Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

Give the listening audience the chance to reflect on what they’ve just heard and what it means to them, instead of resorting to hype, sycophancy, or post-performance reviews

A new training orchestra for conservatoire musicians from Russia and the UK starts rehearsing for a month of concerts in September 2019. Novaya Opera Artistic Director explains the thinking behind the bi-lateral project, what he discovered during auditions for the orchestra, and reveals some of the differences between UK and Russian orchestral musicians. More information at www.bsfo.org.

What marked Martin out for leadership? What mindset helped him be successful. What does he look for in artists? The former VP of Deutsche Grammophon - Artists and Repertoire - shared insights into how the record industry works, why he moved from artist management to artistic directorship. And, his connection with the Aldeburgh Festival. 

Russian violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky discusses Menuhin, the Soviet music education system, and nerves in this podcast recorded at the Verbier Festival on Sunday 28 July 2019. 

Nicolas Hodges appears at the BBC Proms 2019 in a performance of Messiaen's Des Canyon aux étoiles. Here he discusses the different ways birdsong sounds across the world, how eight weeks when he was a teenager made contemporary music inescapable, and what happens in the moment between the final note of a piece of music and the applause beginning. 

Principal clarinettist of the Philharmonia Mark van de Wiel discuss the Mozart and Phibbs recordings just released Signum, plus explain his development as a musician with teachers Dame Thea King and Colin Bradbury. Buy via the Signum website >> https://signumrecords.com/product/phibbs-and-mozart/SIGCD578/

Matthew Barley's recording of John Tavener's The Protecting Veil was released on the Signum label in June 2019. It's available via Spotify. 

BBC Proms management bod introduces what's in store during the 2019 season.