To the uninitiated, the conductor can seem superfluous – simply waving their arms in the air while the orchestra does the hard work. But the art of conducting is fundamental to a great orchestra’s sound and identity. Jeremy Pound speaks to BBC Symphony Orchestra principal conductor Sakari Oramo about this mysterious vocation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The team from BBC Music Magazine demystify the world of classical music through down-to-earth discussion and lively interviews. Want to know what an orchestral conductor actually does? Or how to write an effective soundtrack? Then this is the podcast for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing a brand new season of BBC Music Magazine’s Music to my Ears podcast. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be joined by a raft of famous faces from the classical music world and beyond, including comedian Deborah Frances-White, former Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger, composer Errollyn Wallen, poet Wendy Cope and conductor Vasily Petrenko. Join us for a new episode every Wednesday and subscribe now to stay updated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this month's podcast, we discuss Yo-Yo Ma's intrepid musical exploration across the globe, from the Silk Road to Appalachian America. Plus, we discuss the plans for this year's slightly different BBC Proms season and what London's Wigmore Hall is doing to welcome artists back to its stage. We've also each brought along a new recording we've been enjoying, including a fresh interpretation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, plus works by Morton Gould and Louis-Gabriel Guillemain. NEWS: Pentecost - Sequentia - Veni Sancte Spiritus Benedictine nuns of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Fidélité of Jouques, Provence THE MAGAZINE Scarcely Cricket Not Our First Goat Rodeo Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Stuart Duncan (violin), Edgar Meyer (bass), Chris Thile (mandolin) Sony Masterworks 19439738552 Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1: IV. Presto Alina Ibragimova (violin), State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’/Vladimir Jurowski Hyperion CDA68313 FIRST LISTEN Freya's choice: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brio MusicAeterna/Teodor Currentzis Sony 19075884972 Michael's choice: Louis-Gabriel Guillemain : Symphony in E flat major, Op. 14 No.2 : I. Allegro Brillance Indéniable Alana Youssefian (violin), Le Bien Aimé Avie AV2412 Jeremy's choice: Morton Gould – Symphonettes Conga from Symphonette No. 4 ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra/Arthur Fagen Naxos 8559869 This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s deputy editor Jeremy Pound, with reviews editor Michael Beek and editorial assistant Freya Parr. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this month's podcast, we announce the winners of this year's BBC Music Magazine Awards and listen to a track from our Recording of the Year. Plus, we discuss the enduring relationship between two artistic forms: classical music and fashion. We also look back on the recent highlights of musicians innovating during the lockdown period while they're not able to work in the usual way. These include mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston's new cookbook: Notes from Musicians' Kitchens, and the English National Opera's plans for drive-in opera at Alexandra Palace. We also discuss the handful of orchestras and concert halls that are offering concert tickets to NHS workers following the lockdown. As usual, we've each brought along a recording we've been enjoying, including a violin arrangement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto and José Serebrier's Flute Concerto. THE MAGAZINE BBC Music Magazine Awards Recording of the Year: Purcell: King Arthur Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Rowan Pierce, Carolyn Sampson (sopranos), Jeremy Budd (high tenor), James Way (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh Signum SIGCD589 Recording of the Month: Debussy & Rameau Víkingur Ólafsson (piano) DG 4837701 FIRST LISTEN Freya's choice: José Serebrier: Flute Concerto Sharon Bezaly (flute), Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti  BIS BIS2423 Oliver's choice: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Part 2 Inon Barnatan (piano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields Pentatone PTC5186824 Michael's choice: Amours, toujours! Smoking Joséphine Naive V5469 This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with reviews editor Michael Beek and editorial assistant Freya Parr. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this month's podcast, we reflect on some of our favourite concerts that have been streamed online over the past few weeks, and suggest a few to look out for in the coming months. Plus, we discuss the new virtual festival of the arts 'Culture in Quarantine' on BBC Arts. Also this month, we discuss the fabulous virtuosity of violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov as he marks 40 years on stage, and Ravi Shankar, whose centenary we are celebrating in our May issue. As usual, we've each brought along a recording we've been enjoying, from an orchestral work inspired by the Canary Islands to a choral piece based on an Estonian folk hymn. THE MAGAZINE Maxim Vengerov Ravel: Violin Sonata Maxim Vengerov, Roustem Saïtkoulov at Carnegie Hall in 2018 (available on Idagio) Cover CD: Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Donald Runnicles FIRST LISTEN Freya's choice: Chigaday (La Gomera) - for Orchestra Gustavo Díaz-Jerez: Maghek – Seven Symphonic Poems About The Canary Islands Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Eduardo Portal Signum Classics SIGCD612 Oliver's choice: Whilst greater is our poverty, still greater is our blessing Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel Vox Clamantis ECM 4819041 Jeremy's choice: Mathias: Harp Sonata, Second Movement: Allegro Vivo A Vision of Time and Eternity Michelle Gott (harp) Naxos 8.574053 This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Freya Parr. