Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

89: Public Service Announcement

The first edition of podcast episode 88 was published in error. It was billed as conductor Timothy Henty but ended up being Ron Davis. For some subscribers that means they've missed out on hearing Timothy Henty (because they've unwittingly downloaded the incorrect file). So, the next file will necessarily be a 'repeat' publication of Timothy Henty. Yes. It's confusing. But not half as much as its embarrassing for Jon Jacob. 

88: Conductor Timothy Henty and 'Grounded Conductor' Presenter

Timothy Henty produces at presents The Grounded Conductor series as part of the At Home with LMP lockdown. In this podcast he explores the reasons for making the series, and reveals insights into the opera production process, and the fascinating relationship between conductor and audio engineer. Discover the series on the At Home with LMP website. 

87: Jazz pianist and composer Ron Davis on Glenn Gould, Bach, and Brahms

86: Cellist Ruth Philips introduces The Exhale

Cellist Ruth Phillips discusses the music of Handel, the playing of Andras Schiff and Armenian folk music ahead of the launch of The Exhale - an online retreat for professional and amateur musicians in search of an holistic approach to personal development and wellbeing. Sign up to the retreat that runs from 27 April - 10 May 2020 at www.the-exhale.com.

85: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra principal horn Peter Solomon

Principal horn at Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Peter Solomon has managed to do the unthinkable: fly home to New York for a holiday just as COVID19 broke out in China, then fly back from New York just as the virus broke out in the US. In this episode he brings the music of Bach, Brahms, Shostakovich and Strauss. 

84: London Mozart Players violinist Ruth Rogers on how practise supports her in lockdown

Ruth Rogers is a violinist with the London Mozart Players contributing to the orchestra's LMP at Home series - a regularly updated collection of videos and playlists created for audiences and musicians alike in isolation. In this episode, she introduces three works that have supported her during the initial stages of the Coronavirus outbreak including Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence, Mendelssohn's youthfully optimistic Octet, and Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht. 

83: Composer Paul Leonard-Morgan discusses his work on Amazon Prime's 'Tales of the Loop' and BBC One's 'The Nest'

In this exclusive podcast hear BAFTA-award winning composer Paul Leonard-Morgan talk about his work with Philip Glass composing music for the new hotly-anticipated Amazon Prime series ‘Tales from the Loop’. A charming soundtrack, simply scored but deployed with devastating effect. Hear Paul discuss how he works in isolation from his glass-walled studio in LA. Watch the trailer on YouTube. Tales of the Loop is available on Amazon Prime from 3 April. 

82: Writer and 'Punter' Adrian Ainsworth

Writer and 'punter' Adrian Ainsworth (@Adrian_Specs on Twitter) brings his musical selection to the Thoroughly Good Emergency Classical Music Podcast including Carolyn Sampson's latest release, Schubert's Ausflosung from Ian Bostridge, Kate Arnold's 'For Barely One In A Thousand' and Jo Quail's 'Mandrel Cantus'. Adrian has a new blog set up to supporting artists impacted by the Coronavirus Crisis - Support Action. 

81: Marta Gardolińska with freedom, acceptance, peace and consolation

Marta Gardolińska shares classical music works which have supported her during isolation and lockdown in Austria: Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending, Strauss' Four Last Songs, and the symphonies of Bruckner - music that evokes a sense of freedom, acceptance, peace, and consolation.

80: Fran Wilson and Jon Jacob talk Beethoven, Grainger and Light Music

There's a nasty bug about. A nasty economy-threatening bug that challenging all of us. At times like these we need to draw on the things that matter most: music. Fran Wilson and Jon Jacob talk about their reaction to events and the music that has supported them. 

79: Composer and arranger Jules Buckley

Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra appear as part of the 2020 Cheltenham Music Festival (3-12 July) of which Buckley is guest curator this year. In this podcast hear Buckley discuss his musical roots, why he thought the Ibiza Prom might bomb minutes before he went on stage, and how the club classics which made up that concert weren't necessarily his go-to music when he sat down to arrange them. 

78: Composer Paul Mealor and Voce Director Mark Singleton

77: Spitalfields Music Festival 2020 Launch

A special series of podcasts commissioned by the lovely people at Spitalfields Music celebrating the 2020 Festival. Edited highlights from the @SpitsMusic Festival Launch 2020 including CEO Sarah Gee, and composers Errollyn Wallen and Edmund Finnis. Plus, exclusive live performances from the Dunedin Consort. 

76: Soprano Susan Bullock and conductor Kirill Karabits discuss Strauss' Elektra

Recorded at Ham Yard Hotel in February 2020, Susan Bullock discusses her career playing Elektra, ahead of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performances of Strauss' revenge-ridden opera of the same name in Poole Lighthouse and Birmingham Symphony Hall. 

75: Miloš Karadaglić talks injuries, mental health and his new album 'Sound of Silence'

Miloš latest album of guitar music features Katherine Tinker and Jess Gillam on a variety of classical interpretations of iconic pop tunes. And it works well. Miloš shared his thoughts on playing, the industry, and the supposed shame of admitting to burnout in this podcast recorded at The Treehouse Hotel in London. 

