Welcome back to the home of the oxymoron. Evil genius. He asked the newspaper to print his obituary early so he'd enjoy it. That's like hiding at your own funeral. Yeah, a big, great gig. I'm Russell Kane. Join me to weigh in on whether the biggest players in history are more evil or genius. Becoming that rich, I'd say that is some level of genius. It also helps that it's a long time ago, right?

It's like the podcast version of telling your kids the ice cream van plays music when it's out of ice cream.

Listen to evil genius on BBC Sounds.

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The conversation you're about to hear picks up on themes inspired by the summer's BBC proms concerts.

If you're moved to listen to the music, you can find every concert broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.

Now, over to the audience in the Imperial College Theatre

next to the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1850, the composer Burlios,

frustrated by the low regard with which Parisian high society

received his work, had a mischievous moment of inspiration.

He invented an alter ego, a fictitious 17th century composer by the name of Pierre Duque.

It was Duque who composed an early version of tonight's concert, the childhood of Christ.

Berlioz eventually unmasked himself as the brains behind the piece,

but not before the work was rapturously received. So tonight, inspired by Berlioz's degree,

we are looking at the literary hoax and its close cousin, the literary forgery. I'm Shahid Abari,

and joining me to discuss this long and rich tradition is Nick Groom,

Professor of English at Exeter University, and reading for us is the actor Clive Hayward.

In fact, let the mischief commence with a reading.

An excellent ballad of charity, as written by the good priest Thomas Rowley 1464. In Verginet, the sweltery son

Ganshein, and hot upon the mast did cast his ray. The apple rotted from its pally green,

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