Pianist Tim Horton is a busy chap. Always playing the piano and playing it a lot. Wigmore Hall, Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, Ensemble 360. All manner of places. So I consider it a considerable triumph that we arranged to meet in person a week or so ago to talk about his Wigmore Hall Chopin project -- there's a concert on December 11 and one in March 2025. Its not simply the programme that I was drawn to, but the way in which he suggests to audience members what they might listen out for in performance and, how that suggestion, might actually influence the way in which someone listens. In all truth, this suggestion about listening for ambiguity in music (instead of the predictable) doesn't simply extend to his concerts, but perhaps to all listening to classical. And if more people bought into, what impact might it have on how we appreciate live performance in the moment?

Rob Plane introduces music that he's discovered and advocated, written by the disappointingly lesser known composer Pamela Harrison.

Continuing the theme of leadership in the arts, this Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast profiles the career todate of Kings Place Artistic Director Sam McShane. In the conversation that follows, you'll get a sense of Sam's distinct leadership philosophy, her vision for the venue including her aims to deepen engagement in Islington in which the venue resides. She also candidly discusses balancing financial challenges and artistic opportunities at King's Place.

Roxanna Panufnik wins Outstanding Wins Collection at the Ivors Classical 2024. In this episode she shares a personal selection of works plus a candid reflection on the experience of hearing the premiere of her Coronational Sactus at the King's Big Do last year.

This episode features violinist Madeleine Mitchell introducing the return of the Red Violin Festival in Leeds, her connection with Yehudi Menuhin, and the career-long fascination with composer Herbert Howells whose In Gloucestershire Quartet forms part of a new release of recordings on the SOMM label of rarely heard works by the English composer.

The Red Violin Festival runs from 14th to 19th October 2014. Madeleine Mitchell and the London Chamber Ensemble's recordings of works by Howells and Charles Wood is released on Friday 18 October.

This episode features three singers and one conductor who have either participated in or are currently part of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Opera Programme. Their insights explore the unique experience of this two-year scheme, focusing on the development of rehearsal and stagecraft skills, as well as the journey toward building their authentic professional identities.

Soprano Claire Booth discusses two new albums she's released in 2024 to mark 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg's birth.

Composer Adrian Sutton, the creative force behind the Olivier Award-winning scores for War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, speaks to Jon Jacob, reflecting on his diverse career, spanning from TV advertising to his celebrated work in theatre and concert music.

As Sutton prepares for the October 2024 release of his latest album, featuring his Violin Concerto performed by Fenella Humphreys and the BBC Philharmonic, he shares the inspirations and challenges behind his compositions. The episode also touches on his resilience in the face of a stage four cancer diagnosis and his unwavering dedication to his craft.