Dawn O’Porter hosts Classic FM series celebrating love through music

Love will take centre stage on Classic FM as author and broadcaster Dawn O’Porter presents a new four-part series exploring how classical music captures love in all its forms.

Classical Love Themes with Dawn O’Porter will air throughout February, with each programme focusing on a different emotional chapter.

From the excitement of first attraction to the enduring bonds of friendship and family, the series will reflect these by using some of the best known and most powerful pieces in classical music.

Dawn O’Porter draws on her personal love of classical music to share the stories behind each piece, connecting composers’ intentions with universal human experiences of romance, heartbreak, loyalty and belonging.

The series will feature iconic works inspired by love, ranging from cinematic scores to operatic and orchestral classics.

Episode one, The Chase, looks at the thrill and tension of early romance, with music from Love Actually, Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, capturing moments where emotions are heightened and everything feels at stake.

Later programmes explore falling deeply in love, with music including Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Puccini’s O soave fanciulla, before turning to friendship as one of life’s most lasting relationships, featuring Elgar’s Nimrod from the Enigma Variations.

The final episode focuses on family, with music from Hans Zimmer’s The Lion King, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2 and Thomas Newman’s score to Finding Nemo.

Dawn O’Porter said: “I’ve always believed that classical music has the incredible ability to reflect our emotions and capture our hearts in a way that words can’t, especially when it comes to love.”

Joseph Zubier, Classic FM’s Managing Editor, said the series reflects the station’s focus on great music and the human stories behind it, adding that Dawn O’Porter’s warmth and curiosity make her a natural fit for Classic FM listeners.

The series launches on Friday 6 February at 9pm on Classic FM and Global Player.