Classic Music Podcast

In our November episode Laurence Lewis introduces a moment, on Hev Het Tune,  from Julo Fujak's sonic landscape, kaleidoSONICope! There's a first Slovakian recording of York Bowen's Viola Phantasy, on Pavlik Records, while MSR Classics release amazing American soprano Amy Johnson singing Janacek's Kat'a Kabanova and lusting over John  the Baptist in the final astonishing moments of Salome by Richard Strauss, giving this podcast a positive finale!  Playing Time: 9.46 mins.

Laurence Lewis highlights an important two disc set release by Slovakian label Pavlik Records, with Milan Pala playing the Six Violin Sonatas by Weinberg.  Beginning in 1943, these reflect the times in which Weinberg lived, suffered and composed.  The "live" recording brings a huge emotional impact to these performances.  We discover the French inspired music of Danae Vlasse on her MSR Classics album, Poeme, and, on another Pavlik Records release composer Evgeny Irshai reveals his Six Bratislava Concertos.  Playing Time: 9.06 mins.  

On a Zoom conversation, composer Luis Pine, in San Francisco, talks to Laurence Lewis in London about his recent MSR Classics album, Times of Day, where various combos of wind instruments alight at times of the day from Dybreak to Solar Midnight.  Playing Time: 13.04 mins.

Laurence Lewis visits the Organ Theatre in St. Albans to explore their amazing collection of mechanical musical instruments.  These include a mechanical violin, street organs, musical boxes and the "Mighty Wurlitzer."  Recorded in HD FLAC format audio.  Playing Time: 60 mins.

An instrumental edition, with viola sounds, released by Pavlik Records, composed by Rebecca Clarke, and played by Martin Ruman, bass player Robert Oppelt brings an Encore to MSR Classics - From Bach to Blues - while Ronald Sebesta plays clarinet solos that invite you to savour some Classic Malts, distilled by Pavlik Records.  Laurence Lewis uncorks this particular bottle.  Playing Time: 9.22 mins.

In 2018 Martin Kather restored an antique clavichord made by Johann Christoph Georg Schiedmayer in 1787.  Czech keyboard wizard, Jaroslav Tuma, explores this amazing instrument on a two disc set released by Arta.  From this recording, Laurence Lewis introduces pieces by Christoph Graupner (1683 - 1760), Carl Philip Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788), Josef Antonin Stepan (1726 - 1797) and Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983).  Playing Time: 8.06 mins.

Iveta Zatkova showcases the sound of Jan Pazicky's organ, built in 1768, in Saint Nicholas Church in Kovarce, Slovakia.  From a new Arta recording, Laurence Lewis presents music by Johann Sebastian Bach,  Adam Vaclav Michna, Orlando Gibbons and Johann Ulrich Steigleder.

On MSR Classics, Summerland, for summer listening, highlights music by American composers of African descent, Czech label Nibiru continue their Zelenka series with a World Premiere recording of his Missa Sanctae Caeciliae, while another MSR Classics release showcases trumpeter Andrew Stetson in recent concertos by American composers.

Cellist Benjamin Whitcomb explores solo sounds by Robert Muczynski and Ernest Bloch on his new MSR Classics release, while Czech label Arta find period instruments in choral and instrumental Marian Motets with Capella Ornamentata and conductor Marek Stryncl continues his Dvorak series with Symphony No. 4 played by Musica Florea,