A new set of songs composed by Russell Hepplewhite with words by Michael Rosen joins the ever-growing Friday Afternoons songbank commissioned by Britten-Pears Arts. Russell explores his compositional journey and how 'Everything' came to be written. More information on the Friday Afternoons website. 

Two composers born 80 years apart, one in Russia, the other in France. What links the two? And how did pianist Sabine Weyer come to be introduced to both? The answer is via email. Buy Sabine Weyer's Mysteries via Presto Music. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/3952--interview-sabine-weyer-on-miaskovsky-and-bacri

Waterperry Opera returns in 2021 with a series of outdoor performances running from 12-21 August 2021. Guy Withers, Rebecca Meltzer and Emma Doherty explore some of the challenges the Company faces post-lockdown. Box Office opens 3 May. More details on the Waterperry website. https://www.waterperryoperafestival.co.uk/

Composer, arranger and pianist Iain Farrington's new album of Gershwin tunes is out on the SOMM label on 16th April 2021. In this podcast Farrington talks to Jon Jacob about his transcribing, his work as a musician, and how the BBC Proms 2020 season opener came to be. Buy the album https://newalbm.link/gershwinicity/

Manchester Collective's first album 'The Centre is Everywhere' features works by Schoenberg and Glass, plus a commission by Edmund Finnis. Adam Szabo and Rakhi Singh discuss the recording and their thoughts about digital projects embarked upon by arts organisations during the global pandemic. 

St Johns Smith Square Holy Week Festival 2021 begins on Sunday 28 March - Palm Sunday. Vocal group Tenebrae under the direction of Nigel Short features in pre-recorded and live streams as well as Amici Voices, violinist

Lana Trotovšek, Bojan Čičić, and organist Steven Devine. For more information visit the St John's Smith Square website. 

On 5 March 2021, Clare Hammond releases her fifth disc for BIS Records with an adventurous programme of twentieth and twenty-first-century variations for piano.

Music: Karol Szymanowski – Variations on a Polish Theme, Op. 10 (1904)