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the April issue of the BBC Music Magazine Podcast, we discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on music festivals across the globe. We also look at the recently released list of PRS Women Changing Music, which features a number of film composers.  Also this month, we flick through the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine, which features pianist Angela Hewitt on the cover. We reflect on the tragic story of her broken Fazioli piano, which hit headlines earlier this year. You’ll also get to hear an extract from our Recording of the Month: Federico Colli performing Domenico Scarlatti’s piano sonatas. As always, we’ve each brought along a new recording we’ve discovered this month, including works by Caroline Shaw, Bernard Hughes and Nikolai Tcherepnin.  * PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago. Because of the fast-paced nature of the coronavirus outbreak, some of our references to its impact on the music scene may already be out of date. THE MAGAZINE: D Scarlatti:  Sonata KK427 in G major  D Scarlatti: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 Federico Colli (piano) Chandos CHAN20134 FIRST LISTEN: Michael’s choice: Not Now, Bernard – Part 1 Not Now, Bernard and other stories Alexander Armstrong (narrator), Orchestra of the Swan/Tom Hammond Orchid Classics ORC100115 Oliver’s choice: Caroline Shaw: Schisma Healing Modes Brooklyn Rider In A Circle Records IRC014 Jeremy’s choice: Nikolai Tcherepnin: Narcisse et Echo, Op. 40 Bamberger Symphoniker/Łukasz Borowicz CPO 555250-2 This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with deputy editor Jeremy Pound and reviews editor Michael Beek. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the March 2020 edition of the BBC Music Magazine Podcast! This month we discuss the news that the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will only travel by train (rather than plane) on its upcoming tour, as part of its commitment to becoming carbon neutral. We also look at new research which uncovers the fact that Beethoven may not, in fact, have been completely deaf when his final symphony was premiered.  Also this episode, we explore the genius of Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz and hear one of her stunning string quartets. Another iconic Eastern European composer is also celebrated this month: Sofia Gubaidulina, who is featured in this month’s issue having recently been awarded the prestigious RPS Gold Medal. As always, we’ve each brought along our favourite new musical discoveries this month, including chamber works by Lili Boulanger, piano miniatures by Kancheli and new orchestral works by Lithuanian composer Raminta Šerkšnytė.  This episode is presented by managing editor Rebecca Franks, who is joined by editorial assistant Freya Parr and deputy editor Jeremy Pound. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. News: Molto Vivace from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä BIS BISSACD1616 The Magazine: Vivo from Bacewicz's String Quartet No. 3 Lutosławski Quartet Naxos 8572806 Sofia Gubaidulina: Chaconne Anna Vinnitskaya (piano)  Ambroisie AM177 First Listen: Rebecca's choice: Demain fera un an (Tomorrow it will be a year) Clairières: Songs by Lili and Nadia Boulanger Nicholas Phan (tenor), Myra Huang (piano) Avie AV2414 Jeremy's choice: Extraordinary Exhibition Kancheli: 33 Miniatures George Vatchnadze (piano), Suren Bagratuni (cello) Piano Classics PCL10198 Freya's choice: Songs of Sunset and Dawn: III. Morning. Eternal Morning Works by Raminta Šerkšnytė Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra/Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Deutsche Grammophon 4837761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our February 2020 podcast, we discuss cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s entry into the Official UK Album Chart, the first cellist in history to do so. We also analyse the nominees for Best Original Score at this year’s Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes, and look at who from the classical music was named on the New Year’s Honours list this year. Also this episode, we listen to extracts from both our cover CD and our Recording of the Month, the latter of which is pianist Angela Hewitt performing Bach’s Partitas. Plus, we bring you the nominees for this year’s BBC Music Magazine Awards! As usual, we each bring along a recording we’ve discovered and have been enjoying this month, from piccolo music by Thea Musgrave to Spanish piano music by Granados. This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by editorial assistant Freya Parr and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. News: Judith Bingham: The Drowned Lovers Maria Forsström (mezzo-soprano), Swedish Chamber Choir/Simon Phipps Chandos CHSA5255 Elgar: Enigma Variations – Nimrod Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Ben Davies (cello), Hannah Roberts (cello), Josephine Knight (cello), Caroline Dearnley (cello), Ashok Khluda (cello) Decca 4850241 The Magazine: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brio BBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea Noseda JS Bach: Partita No. 1 in B flat: VI. Gigue Angela Hewitt (piano) Hyperion CDA68271/2 First Listen: Phantasm: Clavierubung III The Well-Tempered Consort Phantasm Linn CKD618 Granados: Oriental (Danza Espanola) Saudades Romain Nosbaum (piano) ARS