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A young poet is drawn into the Underworld in search of his missing wife and becomes the object of infatuation of a benevolent princess. Cocteau’s handling of the Orphic myth is both visually stunning and hypnotically stylish, balancing the themes of life and death with an examination of the creative process itself. The film won the highest accolade at the Venice Film Festival in 1950

Modern ballet performance by Marie Claude Pietragalla, especially created by Carolyn Carlson, set to music by Rene Aubry

A special performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Verdi’s death. The programme includes excerpts from ‘Un ballo in maschera’, ‘Don Carlos’, ‘Rigoletto’, ‘La traviata’ and ‘Falstaff’

The Irish Camerata chamber orchestra, formed by pianist Barry Douglas in 1999, in concert at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall to celebrate the launch of a new building fund for the city’s Queen’s University. The programme includes Beethoven’s second piano concerto, Mozart’s 40th symphony, and a premiere of a new piano concerto by Ulster composer Philip Hammond

Profile of the experimental video artists, focusing on their work and ideas such as the use of multi-screen video projections in disused buildings

The Tiger Lillies captured in concert, including a selection of hits from the London stage show Shockheaded Peter

Profile of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. His buildings include railway stations at Lyon airport and Lisbon, the planetarium at Valencia’s City of Science, and the Emergency Services Centre at St Galien

Placido Domingo conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a alfresco concert in their home city at the Waldbuhne, with guest soloists Sarah Chang (violin) and Ana-Maria Martinez (soprano). The programme consists of pieces by Spanish composers including Vives, Sarasate, Rosas, Luna, Sorozabal and Pablo

Behind-the-scenes documentary series about artists, events and performers throughout Britain. This edition follows students from the Royal Northern College of Music as they perform as a guest orchestra at the annual Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte in Montepulciano, Tuscany

Profile of the experimental video artists, focusing on their work and ideas such as the use of multi-screen video projections in disused buildings

The Tiger Lillies captured in concert, including a selection of hits from the London stage show Shockheaded Peter

Profile of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. His buildings include railway stations at Lyon airport and Lisbon, the planetarium at Valencia’s City of Science, and the Emergency Services Centre at St Galien

Placido Domingo conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a alfresco concert in their home city at the Waldbuhne, with guest soloists Sarah Chang (violin) and Ana-Maria Martinez (soprano). The programme consists of pieces by Spanish composers including Vives, Sarasate, Rosas, Luna, Sorozabal and Pablo

Behind-the-scenes documentary series about artists, events and performers throughout Britain. This edition follows students from the Royal Northern College of Music as they perform as a guest orchestra at the annual Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte in Montepulciano, Tuscany

Six-part series in which Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Vienna’s Concentus Musicus in a performance of Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’

Glen Tetley’s ballet inspired by Lewis Carroll’s books, set to music by David del Tredici

Franco Zeffirelli’s celebrated production of Donizetti’s classic comic opera from La Scala, Milan. Starring Mariella Devia (Marie), Paul Austin Kelly (Tonio), Bruno Pratico (Sulpice) and Ewa Podles (Marquise). Donato Renzetti conducts

Series of interviews conducted by Clive James in his own apartment. This edition features actress Cate Blanchett

Series about the great tenors of the first half of the 20th century. This edition features the great Ukrainian singer Ivan Kozlovsky

Six-part series in which Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Vienna’s Concentus Musicus in a performance of Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’

Glen Tetley’s ballet inspired by Lewis Carroll’s books, set to music by David del Tredici

Franco Zeffirelli’s celebrated production of Donizetti’s classic comic opera from La Scala, Milan. Starring Mariella Devia (Marie), Paul Austin Kelly (Tonio), Bruno Pratico (Sulpice) and Ewa Podles (Marquise). Donato Renzetti conducts

Series of interviews conducted by Clive James in his own apartment. This edition features actress Cate Blanchett

Series about the great tenors of the first half of the 20th century. This edition features the great Ukrainian singer Ivan Kozlovsky

Six-part series in which Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Vienna’s Concentus Musicus in a performance of Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’

Silhouette animation of the famous fairytale by the pioneer of the genre

The moving story of a girl growing up in imperial Tunisia in the palace where her mother was in service. Years later she is prompted by the prince’s death to return to the now rundown palace, where images of her earlier life come flooding back: the drudgery of servitude, communal singing and dancing, and her devoted mother, whose less appealing duties included servicing the prince’s sexual needs

A celebration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, including jazz interpretations of the composer’s works. Performers include Bobby McFerrin, John Eliot Gardiner, Viktoria Mullova, Ton Koopman, Jacques Loussier and Maasaki Suzuki

Documentary series exploring Russian art history. This edition focuses on the country’s architecture, and how this can reveal the contrasts between old and new beliefs

Six-part series in which Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts Vienna’s Concentus Musicus in a performance of Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’

Silhouette animation of the famous fairytale by the pioneer of the genre

French drama about a brother and sister who are brought together as adults when their mother becomes incapable of living on her own. Antoine is a bachelor but the only woman he cares for is his sister, Emilie, while she does not love anything or anyone. As their mother’s health declines and seasons pass by, Emilie and Antoine gradually reach an understanding

A celebration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, including jazz interpretations of the composer’s works. Performers include Bobby McFerrin, John Eliot Gardiner, Viktoria Mullova, Ton Koopman, Jacques Loussier and Maasaki Suzuki

Documentary series exploring Russian art history. This edition focuses on the country’s architecture, and how this can reveal the contrasts between old and new beliefs

George Melly captured during his annual Christmas residency at Ronnie Scott’s, delivering his usual festive mix of jazz and blues with the backing of John Chilton’s Feetwarmers

George Melly captured during his annual Christmas residency at Ronnie Scott’s, delivering his usual festive mix of jazz and blues with the backing of John Chilton’s Feetwarmers

Portrait of Chilean author Isabel Allende. The niece of the former president ousted in Augusto Pinochet’s 1973 military coup, Isabel found solace in writing. Her first novel House of the Spirits received critical acclaim in addition to commercial success. She talks about her life, her work and her fight against the military dictatorship in her country

Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the complete series of Beethoven symphonies. This programme features Symphony No 4 in B flat major

Series about the work of artists from the South West to celebrate the new millennium. During the mid-1980s, a group of artists secretly placed a series of sculptures in the Forest of Dean. Fifteen years later, four artists have been asked to continue the work

Filmed in evocative locations, Jo Shapcott reads some of her own poems

Claudio Abbado invites Pavarotti to sing with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in a concert that includes music by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven

George Melly captured during his annual Christmas residency at Ronnie Scott’s, delivering his usual festive mix of jazz and blues with the backing of John Chilton’s Feetwarmers

Portrait of Chilean author Isabel Allende. The niece of the former president ousted in Augusto Pinochet’s 1973 military coup, Isabel found solace in writing. Her first novel House of the Spirits received critical acclaim in addition to commercial success. She talks about her life, her work and her fight against the military dictatorship in her country

Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the complete series of Beethoven symphonies. This programme features Symphony No 4 in B flat major

Series about the work of artists from the South West to celebrate the new millennium. During the mid-1980s, a group of artists secretly placed a series of sculptures in the Forest of Dean. Fifteen years later, four artists have been asked to continue the work

Filmed in evocative locations, Jo Shapcott reads some of her own poems