The Classical Corner

In this episode, Davina reviews two newly released albums hot off the press:  Handel’s 'La Resurrezione' by The English Concert and 'John Wilbye – Draw on Sweet Night ' by I Fagiolini and Robert Hollingworth.

The English Concert and Harry Bicket’s acclaimed concert cycle of Handel operas and oratorios continues with its second release on Linn, following Handel’s Rodelinda last year. La Resurrezione, composed by Handel in his mid-twenties, and first performed on Easter Sunday in 1708, marked the climax of Handel’s time in Rome. The work details the events between and during Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This new album features some of today’s finest voices including Lucy Crowe, Iestyn Davies, Sophie Bevan, Ashley Riches and Hugo Hymas. Davina is joined in The Classical Corner by Iestyn and Lucy to talk about their favourite arias, Handel's operatic writing and the process of recording the album.

To welcome the spring, I Fagiolini has put aside its beloved Monteverdi to uncover its own national heritage: the best of John Wilbye's classic Golden Age madrigals. The album marks the first specific recording of Wilbye's Madrigals released since the 1980s.  The album covers a central part of English choral culture that has been strangely out of fashion for so long, sung by a group that has matured into the repertoire. The plangent dissonance of ‘Draw on, sweet night’ and ‘Weep, weep, mine eyes’ evoke English melancholy, while ‘Sweet honeysucking bees’ and ‘Adieu, sweet Amaryllis’ are such sheer pleasure to sing that many listeners will scrabble to unearth old scores. Davina chats to Robert about how this new album came about, the choice of repertoire and the sheer delight of listening to and singing English madrigals.

With special thanks to Linn Records and Coro for the use of these beautiful recordings.

All the recordings discussed in this episode of The Classical Corner can be found in the Spotify playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wbunpPpFKH36KIys8OF2D?si=996cd75080bb4997

In this episode, Davina is joined by Harley Street Nutritionist and soprano, Rhiannon Lambert. They discuss her career as a soprano and how she moved from the music industry to become Registered Nutritionist, resulting in the launch of her clinic, Rhitrition. Rhiannon specialises in weight management and disordered eating, pre and post-natal nutrition and sports nutrition.

Davina and Rhiannon talk about both the joy but also the enormous pressures of the music industry, especially those tied in with mental health and body image, which led Rhiannon to seek a different career path. They explore finding balance as busy professional women on the road, as well as the optimum diet and supplements, which can result in peak performances from musicians and athletes alike. They touch on Rhiannon's award-winning books and her podcast, Food For Thought. The episode also includes some beautiful recordings of Rhiannon singing.

Rhiannon has just launched her new Rhitrition supplement shop, which are available to purchase here

Rhiannon's books, Re-Nourish: A Simple Way To Eat and also The Science of Nutrition with DK can be purchased here

Rhiannon's podcast,  Food For Thought can be listened to here

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally acclaimed British violinist, vocalist and concert producer, Lizzie Ball.

Davina and Lizzie discuss her flourishing career as a prolific performer in all genres around the world, and also her passion for bringing classical music to a wider audience in accessible, diverse venues and contexts through her wonderful organisation, Classical Kicks. Lizzie also talks about her role as an Ambassador for PRISMA, a charity founded to help children in need by providing art workshops to rural underdeveloped areas of Mexico. They discuss Lizzie's new Life Coaching business, ‘Set Your Stage’, for which she has recently been awarded an RPS Enterprise Award.

All of the recordings from Series 2, Episode 5 can be found in the Spotify Playlist here.

Watch Lizzie leading Nigel Kennedy's Orchestra at his 2013 Palestinian Prom here.

Find out more about Lizzie here.

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally acclaimed German baritone, Benjamin Appl.

In this episode, Davina is joined by British television personality and actor, Ollie Locke.

They discuss his career as an actor, both in Hollywood films and the reality TV series, Made in Chelsea, gay marriage and also his surrogacy journey with husband, Gareth Locke.

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally renowned violinist, early music specialist and Alexander Technique wizard, Jane Gordon.

Welcome to Series 2 of The Classical Corner!

In this first episode, Davina is joined by the internationally renowned, award-winning British soprano, Mary Bevan.

They discuss her career as a recital and opera singer with the world's finest companies, Mary's love for baroque music and lieder, and also selection of her disks.

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally renowned conductor, Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

They discuss his flourishing international career as one of the world's most innovative and dynamic conductors, his award-winning ensembles- The Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras, and also his love of all music from Bach to Bernstein.

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally renowned choral director, Harry Christophers.

They discuss his flourishing career as a choral and orchestral conductor, his award-winning ensemble, The Sixteen, and also his love of all music from Purcell to The Who.

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally renowned, award-winning baroque violinist, Rachel Podger.