Produktion ARS38287 Thea Musgrave: Piccolo Play: IV. Les Papillons Mighty Metamorphoses Peter Verhoyen (piccolo), Stefan De Schepper (piano) Etcetera Records KTC1668 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our January 2020 podcast, we find out about violinist Nicola Benedetti's latest venture, an impressive educational initiative that she's been dreaming of starting for years. She's our cover star on the January issue of BBC Music Magazine, and in this podcast we also enjoy a clip from our cover CD of works by Mozart and Schubert, played by BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists. Plus, in this episode we pay tribute to the late conductors Mariss Jansons and Stephen Cleobury, bring news of the winners at the 2019 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards and hear about Olga Neuwirth's Orlando, which became the first opera by a woman to be staged in 150 years at the Vienna State Opera. And, as usual, we each bring along a new recording we've been enjoying this month. This episode is presented by deputy editor Jeremy Pound, who is joined by managing editor Rebecca Franks and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. Recordings: Mahler Symphony No. 3 Randi Stene; Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus/Mariss Jansons Simax PSC1272 Jeremy's choice: Forgotten Treasures Buffalo Philharmonic/JoAnn Falletta Beau Fleuve 6059960998531 Rebecca's choice: The Etudes Project: Volume One Jenny Lin (piano) Sono Luminus DSL-92236 Michael's choice Vivaldi/Jupiter Lea Desandre, Bruno Philippe, Peter Whelan, Thomas Dunford Alpha Classics ALPHA550 Stories: Mariss Jansons (1943-2019) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50630050 Sir Stephen Cleobury (1948-2019) https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/24/sir-stephen-cleobury-obituary Winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards: http://www.classical-music.com/news/winners-royal-philharmonic-society-awards-2019-revealed Orlando world premiere review: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/14/orlando-vienna-state-opera-review-olga-neuwirth-world-premiere-virginia-woolf January 2020 issue of BBC Music Magazine http://www.classical-music.com/magazine/next-issue/bbc-music-magazine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have mince pies, sherry and crackers: it must be time for the Christmas podcast! Join us for an episode packed with Yuletide joy, beautiful new carols by Dobrinka Tabakova, Toby Young, Cecilia McDowall and Michael Finnissy, as well as our favourite festive musical jokes. Plus hear all about our Christmas isssue. Our cover feature takes a look at a masterpiece that has redefined the sound of Christmas, Handel's Messiah; we also explore the parish church choir scene, and find out what concert-hall horrors cause musicians to see red. And, of course, we've brought along a batch of the latest Christmas CDs we've been enjoying. Merry Christmas! This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by deputy editor Jeremy Pound, managing editor Rebecca Franks, editorial assisstant Freya Parr and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. Recordings: Dobrinka Tabakova Good-will to men, and peace on Earth Choir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen Rees BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CD Toby Young The Owl Choir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen Rees BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CD Extracts from Handel's Messiah Taverner Choir and Players/Andrew Parrott Virgin Veritas 562 0042 Peter Warlock Bethlehem Down Christmas at St George's Windsor Choir of St George's Windsor/James Vivian Hyperion CDA 68281 First Listen Choices: Christmas at St George's Windsor Choir of St George's Windsor/James Vivian Hyperion CDA 68281 Advent Carols from King's College, London Choir of King's College, London/Joseph Fort Delphian DCD34226 Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov'/Vladimir Jurowski Pentatone PTC5186761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our December 2019 podcast, we pay tribute to the late soprano Jessye Norman and listen to one of her best recordings. We also discuss the new 'Music for Trees' app created by the Royal Parks in conjunction with the Royal Academy of Music. The app follows the roaming user as they walk around Regent's Park, playing corresponding compositions by RAM students. Plus, we take a look at this year's shortlist for the RPS Awards. We flick through the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine and listen to our superb Recording of the Month. As Hildegard von Bingen is our Composer of the Month, we discuss what it is about her music that has stood the test of time and has made it so adaptable for musicians across all genres. Plus, we explore the new phenomenon of implanting movie-style age ratings on operas. As usual, we all bring along our favourite new recordings from the last month, including Gabriela Montero's new 'Latin' piano concerto and a new disc from the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge. Recordings: Black Voices Rise: African American Artists at the Met, 1955-1985 Wagner: Tannhäuser – 'Dich, teure Helle' Met Opera Productions The Sun Rising The Beloved Shostakovich 24 Preludes: V. Allegro vivace Andrey Gugnin (piano) Hyperion CDA68267 Jeremy's choice: Magnificat Glen Dempsey (organ), Choir of St John's College, Cambridge/Andrew Nethsingha Signum SIGCD588 Michael's choice: Hanns Eisler: Leipzig Symphony MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Kammersymphonie Berlin/Jurgen Bruns Capriccio C5268 Freya's choice: Gabriela Montero & Ravel: Piano Concerto Gabriela Montero (piano), Orchestra of the Americas/Carlos Miguel Prieto Orchid Classics ORC100104 