New sessions available for amateur and professional musicians root musical practise in the context of the wider arts and cultural scene, and they're delivered by Zoom. Sophie Renshaw discusses the project in this podcast episode. For more information about courses available visit https://www.insideoutmusician.com/.

Visions of Childhood with soprano April Fredrick, the English Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kenneth Woods is out on 5 February 2021 - https://orcd.co/_visionsofchildhood

Conductor Julian Perkins and soprano Kate Howden discuss Stephen Dodgson's rarely performed compelling chamber opera about the life of a Suffolk girl who broke the law for love. Purchase the recording of the work via all the usual platforms. https://naxos.lnk.to/866045961Na!product_page#

Jon Jacob speaks to John Rutter, Bryn and Marios Papadopoulos MBE at a recording for the Oxford Philharmonic's digital Christmas concert dedicated to scientists who have discovered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. 

The concert features the premiere of John Rutter's new carol 'Joseph Carol' and is available on the Oxford Philharmonic's YouTube and Facebook pages from 18th December. 

Lifelong friends Katharine Dain and Sam Armstrong ended up quarantining together in Rotterdam for more time in 2020 than they anticipated. The result was a new album of music by Messaien, Debussy, Delbos, and Duitilleux. Buy it here >> https://lnk.to/KatharineDainRegardsSurLInfini

Jon Jacob talks to composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson about a new release on the Orchid Classics label pairing Simpson's Geysir with Mozart's Gran Partita. Full credits via the Orchid Classics website. https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100150-mark-simpson/

In the week that industry magazine Classical Music shifts to online, Jon Jacob speaks to its editor Lucy Thraves. Visit Classical Music online at https://www.classical-music.uk.

Riga-Jurmala Festival 2021 runs from 16 July - 29 August 2021. Tickets are on sale now and up until the end of 1 November 2020, are available at 30% off the usual sale price. Artists include Yuja Wang, King Singers, Chicago Symphony with Riccard Mutti, and the Concertgebouw with Daniel Harding. For more information visit www.riga-jurmala.com.