74: Soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn on playing the title role in Verdi's Luisa Miller

Soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn appears in the title role in Verdi's Luisa Miller at English National Opera in London. Book tickets on the ENO website. https://www.eno.org/whats-on/luisa-miller/

73: German composer Carlos Cipa discusses his latest album 'Retronyms'

Carlos Cipa visited London in September 2019 for a one-off concert and to promo his new album of experimental soundscapes Retronyms. Since then he's also released Retronyms B-Side Collection - three tracks reworking the improvisation-driven compositions from the August release. 

72: Violinist Maxim Vengerov

Maxim Vengerov celebrates 40 years performing on stages across the world with a special one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 June 2019 with Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky. He's also teaming up with streaming service IDAGIO to release exclusive recordings on their label (listen to the podcast to get a discount code for signing up to IDAGIO). He plays the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra on 30 April.

71: Violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist James Baillieu

Violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist James Baillieu discuss their latest collaboration on Signum Classics: the complete works for violin and keyboard by CPE Bach. Available on all streaming sites and for purchase via Signum Classics. 

70: Pianist, composer and human rights activist Gabriela Montero

Gabriela's latest album on Orchid Classics is available on Spotify. She performs with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on 26 February 2020. https://bsolive.com/events/artist-in-residence-recital/

69: Nicola Benedetti and the Benedetti Foundation

Violinist Nicola Benedetti is one of the world's leading advocates for quality music education - an ambassador whose passion for her role is evident in what she says and what she does. This podcast features an interview with her about the Benedetti Foundation, plus excerpts from sessions for primary school children run in London. 

69: Nicola Benedetti and the Benedetti Foundation

Violinist Nicola Benedetti is one of the world's leading advocates for quality music education - an ambassador whose passion for her role is evident in what she says and what she does. This podcast features an interview with her about the Benedetti Foundation, plus excerpts from sessions for primary school children run in London. 

68: Composer Bernard Hughes introduces Not Now Bernard and Other Stories

67: Conductor Tom Hammond discusses the music of Sibelius

Tom Hammond conducts the Orchestra of the Swan on 21 January 2020 in a programme featuring music by Sibelius. In this podcast he discusses how he discovered Sibelius' music. He also previews some of the events in the 2020 Hertfordshire Music Festival. 

66: Discovering Lully's opera 'Isis' with Christophe Rousset

Conductor and harpsichordist Christophe Rousset discusses the writing of composer Lully following a performance of 'Isis' given at Opera Royal in the Palace of Versailles on Tuesday 10 December. Read a synopsis of the opera on the Les Talens Lyriques website. A recording of the opera made by Les Talens Lyriques is available on Spotify or to purchase. 

65: Composer Christopher Gunning discusses TV commercials, Poirot, and his symphonies

64: Tafelmusik Music Director Elissa Citterio

Ahead of Tafelmusik's European tour this week, music director Elissa Citterio talks about how she came to work with the Canadian Baroque orchestra, and her love of the Italian orchestral sound. 

63: Violinist Tessa Lark discusses Schubert's Fantasie in C Major and the music of Michael Torke

Easy well-matched conversation with someone who thrives on self-deprecation, draws on NLP tools and techniques when she talks, and whose approach to digital storytelling chimes with my own. Earlier this week a new colleague reinforced a perspective I’ve held (but not really articulated much) he learned by being in a lift with a broadcaster. Joyful content comes when those doing the storytelling are at their ease, when there’s spontaneity, and when there’s the lightest-touch of plans. There’s...

62: Composer Roxanna Panufnik

Overlook the mis-pronunciation of the marvellous Roxanna Panufnik's name in the recorded introduction to this podcast.  The important stuff is what follows. Roxanna is warm, open, and generous in her contributions, at ease recalling her formative years as she is responding to my frequent 'ums' and 'ahs'.  Thanks for supporting the podcast. You really are special people. 

62: Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast 62: Composer Roxanna Panufnik

Overlook the mis-pronunciation of the marvellous Roxanna Panufnik's name in the recorded introduction to this podcast.  The important stuff is what follows. Roxanna is warm, open, and generous in her contributions, at ease recalling her formative years as she is responding to my frequent 'ums' and 'ahs'.  Thanks for supporting the podcast. You really are special people. 

61: Clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe on Brahms, Widor and Debussy

Annelien Van Wauwe's new album on Pentatone features music from the late 19th century Belle Epoque - the 'beautiful era' - and includes works by Debussy, Brahms, Widor and Pierne. In this podcast Annelien discusses her relationship with the music and her approach to playing, practicing and teaching.  

60: Voces 8 International Summer School at Milton Abbey

Voces 8 founder and participation manager provides a guided tour of the singing group's residential course for amateur singers at Milton Abbey in Dorset. Music includes Bruch's Violin Concerto from Thomas Gould and Haydn's Creation. Also featuring one proud mum. 