Stories: Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2019 shortlists announced: http://www.classical-music.com/news/royal-philharmonic-society-awards-2019-shortlists-announced Music for Trees mobile app: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/things-to-see-and-do/music-for-trees-mobile-app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our November 2019 podcast, we discuss the news that the English National Opera has stopped offering established critics a second free ticket to opening nights, and instead gives those free tickets to 10 novice bloggers. It's a story which has received a huge amount of debate on Twitter, so we dive in and give our opinions. We also celebrate the appointment of the new BBC National Orchestra of Wales principal conductor, 29-year-old Californian Ryan Bancroft. Plus, we introduce our November issue, in which we talk to the formidable pianist Igor Levit about the challenges of recording all Beethoven's 32 sonatas. To mark St Andrew's Day, we look back on all the great works that have celebrated the rugged Scottish landscape. In light of the release of a new book on Shostakovich and football, we explore how his love of the beautiful game found its way into his music. As usual, we all bring along a recording we've been enjoying this month, including new works by Wynton Marsalis and Stephen Hough. Recordings: Veprik: Orchestral Works BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Christoph-Mathias Mueller MDG MDG9012133 Beethoven: The Piano Sonatas Igor Levit (piano) Sony 90175843182 Olly's choice: Bizet: Te Deum Angela Maria Blasi (soprano), Christian Elsner (tenor), Münchner MottenChor, Munich Symphony Orchestra/Hans Rudolf Zöbeley Hänssler HC19046 Jeremy's choice: A Love Letter to Liverpool Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano), Alisdair Hogarth (piano) Rubicon RCD1044 Freya's choice: Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto Nicola Benedetti (violin), Philadelphia Orchestra/Critistan Macelaru Decca 485013 Stories: Chorus of rage as ENO gives critics' coveted extra tickets to young bloggers: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/07/chorus-of-disapproval-eno-gives-critics-coveted-tickets-to-young-bloggers BBC National Orchestra of Wales chooses Ryan Bancroft as next principal conductor: http://www.classical-music.com/news/bbc-national-orchestra-wales-chooses-ryan-bancroft-next-principal-conductor Our November issue: http://www.classical-music.com/issue/november-2019-0 Subscribe to BBC Music Magazine: https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-music-magazine-subscription Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: http://www.classical-music.com/user/register Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our October 2019 podcast, we discuss the news that Jules Buckley has been taken on the role of creative artist in association at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the family of a girl chorister has sued Berlin Cathedral Choir after it rejected her application for an audition. Plus, we introduce our October issue, in which we talk to husband-and-wife team mezzo Magdalena Kožená and maestro Simon Rattle about their recording of works for voice and piano. We also try out the BBC Philharmonic’s new in-concert app, and, as usual, we each bring along a new recording we’ve been enjoying this month.  This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by deputy editor Jeremy Pound and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. Recordings: Brahms String Sextet No. 1 in B flat Raphael Ensemble Hyperion CDA66276 ‘Il volo cosí fido al doce’ from Handel’s Riccardo Primo Handel’s Queens Lucy Crowe, Mary Bevan, London Early Opera/Bridget Cunningham Signum SIGCD579 Olly’s choice: Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon Overture Malmö Symphony Orchestra/Darrell Ang Naxos 8573859 Jeremy’s choice: Lassen Violin Concerto Linus Roth, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Antony Hermus Hyperion CDA68268  Michael’s choice: ‘The Duel’ from John Williams’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn Across the Stars Anne-Sophie Mutter, The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles/John Williams Deutsche Grammophon 4797553 Stories: Bagpiper receives noise complaints for practising in back garden: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/4601608/alan-jamieson-wishaw-bagpipes-sunderland-hate-mail/ Berlin choir accused of gender discrimination by girl chorister: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/09/berlin-choir-accused-of-gender-discrimination-by-nine-year-old-girl Jules Buckley announced as creative artist in association: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/26/stormzy-collaborator-jules-buckley-bbc-symphony-orchestra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our September 2019 podcast, we bring you news of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's new conductor, the Royal Philharmonic Society's new membership offer, and a choir that hopes to bring the message of environmentalism to its audience. Plus we introduce our September issue, in which Julian Lloyd Webber delves into the world of Elgar's Cello Concerto, one hundred years after its premiere. He's also the soloist on your free cover CD. And, as ever, we bring along the new recordings that we've been enjoying this month. This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by editorial assistant Freya Parr and managing editor Rebecca Franks. