bbc Radio 3 podcasts

Lawrence Norfolk and Mary Beard debate who was better the Greeks or the Romans. Richard Branson talks about capitalism and using himself to promote his company. Alan Yentob and Christopher Frayling discuss the state of Arts programming on TV.

Enrico Rava has never made any secret of his admiration for the sound of Miles Davis. Indeed his every note is steeped in his hero's sound. But there the similarity ends. Rava has taken his trumpet into a bewildering variety of settings, from tiny chamber jazz ensembles to big bands, as well as his current favourite quintet formation, and he has explored musical avenues down which Miles himself never turned. A witty, urbane man, Rava is a delightful conversationalist, and offers the inside story on many of the albums that have made him Italy's most famous jazz musician and a star of the world stage. He is one of the most accomplished musicians in European jazz. Following his joyous concert at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, earlier this year, he joined Alyn Shipton to choose his favourite examples from his recorded work, and to preview his forthcoming album New York Days, which features his long-term colleague Stefano Bollani, and American drummer Pul Motian.

In this week's programme Tom meets Andris Nelsons, the new Music Director of the CBSO. He talks to, John Lucas, author of a new biography of Thomas Beecham, and finds out about some of the challenges of singing the music of Rossini. And a look at Raymond Scott, reclusive electronics pioneer, 100 years after his death.

Ivan Hewett compares the available recordings of Donizetti's grand opera.

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Charles Mingus, with the help of Mingus’ biographer Brian Priestley.

Creator of The Wire, David Simon talks about his book Homicide: The Killing Streets, we look at the economic and cultural legacy of the Model T Ford and Anne Leslie on over 35 years of being a journalist on Fleet Street