Talking Classical Podcast

I am delighted to be back after a break from the podcast, and to share this discussion with coloratura soprano and Broadway soprano actor Meghan Picerno. Meghan is a wonderful and unique artist who has  not only great success in and understanding of the operatic world and repertoire but more recently in musical theatre. In this podcast, we talk about Meghan's career in opera and the turning point for her journey into musical theatre, which started at Plácido Domingo's Operalia competition at Covent Garden. We also discussed the crossover and differences between opera and musical theatre in terms of performance, style, interpretation and techniques. It's great to hear Meghan is keen to bring back her singing and acting experience of musical theatre back into the opera she initially trained in.

This is a fascinating listen for anyone who's interested in classical music and opera and wanting to learn more about musical theatre and vice versa if there are any listeners who are more bent towards musicals.

Meghan's bio: https://www.meghanpicerno.com/about

Notes: A Zwischenfach voice refers to a singer who can sing different roles within the range of a soprano and a mezzo-soprano. 

The "Don Quixote" musical I am referring to at the end of the podcast is The Man of La Mancha, which is inspired by the same novel by Miguel de Cervantes. 

Podcast recorded 5 July 2022; published 18 July 2022. 

Editing by Saw and Sine. 

Additional editing from Annabelle Lee.

Music by Helena and Annabelle Lee. 

In this episode, I am pleased to share a discussion recorded earlier this year with Andy Higgs. Andy is a composer and piano accompanist specialising in writing and playing music for dance. Kasper Cornish (a previous guest on the podcast) recommended I talked to Andy as they both work together regularly in dance classes.

We discuss Andy's journey to composing and accompanying dance, as well as the challenges and processes surrounding the disciplines. We also discuss career highlights, including Andy's work for the Stopgap Dance Company, a pioneering UK dance company which includes disabled and non-disabled dancers.

Podcast interview recorded 22 February 2022 at London Contemporary Dance School; published 9 April 2022. Intro and outro music by Helena and Annabelle Lee.

Last month, I talked to Nina Brazier, an opera director who is currently on the staff at Oper Frankfurt. We discussed Nina's journey to becoming an opera director, the differences between the opera world (and approaches to opera directing) in Germany compared to the UK, her approach to directing, what happens on an opening night and her role in that, and diversity and inclusion in the opera business.

Nina's bio: http://www.ninabrazier.co.uk 

Nina's podcast The Opera Pod: https://www.theoperapod.com

Podcast recorded remotely on 2 February 2022; published 8 March 2022. 

Music by Helena and Annabelle Lee.

Last month, I recorded a podcast interview with Chief Executive of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Stephen Maddock. In this discussion, we talked about how Stephen got into the world of arts management and what led him to the esteemed post he's in today. We also discuss what makes the CBSO distinctive, the role of the orchestra within the city of Birmingham, artistic programming and challenges of Stephen's position.

Stephen's bio: https://cbso.co.uk/profile/stephen-maddock.

Podcast recorded 15 February 2022 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham; posted 8 March 2022. Music by Helena and Annabelle Lee.

Many thanks to RDMR and the CBSO for the performance of Panufnik's Sinfonia Sacra and Orff's Carmina Burana at Symphony Hall in April 2023 - a truly spectacular and dramatic interpretation! Find out more about the CBSO's 23/24 season here: https://cbso.co.uk/season.

Happy New Year! 

I'm so excited to start 2022 with a great discussion with Gerald Finley, one of the world's leading opera and concert singers. I was pleased to talk to him amidst his very busy schedule. We talked last year, a few months ahead of a US recital tour he's embarking on next week with renowned British pianist Julius Drake. 

Gerry had been very busy over the past two years despite the Coronavirus pandemic and UK national lockdowns so we started off by talking about what he'd been up to. We also talked about a wide range of topics from young singers, conservatoire life and the challenges and high points within a long and illustrious career. Additionally, we discussed some of the interesting issues raised crossing different genres such as opera, musical theatre and acting. 

Interview with Gerry recorded 26 August 2021. Podcast published 21 January 2022. 

Gerry's bio: http://www.geraldfinley.com/about.

US tour dates: http://www.geraldfinley.com/event-directory. 

Gerry performs the role of Wolfram in Tim Albery's production of Wagner's Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera House until 16 February 2023. Many thanks to the Press Team at the Royal Opera for arranging the opportunity to see it - an amazing experience watching a Wagner opera for the first time! Don't miss this unique chance to see Wagner's iconic opera in rep: https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/tannhauser-by-tim-albery-details. 

