The Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

The finest artists on their latest albums and in-depth discussions with leading writers - a weekly exploration of classical music

James Ehnes on Leonard Bernstein and John Williams 04/26/2024

James Ehnes on Leonard Bernstein and John Williams Violinist James Ehnes talks about his new recording for Pentatone of Leonard Bernstein's Serenade and John Williams's Violin Concerto No 1. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/31000933

Nathan Williamson and James Gilchrist on the songs of Thomas Pitfield 04/16/2024

Nathan Williamson and James Gilchrist on the songs of Thomas Pitfield Thomas Pitfield, born in Bolton in 1903 and whose life stretched to the very end of the 20th century – he died in 1999 – is one of those polymaths who embraced numerous different outlets: he was a composer, a poet, an illustrator, a calligrapher, a cabinet maker and a teacher. He is probably better known for the people he knew and taught – including John McCabe, John Ogdon and Ronald Stevenson – than in his own right. This new collection of songs is a good start to get to know a fine musical voice. James Jolly spoke, separately, to James Gilchrist and Nathan Williamson about this appealing composer. This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30850283

Kirill Gerstein on 'Music in the Time of War' 04/12/2024

Kirill Gerstein on 'Music in the Time of War' Kirill Gerstein’s new album, timed for release mid-way between the anniversary of the death of Claude Debussy (March 25) and Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), pairs music by Debussy and the Armenian, Komitas. Both composers were profoundly affected by the death and destruction surrounding them during the First World War, and both responded with music of multi-layered intensity. Gerstein links late Debussy piano music with Komitas’s piano works, as well as songs by each composer. 'Music in the Time of War' is released to stream and download by Platoon, and on two CDs with a substantial book of essays next month by Myrios. James Jolly spoke to Kirill Gerstein to learn about the project and why he brought together these two powerful musical voices in the same programme. This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30794288

Klaus Mäkelä on recording Stravinsky in Paris: From the Archive 04/05/2024

Klaus Mäkelä on recording Stravinsky in Paris: From the Archive Klaus Mäkelä has been named Riccardo Muti's successor at the helm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a role he assumes in 2027 alongside the post of Chief Conductor of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Meanwhile, he remains committed to his two European orchestras, the Orchestre de Paris and the Oslo Philharmonic. Following his Decca debut recording, of the complete Sibelius symphonies in Oslo, Mäkelä has made two much-admired recordings of music commissioned by Serge Diaghilev. The first of these, made with the Orchestre de Paris, was released early last year – Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and the complete Firebird ballet – and James Jolly spoke to the conductor by Zoom back in February 2023 as Klaus was in Cleveland conducting performances of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Gramophone Podcasts are given in association with /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30692233

Exploring Schubert 03/28/2024

Exploring Schubert This month's Gramophone Podcast explores the life and music of Franz Schubert. Editor Martin Cullingford talks to Richard Wigmore about this most remarkable of composers, one whose finest works, notably in the song, piano and chamber music genres, are today held to be among music's most beloved creations. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30589463

Paavo Järvi on Mendelssohn's symphonies 03/22/2024

Paavo Järvi on Mendelssohn's symphonies Paavo Järvi's latest recording project adds the five Mendelssohn symphonies to his substantial catalogue. Alpha Classics has released the new set which features the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. James Jolly caught up with Paavo Järvi recently by Zoom to talk about the cycle, but also to talk about the conductor's passion for recording the complete symphonic outputs of many of the great composers. This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30494618

Rebecca Dale on her new album 'Night Seasons' 03/15/2024

Rebecca Dale on her new album 'Night Seasons' Hattie Butterworth is joined by composer Rebecca Dale for this week's Gramophone Podcast to explore her new album of works for cello and choir with cellists Steven Isserlis and Guy Johnston and the choir Tenebrae, out now on Signum Classics. More about /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30386163