59: Festival of New: Sarah Nicolls, Maja Bugge, and Fran Lobo

Recorded at the beginning of September at Snape Maltings Concert Hall in the run up to the second annual Festival of New, podcast 59 features  pianist Sarah Nicholls, cellist Maja Bugge and singer-songwriter Fran Lobo discussing some of the thinking behind their work at the week-long residency.  Support Sarah Nicholls Standing Grand Piano Kickstarter Campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/futurepiano/the-standing-grand-a-new-light-portable-acoustic-piano. Sarah also appears ...

59: Festival of New: Sarah Nicolls, Maja Bugge, and Fran Lobo

Recorded at the beginning of September at Snape Maltings Concert Hall in the run up to the second annual Festival of New, podcast 59 features  pianist Sarah Nicholls, cellist Maja Bugge and singer-songwriter Fran Lobo discussing some of the thinking behind their work at the week-long residency.  Support Sarah Nicholls Standing Grand Piano Kickstarter Campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/futurepiano/the-standing-grand-a-new-light-portable-acoustic-piano. Sarah also appears ...

58: Cellist Raphael Wallfisch discusses the music of Ernest Bloch

Ahead of Raphael Wallfisch's new season of concerts, Jon Jacob speaks to the cellist about his formative classical music experiences, cellist Zara Nelsova, Jacqueline du Pre, and the music of Ernest Bloch. For regular updates, concert previews, and recording recommendations, support the podcast via http://patreon.com/thoroughlygood.

57: London Mozart Players at the newly refurbished Fairfield Halls

56: Conductor Nicholas Collon discusses Aurora Orchestra and his new role with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Ahead of the Aurora Orchestra's much-anticipated appearance performing Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique at the BBC Proms 2019, conductor Nicholas Collon discusses his career to date and looks ahead to his new role as Chief Conductor at the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 

55: Soprano and Creative Marci Meth discusses 'The Wild Song'

Marci introduces her new crowdfunded CD - The Wild Song. A combination of folk songs set to music by Benjamin Britten interspersed with poetry by Yeats read by Simon Russell-Beale and sound interludes by Mychael Danner. All of it produced at the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings in Suffolk in 2016.  Buy the album here >> http://smarturl.it/modern-poetics

54: Conductor Elim Chan at the #BBCProms

Conductor Elim Chan discusses the conductor’s experience, Valery Gergiev and working with Errolyn Wallen. NB The agency Elim is signed to is Harrison Parrott, not Harold Holt (which doesn’t actually exist by the way).  Maybe it’s time for a new podcast host.  

53: BBC Proms 2019 - Stop Banging On

Give the listening audience the chance to reflect on what they’ve just heard and what it means to them, instead of resorting to hype, sycophancy, or post-performance reviews

52: Solomon's Knot discuss musical rhetoric, singing from memory, and performing at the #BBCProms

51: Jan Latham-Koenig introduces the Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra

A new training orchestra for conservatoire musicians from Russia and the UK starts rehearsing for a month of concerts in September 2019. Novaya Opera Artistic Director explains the thinking behind the bi-lateral project, what he discovered during auditions for the orchestra, and reveals some of the differences between UK and Russian orchestral musicians. More information at www.bsfo.org.

50: Verbier Festival Director Martin Engstroem on leadership, vision, and talent

What marked Martin out for leadership? What mindset helped him be successful. What does he look for in artists? The former VP of Deutsche Grammophon - Artists and Repertoire - shared insights into how the record industry works, why he moved from artist management to artistic directorship. And, his connection with the Aldeburgh Festival. 

49: Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky at Verbier Festival 2019

Russian violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky discusses Menuhin, the Soviet music education system, and nerves in this podcast recorded at the Verbier Festival on Sunday 28 July 2019. 

48: Pianist Nicolas Hodges discusses Messiaen's Des Canyons aux étoiles

Nicolas Hodges appears at the BBC Proms 2019 in a performance of Messiaen's Des Canyon aux étoiles. Here he discusses the different ways birdsong sounds across the world, how eight weeks when he was a teenager made contemporary music inescapable, and what happens in the moment between the final note of a piece of music and the applause beginning. 

47: Clarinettist Mark van de Wiel discusses his new Signum release featuring Joseph Phibbs new Clarinet Concerto

Principal clarinettist of the Philharmonia Mark van de Wiel discuss the Mozart and Phibbs recordings just released Signum, plus explain his development as a musician with teachers Dame Thea King and Colin Bradbury. Buy via the Signum website >> https://signumrecords.com/product/phibbs-and-mozart/SIGCD578/

46: Cellist Matthew Barley discusses The Protecting Veil, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and handling hypermobility.

Matthew Barley's recording of John Tavener's The Protecting Veil was released on the Signum label in June 2019. It's available via Spotify. 

45: BBC Proms Commissioning Editor Jan Younghusband

BBC Proms management bod introduces what's in store during the 2019 season.

44: Tenor Toby Spence discusses Beethoven and the rise of amateurism in music performance

44: Tenor Toby Spence discusses Beethoven and the rise of amateurism in music performance