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman. Recordings: A Scots Tune (From the Rowallan Manuscript) from SoftLoud Sean Shibe (guitar) Delphian DCD34213 Leopold Mozart Missa Solemnis Das Vokalprojekt, Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie/Alessandro De Marchi Aparté AP205 Rebecca's choice: 'Allegro Moderato Leggiero (Four to the Floor)' from Gabriel Prokofiev's Bass Drum Concerto Branford Marsalis, Joby Burgess, Ural Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexei Bogorad Signum Classics SIGCD584 Freya's choice: Hildegard von Bingen O vos felices radices from Supersize Polyphony Armonico Consort, Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber, Christopher Monks Signum Classics SIGCD560 Olly's choice: First movement from Bryce Dessner's Concerto for Two Pianos Marielle and Katia Labèque (piano); Orchestre de Paris/Matthias Pintscher Deutsche Grammophon 4818075 Stories: Our September issue is on sale now: http://www.classical-music.com/issue/september-2019 Subscribe to the magazine today: http://www.classical-music.com/subscribe/bbc-music-magazine/worldwide Edward Gardner appointed to the London Philharmonic Orchestra: http://www.classical-music.com/news/edward-gardner-announced-next-principal-conductor-london-philharmonic-orchestra Royal Philharmonic Society: https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/royal-philharmonic-society-announces-new-membership-offer/ Nature's Voice: https://www.templemusic.org/shop/thesoundofnature/?yr=2019&month=6&dy=&cid=mini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast we introduce our August issue, which stars the great Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. A stunning new recording of Weinberg symphonies is our Recording of the Month, and we also give you a taster of your free cover CD, featuring works by Ravel, Debussy and Lili Boulanger. It's been a busy month in the world of news, and we bring you details about BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and new initiatives from the CBSO and Tanglewood. Plus we bring along three of our favourite new recordings to share. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the July issue of the BBC Music Magazine podcast. This month we're celebrating all things Proms! We discuss the Proms we're particularly looking forward to in this year's season, from a Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra double concert to a Prom curated by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. Also this month, we discuss the various new conductor appointments in orchestras across the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the June episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast. This month we're celebrating Clara Schumann – astounding pianist, brilliant composer and general all-round musical powerhouse. Hear a clip of her Piano Trio in this podcast, as featured on your cover CD this month. Plus, we explore the turbulent life of Alma Mahler and take a look at the legendary Battle of the Baritones at the 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The votes have been counted and the results are in! In our May issue podcast, we celebrate the winners of the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2019 – including the wonderful Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, whose album Johann Sebastian Bach has won Recording of the Year. Elsewhere in the news, we hear that the Hallé is launching a new conducting competition, the Royal Opera House joins other leading arts organisations to offer courses for female conductors and the Warner record label has announced its latest signing… an algorithm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our April podcast, we discuss this year's BBC Ten Pieces scheme and the works that have been chosen, the Southbank Centre's new 'Encounters' scheme and the new programmes announced on Radio 3.  We also explore this month's magazine, and reveal the results of our poll with RadioTimes.com to find the greatest film theme of all time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our March podcast, we discuss the plans that have been revealed for the London Concert Hall, the new conductor appointments in orchestras across the UK and the decision by BIS Records to embrace eco-packaging. Plus, we share our favourite works by Berlioz - this month's cover star - and listen to a track from our Recording of the Month. As ever, we each bring along a recording we've been enjoying, with Polish and female composers taking centre stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Awards season! In our February podcast we launch the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2019, featuring the best recordings reviewed in the magazine in 2018. Plus in this episode we chat about this month's cover star, pianist James Rhodes, and find out about the bad behaviour and glamorous lives of opera divas in the 1920s. We've got music by Finzi and Lutoslawski to share with you, the latest news from the classical music word, as well as our favourite new recordings, which take us from Tchaikovsky's Russia to Florence Price and Charlie Chaplin's USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New year, new podcast episode! Welcome to the January edition of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, which kicks off with a look at the latest music news, from the Grammy nominations to a gender pay dispute. With Vivaldi's Four Seasons on the cover of our January magazine issue, we take a whistle-stop tour of the colourful and virtuosic violin concertos that have become known around the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Christmas episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy along with reviews editor Michael Beek and editorial assistant Freya Parr. This month, we discuss the winners of Young Chorister of the Year 2018, the bank-breaking Pavarotti art case and the research that shows that classical music recordings are getting significantly faster by the year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the December episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, presented by deputy editor Jeremy Pound along with managing editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Freya Parr. This month, we chat about the news that conductor Omer Meir Wellber has been appointed to the BBC Philharmonic, the death of the legendary Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé, and the launch of the BBC's Our Classical Century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's been going on in the classical music world this month? Join the BBC Music Magazine team for a look at the latest news, including the London Symphony Orchestra's new East London Academy and the Royal Opera House's revamped Linbury Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the October BBC Music Magazine podcast. In this episode, we bring you the latest classical music news, including details of BBC Radio 3's Christmas carol competition and a look at the decline in people studying music at GCSE level. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September brings one of the biggest concerts in the classical music calendar, the Last Night of the Proms. In this month's magazine – and this podcast – we celebrate saxophonist Jess Gillam, who has a starring role at this year's event. Plus, in this episode you can sample our dazzling saxophone cover CD. It features saxophonist John Harle and the BBC Concert Orchestra, playing concertos by Richard Rodney Bennett and Dominic Muldowney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Proms issue podcast! This month we chat about the BBC Symphony Orchestra's new East London home, find out which musicians have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours, and ponder who would win in a piano duel between robot and human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should audiences be allowed to bring food and drink into operas? Which age group is now most interested in orchestral music? And how much money do orchestral musicians make? These are just three of the questions the BBC Music Magazine team grapples with in this month's episode, which also features the podcast's first 'Meet the Artist' interview. That's with Vladimir Jurowski, who has won the Royal Philharmonic Society's conductor award this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our May 2018 issue episode, we discuss the critic-composer Twitter spat, France's contract to help Saudi Arabia set up an opera house and orchestra, the death of El Sistema founder José Abreu, and a Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this month's episode, we talk about the BBC Proms's pledge to achieve a 50:50 gender balance for commissioned pieces, a bid to buy part of a hoard of gold sovereigns found in a Broadwood piano, the plans for the new Edinburgh Concert Hall, and an unusual wager between two conductors… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the March 2018 episode, editor Oliver Condy, deputy editor Jeremy Pound, reviews editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Freya Parr chat about the ambitious centennial season in 2018-2019 from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the retirement of music director Stephen Cleobury from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, how music venues and churches will now have better protection from local residents and the launch of Irish National Opera Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ann Hallenberg's wonderful exploration of the Venice Carnival in 1729 is our September Recording of the Month. The Swedish mezzo joins Il Pomo d'Oro and Stefano Montanari for a programme of Albinoni, Giacomelli, Leo, Vinci and others on this Pentatone Recording. Find out more and hear extracts from the disc in this podcast presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the new-look First Listen podcast! Every episode, the BBC Music Magazine team will be chatting about four exciting new CDs, and playing clips from each disc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first instalment of Alexander Melnikov's Prokofiev piano sonata cycle is our February 2017 Recording of the Month. The Russian pianist begins with Sonatas Nos 2, 6 and 8; the recording is out now on Harmonia Mundi. Find out more about this wonderful performance in this episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the February issue of BBC Music Magazine, the Aurora Orchestra present music by our cover star Philip Glass, and fellow minimalist John Adams. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For her latest disc, violinist Tasmin Little turns to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. She pairs this popular masterpiece with the premiere recording of a companion piece, Roxannna Panufnik's Four World Seaons for violin, string orchestra and Tibetan singing bowl. The recording is on Chandos. Find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of the recording, plus enjoy clips from the disc, in this episode of our monthly First Listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the Christmas issue of BBC Music Magazine, the King's Singers present a festive feast of Christmas music from across the ages. