Raising the Roof

Composer and broadcaster Jack Pepper introduces the world of classical music - and its colourful characters - as you've never seen it before... LET'S ROCK!

Informal, raucous and sometimes scandalous, the heroes of classical music are often far from the composed images they're portrayed as. Take a walk in the shoes of 20 original rock stars from the last millennium and find out what it really takes to write a timeless classical hit.

Rub shoulders with Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, as well as unsung trailblazers, including Hildegard of Bingen, Barbara Strozzi and Joseph Bologne, who paved the way for contemporary movie music-maker Hans Zimmer and video game composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Listen as you read, using the playlist inside. Along the way, explore the history of classical music, learn about sounds and key concepts (including symphony, opera and concerto), how classical still influences music today and the future sound.