byron

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Oct 8 Japans Schindler's List 10:27

23d ago10:27

10:27

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania during the war, He had converted to Christianity for his first marriage - joining the Orthodox Church. He saved thousands of Jews by issuing them visas and this was only discovered in Japan when many turned up at his funeralBy Tim Byron

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The Music of Oktoberfest 6:27

22d ago6:27

6:27

Welcome back to *Busy Kids Love Music*! In Episode 133, we’re taking a musical journey to one of the world’s most famous festivals – Oktoberfest! This traditional German celebration, which began over 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, has spread across the world, bringing with it lively music, dancing, and festive fun. What You'll Learn in This Epis…

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Ep. 123 Mozart's Idomeneo 1:58:37

24d ago1:58:37

1:58:37

Trying desperately to return home alive from the Trojan War, King Idomeneo makes a terrible promise to the sea god from the deck of his storm-ravaged ship. The consequence of his promise is worse than he could imagine, and only after many twists does he achingly find his way to peace. The emotional depth of the characters of Idomeneo gives Mozart a…

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First Suite in E-flat for Military Band 5:12

2M ago5:12

5:12

Welcome to the final episode of our three-part series on the extraordinary composer Gustav Holst! If you missed our earlier episodes where we explored Holst’s life and his famous orchestral suite The Planets, be sure to check out those episodes using the links below. In today’s episode, we dive into a different side of Holst’s musical genius—his Fi…

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Ep. 122 Zoroastre by Jean-Philippe Rameau 1:58:28

1M ago1:58:28

1:58:28

It’s a battle for the fate of the universe as the Dark Side plots, schemes, and fights to gain dominance over the Light Side. Though this opera predates Mozart’s The Magic Flute by several decades, you may find echoes here of Mozart’s beloved work, as it is also heavily influenced by the ideals of the Enlightenment and the principles of Freemasonry…

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Sep 16 The Bishop and the Serial Killer 7:37

2M ago7:37

7:37

Gilles de Rai was one of the earliest serial killers on record, today he was arrested in 1440 after an investigation by the Bishop of NantesBy Tim Byron

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Sep 15 The miraculous painting of Dominic de Guzman 9:05

2M ago9:05

9:05

Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers who were hugely responsible with spreading devotion to the Rosary. He has two countries named after him. This is the story of the miraculous painting attributed to himBy Tim Byron

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Sep 14 Dom Perignon, Monks and Wine Making 7:58

2M ago7:58

7:58

Now the most famous champagne is named in his honour, Pierre Perignon was a Benedictine Monk who perfected the method of making sparkling wineBy Tim Byron

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Sep 13 Dostoevsky and the Brothers Karamazov 15:22

2M ago15:22

15:22

The final novel of Dostoevsky is possibly his most famous - the Brothers Karamazov. Wrought out of terrible grief and struggles with faith after the death of his three year old son Aloysha. One of Russia's greatest novelists has produced on of the greatest novels of all time. Charting the tumultuous transition of Russia from feudalism, the devoutly…

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Sep 12 Richard Challoner - leading in an hostile environment 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

Bishop Richard Challoner has been called the most influential English Catholic of the 18th Century. It was an uneasy time before Catholic Emancipation laws and least safe in London. The Catholic Church was still illegal after Queen Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity and there were sporadic riots against Catholics. Challoners' life is a case study of suc…

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Sep 11 Defender of Slaves and indigenous peoples - De La Casas 11:18

2M ago11:18

11:18

Bishop Bartholomew De La Casas chronicled the terrible atrocities that Spanish colonists carried out on the indigenous people of Central and South America. He was appointed protector of the Indians by the Spanish Legal Establishment, His writing and thinking was influenced the School of Salamanca and lead to both international law and the first con…

1
The Planets 11:14

2M ago11:14

11:14

Welcome back to Busy Kids Love Music! In this second episode of our three-part series on the incredible composer Gustav Holst, we're diving into one of his most famous and beloved works: The Planets. Whether you're a budding astronomer, a lover of mythology, or a homeschooling student learning about the solar system, this episode offers a fun and f…

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