Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

Written in 2019 and originally premiering at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2020, Tom Coult and Alice Birch's 'Violet' tells the 24-day story of a village discovering the gradual loss of time. Recorded at rehearsals in the Jerwood Space in London in May 2022. 'Violet' opens the 2022 Aldeburgh Festival on 3 June. 🎫 https://brittenpearsarts.org/events/violet

Released on Friday 6 May, 'Air' features a collection composer Oliver Davis' characteristically uplifting writing performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Kerensa Peacock, and Grace Davidson. Jon Jacob speaks to Davis about his dyslexia, his compositional influences, and his commercial writing experience. This podcast was recorded in March 2022 at the Southbank Centre. 

"Beauty and the Seven Beasts is possibly the most incredible but also the most challenging Opera Story project so far." Opera Story Hamish McKay, soprano Katherine Aitken, Dan de Sousa, and conductor Berrek Dyer talk about this new work combining the librettos and music of eight composers in one chamber opera staged at Brixton Jamm, 6-14 April 2022.

On the day James Ehnes was meant to be playing Berg's Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, we meet on Zoom to discuss intonation, Walton, and being a tourist in London. 

How did Gillian Moore's musical upbringing shape her views about the relevance of music in the lives of everyone today? Ahead of her appearance a the Association of British Orchestras conference in Glasgow in February 2022, she reflects on her own experiences and offers some thoughts on what we need to do next to secure music in the lives of future generations. 

Baritone Benjamin Appl prepared for his first ever performance of Schubert epic song cycle Winterreise by learning the work on a four-hour car journey back in 2010. Twelve years later he's recorded it with pianist James Baillieu both as an album and in a documentary made by John Bridcut. Baillieu and Appl perform live at Wigmore Hall on 18th February 2022. 

Jon Jacob speaks to a selection of Ivors Composer Award Winners from 2021 backstage at the ceremony in the British Museum. 

Clarinettist Barnaby Robson discusses his latest release on Orchid Classics. 

Hear participants Ryan Corbett, Milly Forrest, Mathias Balzart, David Zucchi and members of the Echea String Quartet, plus artistic director Geoff Parkin discuss the importance of the Royal Overseas League Music Competition. 

The Gold Medal 2021 will be staged at the Royal Overseas League in London on Wednesday 24 November. Watch live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpkkTQnwNHGi7Jj_SK6x20g. 

Theatre of Sound director Daisy Evans and conductor Stephen Higgins are currently mid-way through a run of a new of Bartók’s only opera Bluebeard's Castle. Their work reimagines the piece as a love story between a long-married couple – Duke Bluebeard and Judith – both coming to terms with living with dementia. The production is staged at Stone Nest – a stunning former Welsh chapel in the heart of London’s West End – and runs until 14 November with singers soprano Susan Bullock, bass-baritone Gerald Finley, baritone Michael Mayes and soprano Gweneth Ann Rand sharing the principal roles of Duke Bluebeard and Judith. Tickets via the Theatre of Sound website.