Dalia's Mixtape: Anna Meredith's Nautilus 03/08/2024

Dalia's Mixtape: Anna Meredith's Nautilus Dalia Stasevska, Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, has launched a new project, ‘Dalia’s Mixtape’, for Platoon. Leading her BBC orchestra, she has recorded ten works by ten modern composers, each shedding a new and different light on the symphony orchestra and what it can do. Breaking with tradition, the project will unfold piece by piece over the next half year. And each work will be accompanied by a podcast focusing on the music. In this first episode, hosted by Gramophone’s Andrew Mellor, Dalia’s guest is the Scottish composer and performer Anna Meredith whose work, Nautilus, originally conceived for electronics, is presented in a new acoustic guise. She, Andrew and Dalia discuss the work’s origins and its transformation into a vibrant new work for a traditional symphony orchestra. Produced by Platoon and Gramophone. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30288218

The 12 Ensemble's new album, Metamorphosis 03/01/2024

The 12 Ensemble's new album, Metamorphosis This week on the Gramophone podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by the co-founders of the 12 Ensemble – cellist Max Ruisi and violinist Eloisa-Fleur Thom – to talk about their fascinating new album on the Platoon Label, Metamorphosis, featuring music by Edmund Finnis, Claude Vivier, Oliver Leith and Richard Strauss. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30189083

Handel's Theodora, with Jonathan Cohen 02/23/2024

Handel's Theodora, with Jonathan Cohen For this week's Gramophone Podcast, Jonathan Cohen, conductor of Arcangelo, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new recording on the Alpha label of Handel's powerful late oratorio, Theodora, a work Cohen describes as Handel at 'his very finest and most inspired'. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/30081778

Alessandro Fisher on 'A Gardener's World' 02/16/2024

Alessandro Fisher on 'A Gardener's World' The tenor Alessandro Fisher is a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Artist and a former member of the BBC New Generation Artists Scheme, and on February 23 Rubicon releases a solo album, ‘A Gardener’s World’, a collection of songs about flowers and their symbolic significance. Joined by the pianist Anna Tilbrook, Alessandro explores the horticultural theme in the company of composers from many countries, including France, Germany, Scandinavia, Catalunya and Argentina. James Jolly went to visit Alessandro in his north London home and, overlooking the garden, they discussed the genesis of the new album, which was recorded live at Wigmore Hall in July 2021. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29984683

Lara Downes on Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined 02/09/2024

Lara Downes on Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined Pianist Lara Downes joins Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford this week to talk about her fascinating new recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as reimagined for today's world by composer Edmar Colón to mark the iconic work's centenary, and available from the Pentatone label. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29872178

Edmund Finnis and Clare Hammond on recording Youth 02/02/2024

Edmund Finnis and Clare Hammond on recording Youth Youth is an EP of solo piano music by Edmund Finnis and performed by Clare Hammond, and described as 'a set of brief pieces recalling an image, sensation of place, significant encounter or a moment of vivid perception'. Editor Martin Cullingford invited both Finnis and Hammond into the Gramophone Podcast studio to talk about this beautiful new recording. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29771348

Timothy Ridout on 'A Lionel Tertis Celebration' 01/26/2024

Timothy Ridout on 'A Lionel Tertis Celebration' Timothy Ridout won last year’s at the Gramophone Awards for his Harmonia Mundi recording, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins, of Elgar’s Cello Concerto transcribed by Lionel Tertis for viola, alongside the Bloch Suite for Viola and Orchestra. His new HM release continues his exploration of the huge role that Tertis played in the history of the viola, as player, teacher, arranger and champion of the instrument. Ridout's new double album, for which he's joined by pianists Frank Dupree and James Baillieu, includes sonatas by York Bowen and Rebecca Clarke, as well as many shorter works with powerful links to Tertis. James Jolly met up with Timothy to talk about the album, and the place that Tertis holds for viola-players. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29659713

Krystian Zimerman on Szymanowski, conducting and retirement 01/19/2024

Krystian Zimerman on Szymanowski, conducting and retirement The great Polish pianist and conductor Krystian Zimerman came to London last October to collect his Gramophone Award, his seventh, for his latest DG album of music by Karol Szymanowki. James Jolly caught up with him on the morning of the ceremony, and their conversation ranged widely. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29561163

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood on 'Handel for Trumpet' 01/12/2024

