Kirill Gerstein

The Russian born pianist Kirill Gerstein joins presenter Tom Service, fresh off the stage after his recent Ukraine solidarity concert with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin where he featured alongside a starry line-up of soloists, to discuss his thoughts about the tragedies of the war, and his series of online seminars – Kirill Gerstein Invites – in which he’s chaired discussion throughout the pandemic with leading creative figures, including Ai Weiwei, Ivan Fisher and Steven Isserlis, about the artistic subjects which matter to them.

The American guitarist Pat Metheny shares his thoughts about collaborating with artists like the vibraphone-player Gary Burton and composer Steve Reich, his first records in the 1970s, and his most recent album – Side-Eye NYC project – which he tours to the UK in June. He tells Tom about the creative search for new sounds which has permeated the course of his career.

Music Matters talks to the creative team behind a new chamber opera, The Paradis Files, based on the life of the Austrian musician and composer who lost her sight as a child – Maria Theresia von Paradis. With contributions from the composer Errollyn Wallen, director Jenny Sealey, and librettists Selena Milla and Nicola Werenowska, we hear about their collective instinct to tell the remarkable story of Theresia’s life, and how the life of this 18th Century figure has lessons for the 21st century.

The BBC’s Secunder Kermani reports on the recent edicts stopping education for school-aged girls in Afghanistan, and describes the impact on the country’s musicians caused by the hardening attitude of the Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue towards live and recorded music.

And we speak to Sinfonia Cymru’s Chief Executive Peter Bellingham, the Chief Executive of St George's Bristol Samir Savant, and the Associate Music Director of the Paraorchestra, Lloyd Coleman, about how the cost of living crisis is affecting the musicians, venues and institutions at the heart of the UK’s musical culture.

Image: Marco Borggreve (c)