For our first episode of 2023 we welcome the Swedish Opera company Man Must Sing to the show. They  commission, produce and perform newly written, norm-creative opera in Swedish all aimed at important topics in today's world.

In this show we look at two works in particular, one a queer childrens opera (must be a first!) and the second about polyamory.

I had a lot of fun recording this show and meeting the company. Do take a look at their online shows - they are brilliant and funny even though you may not understand the language  and anyway when has that stopped anyone listening to Verdi?

For our Christmas/New Year show we are delighted to welcome members of the Opéra Queens to the CQ podcast. Opéra Queens provides queer opera performances for BIPoC/IBPoC performers, creators & audiences while connecting the cultural hubs of Toronto and Montréal as well as online audiences worldwide! 

The interview is really fun and shows the energy that the Queens bring to their shows. After you have listened to the podcast do check out their online performances!

(note: sadly I (Sammi) was ill for the recording and missed the fun but that means you get to hear more of Jacob and that can't be bad) 

We are delighted to have bassist and composer Kebra-Seyoun Charles on this month's podcast. Keb is not your conventional bassist having a rare talent for engaging directly with his audience. But as you will hear in the podcast his repertoire stretches from Mozart through to modern compositions as well as his own work.

As usual we covered a wide-range of subjects but throughout Keb's joy and humour shines through. Do take a listen.

This month we are pleased to welcome Australian award winning composer Matt Webster to the show. We discuss Matt's background and listen to his new work, This Too Shall Pass, a very personal work about his struggles with mental illness. 

The work, due for release soon, has already sparked a great deal of interest not only for it's great musicality - it is simply brilliant -  but also for it's focus on the fight against mental illness. It was the subject of a very successful crowdfunder and caught the imagination of many.

As we discuss a difficult and not often talked about subject in an open manner some may find it triggering but it is a subject that we feel needs to be discussed. Have we said the music is fantastic and your getting an early preview?

On this month's show Jacob and Sammi welcome Conductor and Musical Director Matthew Salvaggio to the programme. Matt founded the Clevland Repertory Orchestra in 2001 which he formed to place an emphasis on new music and those historically excluded from the classical repertoire. If that isn't enough he is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Erie Junior Philharmonic, Music Director of the Euclid Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at Mercyhurst University.

His artistic collaborations have included members of the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and more. So do join us for CQ episode 17.

On our show this month Jacob and Sammi are pleased to welcome bass-baritone Sam Taskinen to the show.  Sam has a wonderful deep resonant voice that really engages. As a trained dancer she has fantastic stage presence that brings life to her characters and provides an extra level of emotion.

We talk about a wide range of topics including her native Finnish music, transitioning and her love of performance. Come take a listen.

This month Jacob and Sammi welcome Symon Henry to the Classical Queer Podcast. Symon is a multi-disciplinary artist covering music, poetry and the visual arts. Their use of sound paintings combined with a sound world flavoured by Egyptian roots leads to an engaging audio-visual experience.

We chat about Symon's new piano works, music influences and the world of queer classical music. Join us! 

We have a double-header for you this month on the CQ podcast.

Sammi talks to Andy Jih, violinist and President of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. They discuss the history of the symphony, it's role in promoting queer musicians and where it's heading in the future.

American Canadian Cellist, composer and multidisciplinary artist India Gailey has a new album of work out called "to you through". Jacob takes a listen to two of the works in the second half of the show.

Welcome to our first anniversary - this is our 12th episode and it has been a lot of fun for us and I hope for you, the listener. 

This month we welcome singer, musician, songwriter and all-around artist Sarah McCabe. As you will hear, Sarah, who is also know by the professional name HENDRA, makes a wide-variety of music covering almost every genre. In our wide-ranging discusson we talk about everything from performing at open mics to the future of automation in music and to the use of squeaky toys by the percussionist.

So do come join us.