St Paul's

This spectacular three-part series explores the baroque tradition in many of its key locations. Starting in Italy and following the spread of the wildfire across Europe and beyond, art critic Waldemar Januszczak takes us on a tour of the finest examples of baroque art to be found, and tells the best stories behind those works. In Baroque! From St. Peter's to St. Paul's, Januszczak follows the trajectory of baroque from its beginnings as a Vatican-sanctioned religious art style to its ascendance as the first global art movement.

This film goes behind the scenes at St Paul's Cathedral for their most magical time of year - Christmas. What is it like for the people who make the magic happen, and how do they cater for the 45,000 visitors that come through the cathedral's doors during the festive season? Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed its predecessor, St Paul's Cathedral is known as the nation's church and has become an iconic symbol of London - home to the royal wedding of Charles and Diana, Winston Churchill's funeral and the Queen's 90th birthday service.

Bill Viola is renowned the world over as a pioneer of video art. As the Royal Academy in London mounts a major exhibition of his vast and immersive installations, alongside works by Michelangelo, imagine… charts Viola's career over 12 years and follows him as he creates his most high-profile commission to date, Mary and Martyrs, a permanent installation for St Paul's Cathedral. Gerry Fox's film follows Viola on set as he films, with stunt gear and pyrotechnics, his striking visual tableaux in fields, salt lakes and studios. Viola talks candidly about his preoccupations with life, death and suffering, alongside his wife and collaborator Kira Perov.

The Time Scanners use cutting-edge 3D laser-scanning technology to put history’s building wonders to the test, exploring the secrets of how the world’s most iconic engineering creations were constructed. The show, presented by Dallas Campbell (Supersize Earth, The Gadget Show) covers history, engineering, and science in a fascinating new way - using the latest research tools and visual mapping to uncover the mysteries behind the most globally recognized buildings. Heading the quest is leading structural engineer Steve Burrows, the brain behind some of the world’s most famous engineering marvels such as the Beijing “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium.

This documentary follows preparations for the festive season at London's famous cathedral - St Paul's, featuring unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the Christmas countdown.

A stunning album of world-premiere recordings showcasing the choral music of British composer Richard Pantcheff, in mesmerising performances by the London Choral Sinfonia directed by Michael Waldron, with pianist Matthew Fletcher and organist Jeremy Cole. The music of Richard Pantcheff, who was mentored by Britten in the last year of that composers life, has a broad appeal, encompassing the intensity of his Four Poems of Stephen Crane, the intimacy of Turn again unto thy rest, the breadth of his St. Pauls Service, and the melodic brilliance of Spirit of Mercy and Veni Sancte Spiritus. Alongside many of his sacred works we hear the secular King Henry VIIIs Apologia, a work of electrifying virtuosity. As conductor Michael Waldron puts it, Pantcheffs music is steeped in the choral tradition but never slips into pastiche: I find it original, inspired and at all times profound. There is music on the album to suit all tastes, and I hope people hearing Richards music for the first time will develop the same love for it as I have.

Born into a working-class family, George Dyson became one of the most important musicians and composers of his day. The previously unknown Choral Symphony was written as an examination work while Dyson was studying at Oxford, and it was only recently discovered at the Bodleian Library. Dyson relishes his dramatic chosen text from Psalm 107 on the expulsion from and homecoming of the Jews to Israel, a narrative that inspires trademark features that would make his later works so attractive. Its seascape finale links neatly with St Pauls Voyage to Melita, another vivid text from which Technicolor musical images are conjured.

The renowned Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys record a fitting tribute to their former Choirmaster and Organist Gerre Hancock (1934-2012). In this post for over 30 years, he was a pivotal figure in the choir's rejuvenation and created a wealth of choral and organ music during his career much of it composed for friends and colleagues across the USA.

Discover the secrets of revolutionary structures in Ancient Megastructures. Certain landmarks have captured the imagination and awe of modern-day architects and engineers around the world as they work to solve the mystery of how their ancient forebears were able to construct such beautiful, timeless and revolutionary structures with none of the machines and materials available to modern engineers.