The Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

The Gramophone Classical Music Podcast episodes:

• 04.16.2024

  Nathan Williamson and James Gilchrist on the songs of Thomas Pitfield

  Thomas Pitfield, born in Bolton in 1903 and whose life stretched to the very end of the 20th century – he died in 1999 – is one of those polymaths who embraced numerous different outlets: he was a composer, a...

  
• 04.12.2024

  Kirill Gerstein on 'Music in the Time of War'

  Kirill Gerstein’s new album, timed for release mid-way between the anniversary of the death of Claude Debussy (March 25) and Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), pairs music by Debussy and the Armenian, Komitas. Both composers were profoundly affected by...

  
• 04.05.2024

  Klaus Mäkelä on recording Stravinsky in Paris: From the Archive

  Klaus Mäkelä has been named Riccardo Muti's successor at the helm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a role he assumes in 2027 alongside the post of Chief Conductor of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Meanwhile, he remains committed to his two European...

  
• 03.28.2024

  Exploring Schubert

  This month's Gramophone Podcast explores the life and music of Franz Schubert. Editor Martin Cullingford talks to Richard Wigmore about this most remarkable of composers, one whose finest works, notably in the song, piano and chamber music genres, are today...

  
• 03.22.2024

  Paavo Järvi on Mendelssohn's symphonies

  Paavo Järvi's latest recording project adds the five Mendelssohn symphonies to his substantial catalogue. Alpha Classics has released the new set which features the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. James Jolly caught up with Paavo Järvi recently by Zoom to talk about the...

  
• 03.15.2024

  Rebecca Dale on her new album 'Night Seasons'

  Hattie Butterworth is joined by composer Rebecca Dale for this week's Gramophone Podcast to explore her new album of works for cello and choir with cellists Steven Isserlis and Guy Johnston and the choir Tenebrae, out now on Signum Classics....

  
• 03.08.2024

  Dalia's Mixtape: Anna Meredith's Nautilus

  Dalia Stasevska, Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, has launched a new project, ‘Dalia’s Mixtape’, for Platoon. Leading her BBC orchestra, she has recorded ten works by ten modern composers,...

  
• 03.01.2024

  The 12 Ensemble's new album, Metamorphosis

  This week on the Gramophone podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by the co-founders of the 12 Ensemble – cellist Max Ruisi and violinist Eloisa-Fleur Thom – to talk about their fascinating new album on the Platoon Label, Metamorphosis, featuring...

  
• 02.23.2024

  Handel's Theodora, with Jonathan Cohen

  For this week's Gramophone Podcast, Jonathan Cohen, conductor of Arcangelo, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new recording on the Alpha label of Handel's powerful late oratorio, Theodora, a work Cohen describes as Handel at 'his very finest...

  
• 02.16.2024

  Alessandro Fisher on 'A Gardener's World'

  The tenor Alessandro Fisher is a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Artist and a former member of the BBC New Generation Artists Scheme, and on February 23 Rubicon releases a solo album, ‘A Gardener’s World’, a collection of songs about flowers and their...

  
• 02.09.2024

  Lara Downes on Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined

  Pianist Lara Downes joins Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford this week to talk about her fascinating new recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as reimagined for today's world by composer Edmar Colón to mark the iconic work's centenary, and available from...

  
• 02.02.2024

  Edmund Finnis and Clare Hammond on recording Youth

  Youth is an EP of solo piano music by Edmund Finnis and performed by Clare Hammond, and described as 'a set of brief pieces recalling an image, sensation of place, significant encounter or a moment of vivid perception'. Editor Martin...

  
• 01.26.2024

  Timothy Ridout on 'A Lionel Tertis Celebration'

  Timothy Ridout won last year’s Concerto category at the Gramophone Awards for his Harmonia Mundi recording, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins, of Elgar’s Cello Concerto transcribed by Lionel Tertis for viola, alongside the Bloch Suite for Viola...

  
• 01.19.2024

  Krystian Zimerman on Szymanowski, conducting and retirement

  The great Polish pianist and conductor Krystian Zimerman came to London last October to collect his Gramophone Award, his seventh, for his latest DG album of music by Karol Szymanowki. James Jolly caught up with him on the morning of...

  
• 01.12.2024

  Jonathan Freeman-Attwood on 'Handel for Trumpet'

  For his tenth album of music for trumpet and piano in the ‘re-imagined’ series for Linn, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood has turned to a composer right at the centre of the period he’s most associated with, the Baroque – and George Frideric...

  
• 01.05.2024

  From the Archive: Peter Phillips on the music of Josquin

  The Tallis Scholars' acclaimed series of recordings of the Masses of Josquin Desprez is one of the great milestones to the catalogue. Featuring what may be the last Mass the composer wrote, the Missa Mater Patris, along with a Mass...