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood on 'Handel for Trumpet' For his tenth album of music for trumpet and piano in the ‘re-imagined’ series for Linn, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood has turned to a composer right at the centre of the period he’s most associated with, the Baroque – and George Frideric Handel. ‘Handel for Trumpet’ features transcriptions of arias as well as theoretical ‘sonatas’, created from concertos and other works. As well as being a contributor to Gramophone, Jonathan is also Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, a record producer, teacher – and trumpeter. Gramophone’s James Jolly spoke to him about the new album, how he maintains his technique amid a busy schedule and how being a recorded musician helps his role as the leader of one of the world’s great music conservatories. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29457193

From the Archive: Peter Phillips on the music of Josquin 01/05/2024

From the Archive: Peter Phillips on the music of Josquin The Tallis Scholars' acclaimed series of recordings of the Masses of Josquin Desprez is one of the great milestones to the catalogue. Featuring what may be the last Mass the composer wrote, the Missa Mater Patris, along with a Mass not by Josquin but once thought to have been by him, the penultimate volume certainly raises some fascinating questions! To discuss them, The Tallis Scholars' founder and director Peter Phillips joined Editor Martin Cullingford for this Gramophone podcast - which features excerpts from the album, available on Gimell, which was named an Editor's Choice in the November 2019 issue of the magazine. We revisit that podcast 'From the Archive'. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29353178

Dame Janet Baker – a great singer reflects on her career 12/28/2023

Dame Janet Baker – a great singer reflects on her career Dame Janet Baker's contribution to classical music - in performance and on record - has been remarkable, enriching both the stage and the catalogue with performances of astonishing beauty, power and vivid insight. To mark her 80th birthday in August 2013, James Jolly met with her at Wigmore Hall to talk about her career for a Gramophone Milestones Podcast, made in association with . She shared her memories of working with Sir John Barbirolli, Leonard Bernstein, Gerald Moore, Raymond Leppard and Benjamin Britten. Now 10 years on, we revisit the podcast to celebrate one of the UK's greatest musical artists, the recipient in 2011 of Gramophone's Lifetime Achievement Award. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29260198

Esa-Pekka Salonen on music in California 12/22/2023

Esa-Pekka Salonen on music in California Esa-Pekka Salonen took over the helm of the San Francisco Symphony in 2020 from Michael Tilson Thomas. Both men have had a major impact on symphonic music in California, and Salonen is one of the three guiding figures – with the LA Phil's Gustavo Dudamel and the San Diego Symphony's Rafael Payare – behind the California Festival, a statewide celebration of music that launched in November. James Jolly spoke to Salonen at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco following an afternoon concert, as part of the California Festival, in November. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29197953

Owain Park on the new album from The Gesualdo Six, 'Morning Star' 12/15/2023

Owain Park on the new album from The Gesualdo Six, 'Morning Star' This week Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by Owain Park, conductor, composer and founding director of The Gesualdo Six to explore the ensemble's new album, 'Morning Star', a programme of music for the feast of Epiphany, released by Hyperion Records. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/29101378

Editors' Choice 2023 12/08/2023

Editors' Choice 2023 The Deutsche Grammophon recording of Carl Nielsen’s Fourth and Fifth Symphonies – with Fabio Luisi conducting the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – was voted Gramophone’s 2023 Recording of the Year, and in the December issue of the magazine our critics choose their personal favourite albums of the year. But, as is customary, this podcast focuses on some recommendations by Gramophone’s editors, Editor, Martin Cullingford, Deputy Editor, Tim Parry, and Editor-in-Chief, James Jolly. This Gramophone Podcast is brought to you in association with STAGE+, the new streaming service from Deutsche Grammophon, which offers weekly live-stream videos of concerts from around the world, as well an archive of over 400 concerts to enjoy on demand, plus documentaries, audio albums, interviews and much more. Visit or download the STAGE+ IOS App. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28957803

Maria Callas: we celebrate La Divina on her 100th anniversary 12/02/2023

Maria Callas: we celebrate La Divina on her 100th anniversary The soprano was born on December 2, 1923, and during her short life – she died aged 53 – rose to become one of the most celebrated singers of all time. And even 46 years after her death she remains a unique and unassailable figure in the world of opera and its interpretation. She left a substantial recorded catalogue – both commercially for Columbia/EMI/Warner Classics and on the myriad pirate recordings that still circulate. To mark this milestone anniversary Warner Classics has issued a 131-CD and one DVD set celebrating her art, 'La Divina – Callas in all her roles', a wonderful survey of her musical career. This Warner Classics Icons podcast has been made by Gramophone, and on it James Jolly talks to Richard Fairman, a regular contributor to Gramophone and also the music critic of The Financial Times. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28894168

