Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

Grace Davidson and Christian Forshaw's new album Historical Fiction blends Baroque and Renaissance in a contemporary setting. Produced by Forshaw during the pandemic, it develops fragments of melody into a musical framework, creating a soundtrack for a royal occasion. The album is released on 17 September 2021. 

The London Festival of American Music runs from 13-18 September 2021 and this year features a ground-breaking opera exploring the personal stories of a trans character in 'As One'. In this podcast, a LFAM artistic director, conductor and producer Odaline De la Martinez introduces the festival and talks about how she came to discover the music of Dame Ethel Smyth. For more information and tickets visit https://www.lontano.co.uk/.

Gil Shaham is one of a handful of performers who can switch between the character in the music and the personality of the performer mid-performance. Nothing is compromised as was witnessed at the InClassica International Music Festival in Dubai 2021. How does he manage to look so bright and perky on stage? And does it stop when he walks off the stage? 

Live from London boasts a viewing audience in 75 countries, with an estimated global reach of 4.5million. The series has raised more than £1 million for artists and arts organisations around the world. The latest series includes performances of Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, Chineke!, and VOCES8 amongst a great many others. It would be easy to tell that story starting with when the pandemic hit. But, like a lot of organisations who have created success when live music was impacted, Live from London's roots going further back. As you'll hear from brothers Barney and Paul Smith who run VOCES8 and set up Live from London. Five years of digital audience development is what was necessary, also building digital content where visiting artists are partners in a creative project rather than guests of an organisation. The distinction is important, as you'll hear. Discover more on the Live from London website. 

Joseph Phibbs arrangement of Benjamin Britten's first work Our Hunting Fathers features in Snape Malting's August season of concerts. In this podcast Phibbs talks about his work on the arrangement, and Phibbs' own clarinet concerto. A new cello sonata by Joseph Phibbs will be premiered by Tom Poster and Guy Johnston on 29 September at the Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival. 

Live Music Now is one of the UK’s biggest musical charities working specifically within the health and wellbeing arena, delivering inspirational musical moments. Jon Jacob visited the Priscilla Wakefield House in North London where folk singer Zoe Wren entertained dementia home residents one warm afternoon in late June 2021. 

Francisca Fullana's new album on Orchid Classics reflects the effervescent energy the violinist brings to his interview responses. Jon Jacob speaks to Francisco about 'Bach's Long Shadow' from his current home in California. Buy 'Bach's Long Shadow' via Presto Classical. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8907184--bachs-long-shadow-the-chaconne-files

Ahead of her London Mozart Players performance of Glazunov and Nyman at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon (https://www.londonmozartplayers.com/whats-on/), the saxophonist shares her insights on the power of music, the way music changed her as a kid, and what it was like to discovered she was an MBE. More details on the Jess Gillam Ensemble tour of 'Time' on the Jess Gillam website. https://www.jessgillamsax.co.uk/shows/ 

Domestic travel, budget hotels, and sanitised breakfasts. Post-pandemic classical music premieres are the post-pandemic equivalent of international travel. Composer Dani Howard talks about her new concerto for trombone, what it feels like to have her picture in the PRS For Music reception, and how to keep a positive mindset. Hint: you'll need to exercise. 

Norwegian Trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth's new release is a masterclass in seemingly effortless tone production. A must listen. And its a reflection of her personality too. Maybe. You be the judge. Buy Tine Thing Helseth's Magical Memories from Presto Classical. 

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason appears at the BBC Proms this summer playing Dvorak's Cello Concerto. In the run up to that performance he's appeared with the London Mozart Players performing the same work. And he's worked with cellists half his age in Croydon sharing a bit of the Sheku sparkle. In this podcast hear from Sheku and musicians and teachers from Croydon Music and Arts about the impact the 22-year Black cellist really has. Be sure to have a handkerchief to hand. 

In this podcast Camilla King Head of Programming at Cheltenham and Jon Jacob talk about an arts administrators response to furlough, the sense of loss she experienced when her work was lost to the pandemic, logistics and especially about planning for different scenarios. The industry is fragile. And it depends on people like Camilla as much as the musicians themselves to get it back on its feet. It’s not an easy job. For more information on Cheltenham Music Festival 2021 events, visit https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/

For more information about the Hertfordshire Festival of Music (4-10 June 2021) visit the HFOM website. 

A new set of songs composed by Russell Hepplewhite with words by Michael Rosen joins the ever-growing Friday Afternoons songbank commissioned by Britten-Pears Arts. Russell explores his compositional journey and how 'Everything' came to be written. More information on the Friday Afternoons website. 

Two composers born 80 years apart, one in Russia, the other in France. What links the two? And how did pianist Sabine Weyer come to be introduced to both? The answer is via email. Buy Sabine Weyer's Mysteries via Presto Music. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/3952--interview-sabine-weyer-on-miaskovsky-and-bacri

Waterperry Opera returns in 2021 with a series of outdoor performances running from 12-21 August 2021. Guy Withers, Rebecca Meltzer and Emma Doherty explore some of the challenges the Company faces post-lockdown. Box Office opens 3 May. More details on the Waterperry website. https://www.waterperryoperafestival.co.uk/