  
• 12.28.2023

  Dame Janet Baker – a great singer reflects on her career

  Dame Janet Baker's contribution to classical music - in performance and on record - has been remarkable, enriching both the stage and the catalogue with performances of astonishing beauty, power and vivid insight. To mark her 80th birthday in August...

  
• 12.22.2023

  Esa-Pekka Salonen on music in California

  Esa-Pekka Salonen took over the helm of the San Francisco Symphony in 2020 from Michael Tilson Thomas. Both men have had a major impact on symphonic music in California, and Salonen is one of the three guiding figures – with...

  
• 12.15.2023

  Owain Park on the new album from The Gesualdo Six, 'Morning Star'

  This week Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by Owain Park, conductor, composer and founding director of The Gesualdo Six to explore the ensemble's new album, 'Morning Star', a programme of music for the feast of Epiphany, released by Hyperion...

  
• 12.08.2023

  Editors' Choice 2023

  The Deutsche Grammophon recording of Carl Nielsen’s Fourth and Fifth Symphonies – with Fabio Luisi conducting the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – was voted Gramophone’s 2023 Recording of the Year, and in the December issue of the magazine our critics choose...

  
• 12.02.2023

  Maria Callas: we celebrate La Divina on her 100th anniversary

  The soprano Maria Callas was born on December 2, 1923, and during her short life – she died aged 53 – rose to become one of the most celebrated singers of all time. And even 46 years after her...

  
• 12.01.2023

  Errollyn Wallen on her new book 'Becoming a Composer'

  Composer Errollyn Wallen speaks to Hattie Butterworth about her new book, out now on Faber, mapping her trajectory as an artist, extensive recordings and philosophy on life. Errollyn Wallen: Becoming a Composer Check out Deutsche Grammophon STAGE+ Music clips...

  
• 11.24.2023

  John Pickard on Mass in Troubled Times

  Composer John Pickard joins the Gramophone Podcast this week to talk to Editor Martin Cullingford about his new album, Mass in Troubled Times, available on the BIS label. 

  
• 11.17.2023

  Bertrand Chamayou on his John Cage-Erik Satie album

  Bertrand Chamayou, who won Gramophone's Recording of the Year in 2019 for his Erato album of two Saint-Saëns piano concertos, has turned his attention to two groundbreaking composers. John Cage was a great admirer of the music and aesthetic experiments...

  
• 11.10.2023

  Richard Bratby on his history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire

  The music critic and regular Gramophone contributor Richard Bratby has just published a history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire, the first book telling the story of a period-instrument ensemble (Elliott & Thompson; £25).  James Jolly spoke to...

  
• 11.03.2023

  Fauré's music for cello and piano

  This week's Gramophone Podcast explores the music by Gabriel Fauré for cello and piano to coincide with a beautiful new recording by Xavier Phillips and Cédric Tiberghien on La Dolce Volta - and the cellist and pianist join Editor Martin...

  
• 10.27.2023

  Bach's Goldberg Variations Reimagined with Rachel Podger and Chad Kelly

  This week's topic is a new recording by Brecon Baroque of Bach's Goldberg Variations in a fascinating new arrangement by Chad Kelly who, together with violinist Rachel Podger, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about it. This week's Podcast is...

  
• 10.20.2023

  Miloš on his new album 'Baroque'

  Miloš's new album is a journey of music around the continent of Europe in the era of the Baroque, and is named an Editor's Choice in the current issue of Gramophone. Editor Martin Cullingford met up with the guitarist to...

  
• 10.13.2023

  Johan Dalene on his new album, Stained Glass

  In this week's Gramophone Podcast we meet with Swedish violinist Johan Dalene, a former Gramophone Young Artist of the Year. He joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new release on the BIS label, 'Stained Glass', recorded with pianist...

  
• 10.06.2023

  Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2023: the winners

  In this special edition of the Gramophone Podcast, we explore the full list of winners from this year's Gramophone Classical Music Awards. Editor-in-Chief James Jolly, Editor Martin Cullingford and Deputy Editor Tim Parry talk through the Category Winners, the Special...

  
• 09.29.2023

  Exploring Dvořák's piano trios

  The complete piano trios of Dvořák is the topic this week, as Editor Martin Cullingford catches up with pianist Boris Giltburg, violinist Veronika Jarůšková and the cellist Petre Jarůšek, who have just recorded them for Supraphon. 

  
• 09.22.2023

  Jeremy Eichler on his new book 'Time's Echo'

  Jeremy Eichler's new book, Time's Echo, just out from Faber (HB; £25) tangles with memory – what we choose to remember, what to forget – as history takes hold, and he argues that music can become in many ways the...

  
• 09.15.2023

  Parry's Prometheus Unbound, with William Vann

  The conductor William Vann discusses his superb new Chandos Records release of Parry's Prometheus Unbound, Gramophone's Recording of the Month, with Editor Martin Cullingford. 