*The discussion about King Lear towards the end of the podcast refers to a project last year at the UK's Grange Festival, where a group of established opera singers acted Shakespeare's play. 

In this podcast, we'll be hearing from Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music for the world-renowned Choir of St. John's College at the University of Cambridge. We talk about the Choir's latest album The Tree, a selection of recordings representing the idea of growth and showcasing the Choir under three of its music directors: Nethsingha, as well as David Hill and Christopher Robinson.

Thank you to Premier for sponsoring this episode!

In this episode, we'll be hearing from Zvonimir Hačko, conductor and Artistic Director of the newly initiated International Centre for Contemporary Music (ICCM). We'll learn more about the ICCM and what the future and development of contemporary music might look like over the next few years.

One of the ICCM's inaugural projects is recording the complete symphonies of Penderecki, and we'll hear more about this recording process. We also discuss audience responses and perceptions towards contemporary music, particularly in light of the recording of Penderecki's symphonies Zvonimir is directing and conducting with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Zvonimir's bio: http://www.zhacko.com/biography.

ICCM: https://www.iccmlondon.org.

Zvonimir's article "Beyond Artistic Homogeneity," which he refers to in the podcast: https://www.iccmlondon.org/beyond-artistic-homogeneity.

Thank you to Premier Communications for sponsoring this episode!

Interview with Zvonimir recorded 23 November 2021; podcast published 7 December 2021.

In this podcast, we're hearing from Kirill Gerstein and learning about his fascinating webinar series "Kirill Gerstein invites." Over the past two years, Kirill has been hosting these webinars, alongside his rich and diverse career as an international concert pianist. Kirill Gerstein invites is presented in association with the Kronberg Academy, where he teaches. 

Podcast recorded 29 November 2021; published 1 December 2021 (intro added 4 December 2021). 

Kirill's bio: https://kirillgerstein.com/biography. 

Kirill Gerstein invites: https://kirillgerstein.com/ventures/kirill-gerstein-invites. 

Watch previous seminars here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbBJqVJEs-coNaXvQepQWrg/videos. 

In this podcast, I talked to Julia Bishop, leading violinist specialising in Baroque and historical performance practice. You may also best know her as the co-founder of the pioneering Baroque quartet Red Priest. 

In this wide-ranging discussion, we talked about Julia's journey into Baroque music, what it was like to be involved in the early music movement in the 1980s and 1990s and the philosophy behind Red Priest. We also discussed life as a touring musician, acting on stage and feeling confident in what you're wearing on stage, which can aid how you feel when playing in a performance. Red Priest's members wear worn bold, eye-catching costumes when they give concerts. 

Julia talked about her approaches to teaching Baroque music as well. Finally, she gave some advice to newcomers, aspiring to get into the music industry. 

Julia's bio: https://www.juliabishopviolin.com/gallery-2. 

Podcast recorded 18 October 2021; published 16 November 2021. 

Music used in the podcast: Antonio Vivaldi, Concerto in E Major - 'La Primavera' (Spring) - Allegro from The Four Seasons, Red Priest (Red Priest Recordings, RP003, 2009). 

Last week, I got to go to the iconic Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club during a brief visit to London. I met the club's Artistic Director James Pearson who is both equally at home in jazz and classical music. 

We talked about the similarities and the differences between both genres, playing styles, improvisation, orchestration and how this feeds into the acoustics of music. We also discussed James' programme which he presented last year with his trio at Ronnie Scott's. This concert was live streamed and celebrated the legacy of legendary comedian, entertainer and musician Dudley Moore. He was someone who could effortlessly cross the boundaries between jazz and classical music. Younger listeners should take a look at his inimitable pastiches of Beethoven, Britten, Fauré, Schubert and Kurt Weill, which are available to watch on YouTube. 

James reflected on the legacy and history of Ronnie Scott's, including the eclectic range of artists who have performed on the stage. This led us to discuss working across different genres and great pianists such as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett who learnt jazz music through playing classical piano. Finally, James gave me a walk around the venue, sharing stories about the club and some of the musicians who played there as we went along. This is an experience I will never forget!

Thank you to James and the staff at Ronnie Scott's for making me feel so welcome! 

James' bio: https://www.jamespearsonmusic.com/about.

Watch James Pearson presents 'A Portrait of Dudley Moore'; concert with his trio live streamed from Ronnie Scott's on 30 November 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0LKPt7qFuY. 

Interview recorded 20 October 2021; podcast published on 30 October 2021.