Art That Shook the World

Examining controversial works of art which have influenced culture. Critic Andrew Graham-Dixon reflects on the emergence of modernism, concentrating on the work of Monet, whose impressionist paintings were disliked at first, but went on to win widespread acclaim.

Soprano Barbara Bonney examines Mozart's celebrated opera The Marriage of Figaro, based on a banned play by Beaumarchais. The programme investigates how the work reached unprecedented levels of emotional expression and wit, and continues to appeal to new generations even though its politics are only relevant to a particular era. With contributions by directors Jonathan Miller and Richard Eyre.

Germaine Greer takes a look at the often ignored but rather gigantic influence of the Psalms on wildly diverse cultures, from Jewish through Catholic and American Evangelism to Rastafarianism.