Errollyn Wallen on her new book 'Becoming a Composer' 12/01/2023

Errollyn Wallen on her new book 'Becoming a Composer' Composer Errollyn Wallen speaks to Hattie Butterworth about her new book, out now on Faber, mapping her trajectory as an artist, extensive recordings and philosophy on life. Errollyn Wallen: Check out Music clips used: Cello Concerto from 'Photography' on NMC horseplay: lively from 'The Girl in My Alphabet' on Avie Records daedalus from 'Errollyn' on Avie Records Dervish for Cello and Piano from 'The Girl in My Alphabet' on Avie Records Peace on Earth from 'Peace on Earth EP' on the Kings College Cambridge label /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28877188

John Pickard on Mass in Troubled Times 11/24/2023

John Pickard on Mass in Troubled Times Composer John Pickard joins the Gramophone Podcast this week to talk to Editor Martin Cullingford about his new album, Mass in Troubled Times, available on the BIS label. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28782228

Bertrand Chamayou on his John Cage-Erik Satie album 11/17/2023

Bertrand Chamayou on his John Cage-Erik Satie album Bertrand Chamayou, who won Gramophone's Recording of the Year in 2019 for his Erato album of two Saint-Saëns piano concertos, has turned his attention to two groundbreaking composers. John Cage was a great admirer of the music and aesthetic experiments of the Frenchman, Erik Satie - and Chamayou has created a programme for Erato that links the two, 'Letter(s) to Erik Satie'. James Jolly caught up with Bertrand Chamayou at his Festival Ravel in St Jean de Luz in south-west France this summer to talk about the project. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28686143

Richard Bratby on his history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire 11/10/2023

Richard Bratby on his history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire The music critic and regular Gramophone contributor Richard Bratby has just published a history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire, the first book telling the story of a period-instrument ensemble (Elliott & Thompson; £25). James Jolly spoke to Richard about the book, about its charismatic founder and long-serving Music Director Christopher Hogwood, and about how a substantial recording contract with Decca'a L'Oiseau-Lyre label – masterminded by the producer Peter Wadland – shaped the ensemble's style and approach. This week's podcast is made in association with Wigmore Hall. For a full list of concerts, visit /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28526822

Fauré's music for cello and piano 11/03/2023

Fauré's music for cello and piano This week's Gramophone Podcast explores the music by Gabriel Fauré for cello and piano to coincide with a beautiful new recording by Xavier Phillips and Cédric Tiberghien on La Dolce Volta - and the cellist and pianist join Editor Martin Cullingford to discuss it. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28508615

Bach's Goldberg Variations Reimagined with Rachel Podger and Chad Kelly 10/27/2023

Bach's Goldberg Variations Reimagined with Rachel Podger and Chad Kelly This week's topic is a new recording by Brecon Baroque of Bach's Goldberg Variations in a fascinating new arrangement by Chad Kelly who, together with violinist Rachel Podger, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about it. This week's Podcast is published in association with Wigmore Hall. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28412192

Miloš on his new album 'Baroque' 10/20/2023

Miloš on his new album 'Baroque' Miloš's new album is a journey of music around the continent of Europe in the era of the Baroque, and is named an Editor's Choice in the current issue of Gramophone. Editor Martin Cullingford met up with the guitarist to talk about the story behind this beautiful recording, which is available on the Sony Classical label. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28378253

Johan Dalene on his new album, Stained Glass 10/13/2023

Johan Dalene on his new album, Stained Glass In this week's Gramophone Podcast we meet with Swedish violinist Johan Dalene, a former Gramophone Young Artist of the Year. He joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new release on the BIS label, 'Stained Glass', recorded with pianist Christian Ihle Hadland – a beautifully-performed programme of Ravel, Prokofiev, Pärt, Bacewicz and Boulanger. /episode/index/show/gramophone/id/28309868

The Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

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