Violinist Nicola Benedetti is one of the world's leading advocates for quality music education - an ambassador whose passion for her role is evident in what she says and what she does. This podcast features an interview with her about the Benedetti Foundation, plus excerpts from sessions for primary school children run in London. 

Tom Hammond conducts the Orchestra of the Swan on 21 January 2020 in a programme featuring music by Sibelius. In this podcast he discusses how he discovered Sibelius' music. He also previews some of the events in the 2020 Hertfordshire Music Festival. 

Conductor and harpsichordist Christophe Rousset discusses the writing of composer Lully following a performance of 'Isis' given at Opera Royal in the Palace of Versailles on Tuesday 10 December.

Read a synopsis of the opera on the Les Talens Lyriques website. A recording of the opera made by Les Talens Lyriques is available on Spotify or to purchase. 

Ahead of Tafelmusik's European tour this week, music director Elissa Citterio talks about how she came to work with the Canadian Baroque orchestra, and her love of the Italian orchestral sound. 

Easy well-matched conversation with someone who thrives on self-deprecation, draws on NLP tools and techniques when she talks, and whose approach to digital storytelling chimes with my own. Earlier this week a new colleague reinforced a perspective I’ve held (but not really articulated much) he learned by being in a lift with a broadcaster. Joyful content comes when those doing the storytelling are at their ease, when there’s spontaneity, and when there’s the lightest-touch of plans. There’s a need too to be at ease sharing the reality of life - the antidote to the habit we all have of planning all the spontaneity out of a moment. Tessa and I talked about composer Michael Torke, perfectionism, sound production, and Schubert’s C major Fantasie.

Overlook the mis-pronunciation of the marvellous Roxanna Panufnik's name in the recorded introduction to this podcast. 

The important stuff is what follows. Roxanna is warm, open, and generous in her contributions, at ease recalling her formative years as she is responding to my frequent 'ums' and 'ahs'. 

Thanks for supporting the podcast. You really are special people. 

Annelien Van Wauwe's new album on Pentatone features music from the late 19th century Belle Epoque - the 'beautiful era' - and includes works by Debussy, Brahms, Widor and Pierne. In this podcast Annelien discusses her relationship with the music and her approach to playing, practicing and teaching.  

Voces 8 founder and participation manager provides a guided tour of the singing group's residential course for amateur singers at Milton Abbey in Dorset. Music includes Bruch's Violin Concerto from Thomas Gould and Haydn's Creation. Also featuring one proud mum.