This episode features violinist Madeleine Mitchell introducing the return of the Red Violin Festival in Leeds, her connection with Yehudi Menuhin, and the career-long fascination with composer Herbert Howells whose In Gloucestershire Quartet forms part of a new release of recordings on the SOMM label of rarely heard works by the English composer. T…

This episode features three singers and one conductor who have either participated in or are currently part of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Opera Programme. Their insights explore the unique experience of this two-year scheme, focusing on the development of rehearsal and stagecraft skills, as well as the journey toward building their authentic pr…

Toks Dada, Head of Classical Music at Southbank Centre, reflects on his four years running one of Europe's largest classical music series, drawing on his own lifelong vision. That vision balances continuity, tradition and innovation. The conversation touches on a shift in ticket buying post-pandemic and the opportunities this behavioural changes pr…

Soprano Claire Booth discusses two new albums she's released in 2024 to mark 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg's birth.

Composer Adrian Sutton, the creative force behind the Olivier Award-winning scores for War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, speaks to Jon Jacob, reflecting on his diverse career, spanning from TV advertising to his celebrated work in theatre and concert music. As Sutton prepares for the October 2024 release of his latest…

Recorded in Stoke on Trent where members of the NYO - the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain are rehearsing for their summer concert tour in which they perform music by Wagner, Mahler, and Missy Mazolli at Bridgewater Hall on 7 August, Saffron Hall in Cambridgeshire on 9th, and finally the BBC Proms on 10th August.…

This Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast episode features Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu who, on the 16th August releases her recording of Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor (pared the Grieg Piano Concerto). She's also playing a major role in the Leeds International Piano Competition later this year giving the first Alexandra Darie…

The Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast hears from mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron in this episode, previewing her appearance at the 2024 Ryedale Festival in particular her collaboration with dancer Suleiman Suleiman and musician Hibiki Ichikawa intertwining a Japanese Kabuki play with Schubert's iconic Winterreise song cycle. In this podcast Fleur …

Organist and pianist James McVinnie is Artist in Residence at Southbank Centre in London this year. His programming like many of his recordings often juxtaposes old and new These juxtapositions can bring about a delicious kind of cognitive shift for the listener. James explored his art, his approach to performance and explains more about his fascin…

Conductor, organist, harpsichordist and lovely man Ton Koopman riffs on the joys of JS Bach at BachFest in Leipzig, ahead of his festival in the Dordogne - Itineraire Baroque - where he and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra will be performing Bach’s St John Passion.

Jon Jacob speaks to ETO General Director Robin Norton-Hale and members of the cast and production team about the English Touring Opera production of Blond Eckbert that opens the 75th Aldeburgh Festival on 7th June 2024.

How can recontextualising classical music help build a new audience for the genre? Classics Explained YouTube producer Ben Levy explores the opportunities he's discovered using animation to tell the story of some of classics most-loved works, and some of the pushback he's received doing so.

This episode spotlights a new release from cellist Tim Posner. Recorded weeks ago, this episode has I'm sorry to say been subject to all manner of technical challenges. Publication has been delayed as a result. But all good things come to those who wait. And this is GOOD. Tim Posner's debut album includes music by Bloch, Bruch and Dohnanyi is a cas…

Hailstones, frogs and sexy trills. Monteverdi Choir's director Peter Whelan joins Amy Wood and Nick Pritchard to introduce the detail and the colour in Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt.

LPO Principal Concductor Edward Gardner, and LPO Conducting Fellows Charlotte Politi and Luis Castillo-Briceño reflecting on their roles as conductors and the process of developing their conducting presence.

Lovely people from across the classical music industry share their reflections on the year gone by, and look forward to the year ahead. Hear thoughts and recommendations from violinist Fenella Humphreys, pianist Charles Owen, Roger Wright, London Chamber Orchestra's Jocelyn Lightfoot, Manchester Camerata's Bob Riley and Manchester Collective's Rakh…

Schubert's epic and much-revered song cycle Die Schoene Mullerin is given a folksy feel with a new recording released by Rubicon Classics featuring Barokksolistene and Thomas Guthrie (who you'll hear in this podcast episode). If you're pro-deference this one probably isn't for you, but if you're open, curious or in need of a fresh approach then com…

Soprano Katharine Dain and pianist Sam Armstrong reflect on the recording of their latest ravishing duo album Forget This Night, featuring the music of Lili Boulanger, Karol Szymanowski, and Grażyna Bacewicz.

Hear the thoughts and reflections of two Ivor Award-Winning composers - John Rutter and Tansy Davies. Both doing the same thing - writing music. Both creating entirely different work. At the 2023 Awards at the British Film Institute in London, Tansy Davies received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Works Collection. John Rutter received the Aca…

Producer and Director Tom Volf explores his fascination with soprano Maria Callas and the work involved restoring her 1958 Paris debut for cinema release.

Violinist Victoria Mullova and cellist Matthew Barley explore Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht.

Guitarist Miloš Karadaglić reflects on his work producing the new album 'Baroque' released October 2023.

Cordelia Williams returns to the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast to talk about her new album on SOMM 'Cascade', and to reflect on her experiences teaching in Kenya.

Lucy Parham introduces selected piano works by Sergei Rachmaninoff ahead of her London Piano Festival appearance with actor Tim McInnery. For more information and tickets visit: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/london-piano-festival/

Composer Joseph Phibbs returns to the podcast to introduce two new pieces premiered at Hatfield Chamber Music Festival and Wigmore Hall on 29th October and 7th October.