EMI Classics Podcasts

The Belcea Quartet have made a new recording for EMI Classics of 3 of Schubert's very last compositions; the 14th and 15th String Quartets and the String Quintet in which they are joined by cellist Valentin Erben. In this podcast, interspersed with music from the recording, they discuss the String Quintet with Tommy Pearson.

In this podcast Music Director Antonio Pappano discusses his live recording of the Verdi Requiem for EMI CLASSICS. Maestro Pappano conducted the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in January 2009 for sold-out and critically-acclaimed performances of Verdi's spectacular Messa da Requiem with stellar soloists Anja Harteros, Sonia Ganassi, Rolando Villazón and René Pape.

EMI Classics presents a podcast including discussions with Kate Royal about her second recording for EMI, out in May. Midsummer Night is an atmospheric recital collection focusing on female characters in 20th century opera and operetta, reflecting their pain and ecstasy in love. The programme ranges from well known turn-of-the-century works by Dvořák (Song to the Moon from Rusalka) and Lehár (Vilja from The Merry Widow) to Midsummer Night, from the English composer William Alwyn's opera Miss Julie. Edward Gardner conducts the English National Opera Orchestra with guest appearances by Thomas Allen, Andrew Staples and the Crouch End Festival Chorus.

Jon Tolansky presents a two part podcast including discussions with the artists and highlights from the new recording of Madama Butterfly which appears on EMI Classics for the first time in many years in a brand new studio version. The role of Cio-Cio-San is stunningly performed by Angela Gheorghiu, partnered by the exciting young German tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the two-act opera. The recording took place in the Santa Cecilia Hall of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome in July 2008, the year commemorating the 150th anniversary of Puccini's birth.

Jon Tolansky presents a two part podcast including discussions with the artists and highlights from the new recording of Madama Butterfly which appears on EMI Classics for the first time in many years in a brand new studio version. The role of Cio-Cio-San is stunningly performed by Angela Gheorghiu, partnered by the exciting young German tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the two-act opera. The recording took place in the Santa Cecilia Hall of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome in July 2008, the year commemorating the 150th anniversary of Puccini's birth.

Leif Ove Andsnes's new album on EMI Classics features performances of some of his favourite contemporary repertoire including world premiere recordings of two 21st century compositions written for him: Bent Sørensen's The Shadows of Silence for solo piano, and the Piano Concerto by Marc-Andre Dalbavie. In this podcast he discusses the second of these commissions with the composer, Marc-Andre Dalbavie, and introduces the rest of the repertoire on the disc.

Sir Simon Rattle talks about Ravel's L'enfant et les sortileges and Ma mere l'oye in the first fruit of the renewed exclusive recording contract with the Berliner Philharmoniker and EMI Classics.

Tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist Antonio Pappano talk about their new recording of Schubert's Schwanengesang on EMI Classics.

Part one of a two-part podcast in which the world's greatest Puccini interpreter Angela Gheorghiu, and colleagues, discuss Puccini's works, characters and music with musical illustrations from Angela Gheorghiu's EMI recordings.

Part two of a two-part podcast in which the world's greatest Puccini interpreter Angela Gheorghiu, and colleagues, discuss Puccini's works, characters and music with musical illustrations from Angela Gheorghiu's EMI recordings.