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elgar is the focus of our December Recording of the Month. In this superbly programmed disc for Hyperion, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Martyn Brabbins perform the ever-popular Enigma Variations and In the South (Alassio). They also turn the spotlight on several First World War rarities – Une voix dans le désert, Carillon and Le drapeau belge – and give us the first recording of Elgar's own orchestral arrangement of his song Pleading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of 'First Listen', the BBC Music Magazine team explores a disc of brass band music played by the Tredegar Town and Cory Bands. War Memorials pays tribute to those lost in the two world wars and features on-disc premieres of pieces by Robin Holloway, Gavin Higgins, John McCabe, Lucy Pankhurst, Simon Dobson and Paul McGhee. Music by Britten frames the programme. Find out what the team made of this recording and hear clips from the disc in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our November Recording of the Month features CPE Bach's three Cello Concertos. Nicolas Altstaedt is the brilliant soloist in these works, which are important links between the Baroque and Classical concerto and also brilliant pieces in their own right. The German-French cellist appears with Arcangelo and director Jonathan Cohen, and the disc is out on the Hyperion label. Join deputy editor Jeremy Pound and reviews editor Rebecca Franks for a discussion of the music and to hear clips from the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the November issue of BBC Music Magazine, we present JS Bach's The Art of Fugue, arranged and played by Mahan Esfahani, with the help of instrumentalists from the Academy of Ancient Music. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the work, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the November issue of BBC Music Magazine, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers perform works by giants of contemporary American music, Steve Reich and John Adams. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the October issue of BBC Music Magazine, we present ten modern British masterworks, all commissioned by BBC Radio 3. The works were chosen and performed by the orchestras for which they were commissioned. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works, complete with extracts. To read an interview with Judith Weir about her two works on this disc, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American composer Ben Johnston has spent much of his musical career exploring the world of microtonality. His ten string quartets are incredibly challenging for the performers, but in 2002 the Kepler Quartet was formed to perform and record this complete cycle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our September Recording of the Month is Where'er you walk: arias for Handel's favourite tenor. This wonderful recital features tenor Allan Clayton, Classical Opera and conductor Ian Page, who explore the life and music of the 18th-century tenor John Beard. Handel forms the core of the programme, but there's also music by William Boyce and Thomas Arne. Hear extracts from this recording in this podcast, and find out more about the disc. This episode is presented by the magazine's acting deputy editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cellist Raphael Wallfisch and pianist John York explore music written by the British composer Rebecca Clarke on their latest recording, on the Lyrita label. A professional viola player and composer, Clarke is best known for her Viola Sonata, heard here in her transcription for cello, and Piano Trio. But in this disc Wallfisch and York also turn the spotlight on her unpublished Cello Rhapsody. Find out what the BBC Music Magazine editorial team made of the disc, and hear clips from the recording in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the September issue of BBC Music Magazine, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony No. 3, conducted by Donald Runnicles. In this podcast, acting deputy editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the work, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year it's the 150th anniversary of Erik Satie. So raise your bowler hat to soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Reinbert de Leeuw, who have put together one of the most interesting discs of the French composer's music to come out this year so far. Satie's 1919 cantata Socrate is the centrepiece of this programme. Find out more about this unusual masterpiece in this podcast, plus hear extracts from the recording. This episode is presented by acting deputy editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Beethoven symphonies remain a true test for any orchestra, and here the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic and its conductor Sir Simon Rattle record them together for the first time. This lavish set is our July Recording of the Month. Hear clips from the recordings and discussion about the music here, in this podcast presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the August issue of BBC Music Magazine, BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists give live performances of early works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Webern. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works on the disc, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leoncavallo is best remembered for his opera Pagliacci, but Zazà was a big success in its time too. Now Opera Rara has revived it in this recording by the BBC Singers and BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurizio Benini. The cast includes Ermonela Jaho in the title role, Stephen Gaertner, Riccardo Massi and Patricia Bordon. Join the BBC Music Magazine team for this episode of First Listen for chat about the recording and excerpts of the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the July issue of BBC Music Magazine Donald Runnicles conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mahler's epic ninth Symphony, recorded live at the BBC Proms in 2014. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works on the disc, complete with extracts.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the June issue of BBC Music Magazine, we celebrate the music of Felix Mendelssohn, as we ask whether Schumann was right to call him the 'Mozart of the 19th century'.  