Immersed in Glass

Presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch

As the BBC Symphony Orchestra marks the 80th birthday of the American composer Philip Glass with an Immersion Day at the Barbican in London, Music Matters brings together two of Glass' working companions to reveal life on the inside of his legendary New York studio - Michael Riesman, director of the Philip Glass Ensemble, and the composer Nico Muhly, who spent 9 years working as Glass' copyist on his film and stage works.

The Britten-Pears foundation is opening a new exhibition in Aldeburgh, Queer Talk: Homosexuality In Britten's Britain, which reflects on the life and works of Benjamin Britten during the period of social change that led to the 1967 sexual offences act, which decriminalised homosexual acts in private for men over 21. Sara talks to the exhibition's curator Lucy Walker, and explores the impact of that landmark legislation on classical, pop and jazz with the pianist Rolf Hind, music writer Martin Aston and guitarist Deirdre Cartwright.

And an interview with the 26-year old conductor Alpesh Chauhan, who makes his debut with the London Symphony Orchestra this month. A series of short notice call-ups from orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic have added to Chauhan's growing reputation as one of classical music's rising stars. He tells Sara about his approach to working with major orchestras, and how he believes music can reach new audiences.