RADIO CHOICE

TCHAIKOVSKY called his sixth and final symphony the Passionate Symphony, but a mistranslation meant that the work has gone down in musical history as the Pathetique. This sadder title adds to the mystery that surrounds his death, which followed soon after the debut of this symphony. Donald Macleod ends the latest COMPOSER OF THE WEEK (RADIO 3, 12 NOON) with a look at Tchaikovsky’s death. The Russian composer, according to official reports, died of cholera, but various rumours spread that Tchaikovsky had committed suicide, having been forced to take his own life by a ‘court of honour’.

THE singers Carly Paoli (pictured) and Damian Humbley joined the BBC Concert Orchestra at Lichfield Cathedral last year for a concert of music from

the movies. The music came from films including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Out Of Africa, The Magnificent Seven, 633 Squadron and La La Land, and we get

another chance to hear it in FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT (RADIO 2, 8PM).

n THE barrister Rose Heilbron was the first woman to lead in a murder case and the first woman judge to sit at the Old Bailey. Cherie Blair joins Matthew Parris on this week’s GREAT LIVES (RADIO 4, 11PM) and reveals how Rose was an inspiration to her during her early days at the bar.