  
• 09.08.2023

  Decca Icons: Benjamin Britten

  In a series of four Decca Icons podcasts, Gramophone's James Jolly explores the artistry of four major recording musicians with Rob Cowan, Jed Distler and Richard Fairman. Focusing on recordings in the Decca catalogue, the series turns the spotlight on Bernard Haitink, Vladimir...

  
• 09.01.2023

  Exploring Shostakovich

  The latest in our series of composer podcasts focusses on Dmitri Shostakovich. Edward Seckerson joins Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford to share his insights with us into one of the greatest of 20th-century musical figures, with a particular focus on his...

  
• 08.25.2023

  Decca Icons: Sir Georg Solti

  In this third in our series of Decca Icons podcasts, James talks to the critic and broadcaster Rob Cowan about the Hungarian-born Sir Georg Solti who made his first recording for Decca in 1947 and remained a Decca artist until...

  
• 08.18.2023

  Jennifer Higdon on her Duo Duel and Concerto for Orchestra

  Jennifer Higdon wrote her Concerto for Orchestra for the Philadelphia Orchestra and its then-Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch who gave the work its premiere in 2002. Since then it's been recorded by the Atlanta Symphony and, on a new Naxos album...

  
• 08.11.2023

  Rachel Barton Pine on links between classical and metal music

  Rachel Barton Pine's new album pairs Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No 1 with a new work by Earl Maneein called Dependent Arising, a heavy metal-influenced concerto written especially for her. In this week's Gramophone Podcast the violinist tells Editor Martin Cullingford about...

  
• 08.09.2023

  Decca Icons: Vladimir Ashkenazy

  In a series of four Decca Icons podcasts, Gramophone's James Jolly explores the artistry of four major recording musicians with Rob Cowan, Jed Distler and Richard Fairman. Focusing on recordings in the Decca catalogue, the series turns the spotlight on...

  
• 08.04.2023

  Tan Dun on his 'Buddha Passion'

  In the latest Podcast Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford caught up with the multi Award-winning composer Tan Dun to explore his new work, Buddha Passion, available on Decca, and to hear his fascinating thoughts on composing, conducting and on music in...

  
• 07.28.2023

  Hyperion Records: we explore the label's Award-winning history

  Hyperion Records, one of the most admired and successful of specialist classical music labels, is from today available on streaming services. The entire catalogue will be uploaded in stages over the next year, but the initial 200 albums released today...

  
• 07.26.2023

  Decca Icons: Bernard Haitink

  In a series of four Decca Icons podcasts, Gramophone's James Jolly explores the artistry of four major recording musicians with Rob Cowan, Jed Distler and Richard Fairman. Focusing on recordings in the Decca catalogue, the series turns the spotlight on...

  
• 07.21.2023

  Rob Cowan on listening to historic recordings

  This week’s Podcast is another special long-length edition, for which Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by Rob Cowan, Gramophone’s expert on historic and archive recordings and the author for 30 years now of our monthly feature devoted to the area,...

  
• 07.14.2023

  Kenneth Fuchs on his first Chandos album with John Wilson

  Following five acclaimed albums with the LSO and JoAnn Falletta for Naxos, the composer Kenneth Fuchs has released a new collection of his orchestral works with John Wilson's Sinfonia of London. Recorded at St Augustine's, Kilburn, in North London, by...

  
• 07.07.2023

  Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2023 - the nominees, Part 2, with Rob Cowan

  Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year is the only award voted for by our readers and music lovers worldwide. Each year, the magazine's editors produce a short list of 10 ensembles whose music-making, particularly on record, has made a particularly strong...

  
• 06.30.2023

  Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2023 - the nominees, Part 1, with Andrew Mellor

  Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year is the only award voted for by our readers and music lovers worldwide. Each year, the magazine's editors produce a short list of 10 ensembles whose music-making, particularly on record, has made a particularly strong...

  
• 06.23.2023

  Benjamin Appl and James Baillieu on 'Forbidden Fruit'

  For his second album for Alpha Classics, again with his regular piano partner James Baillieu, the German baritone Benjamin Appl has put together a programme under the title 'Forbidden Fruit'. Musically it ranges widely, taking in songs in English, French...

  
• 06.16.2023

  Handel: a podcast portrait

  The July edition of Gramophone features a fascinating article by Handel expert Richard Wigmore, in which he focusses on six specific years spread throughout the composer's life to offer a fascinating insight into his art and his era. Last year...

  
• 06.09.2023

  Richard Boothby on his new album 'Music to hear...'

  This week's Gramophone Podcast sees acclaimed viol player, and founding member of Fretwork, Richard Boothby join Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new album 'Music to hear...'. Featuring works by Alfonso Ferrabosco written for lyra viol and dating from...

  
• 06.02.2023

  Lawrence Brownlee on his new album, Rising

  This week's guest on the Gramophone Podcast is tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new album 'Rising', recorded with pianist Kevin J Miller, and available now from Warner Classics. The beautifully-performed programme includes commissions from...