In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works on the disc, complete with extracts.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our June issue Recording of the Month features Martinu's piano trios, wonderful but still underrated chamber works by one of the great 20th-century Czech composers. They are brilliantly performed here by the Smetana Trio, on a recording for the Supraphon label. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks to find out more about the music and this recording, and hear clips from the CD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Recording of the Month in the May 2016 issue features Janáček's life-affirming Glagolitic Mass. Edward Gardner conducts the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the Edvard Greig Chor, the Bergen Cathedral Choir and Choir of Collegiûm Mûsicûm on this disc, which also includes Janáček's Adagio for orchestra, Hail Mary and Lord's Prayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trinity College Choir follows up its superb 2012 Howells Requiem album with a recording exploring the music he wrote for King's College, Cambridge. Stephen Layton conducts; the disc is out now on the Hyperion label. Hear clips from the recording and find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of the performances in this episode of First Listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Handel's famous Water Music is given a vibrant, fresh performance by the Akademie für Alte Musik on a new Harmonia Mundi recording. It's our April Recording of the Month. In this podcast hear clips from the recording as well as discussion about the music with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the April issue of BBC Music Magazine, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yehudi Menuhin by featuring the great violinist in performances of Bartók's Second Violin Concerto, plus sonatas by Brahms and Tcherepnin. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works on the disc, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a follow-up to her Seven Sisters album featuring British female composers, pianist Diana Ambache turns to chamber music by their French counterparts. In this episode of 'First Listen', the BBC Music Magazine team discusses Liberté, egalité, sororité, featuring music by Louise Farrenc, Lili Boulanger, Claude Arrieu, Germaine Tailleferre, Mel Bonis and Pauline Viardot-Garcia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cover CD of the March issue of BBC Music Magazine, pianist Anne Queffélec plays solo works by Satie, Honegger, Hahn, Poulenc and Mompou, and is joined by fellow pianist Frank Braley and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Grant Llewellyn for Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos. In this podcast, deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Elinor Cooper introduce the works on the disc, complete with extracts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and conductor Teodor Currentzis join forces for their first recording together, with the orchestra MusicAeterna. The programme brings together Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Stravinsky's ballet Les noces, and it's Recording of the Month in the March 2016 issue. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks to find out more about these two Russian works and hear clips from the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Wilson and his orchestra sell out the Albert Hall in minutes when it comes to their MGM musical and Hollywood film Proms and he's a dab hand at British light music. But for his latest disc he's turned to Copland. It's the first in a new series exploring the American composer's orchestral works with the BBC Philharmonic, and begins with the suites from the ballets Appalachian Spring and Billy the Kid. Join the BBC Music Magazine team to find out what they made of this American adventure and to hear clips from the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beatrice Rana's impressive concerto debut on Warner Classics is our March 2016 Recording of the Month. The Italian pianist, who won second place at the Van Cliburn competition three years ago, has chosen Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto and Prokofiev's Second for this recording. She performs with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Sir Antonio Pappano. You can hear clips from both of these great Russian concertos in this podcast, presented by BBC Music Magazine's editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patricia Kopatchinskaja's latest album takes an imaginative and quirky look at music for two players. Her programme of 'duets from a thousand years of musical history for young people from 0-100 years' is dedicated to her daugher Alice and features a cast of guest musicians including clarinettist Reto Bieri and viol player Laurence Dreyfus. Join the BBC Music Magazine team in this podcast to find out more about the disc and hear extracts of Biber, Milhaud, Sanchez-Chiong and Sotelo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many pianists would be happy to record either Bach's Goldberg Variations or Beethoven's Diabelli Variations. But Igor Levit has plunged in and recorded both, along with Frederic Rzewski's vast variation work from the 1970s, The People United Will Never Be Defeated. Levit's three-disc set the BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Month for the January 2016 issue and you can hear clips from it in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two musical giants of the Romantic era, Brahms and Bruckner were often seen as being aesthetically and ideologically opposed. So it's fascinating to compare their choral works on a beautifully sung new disc from Tenebrae and its conductor Nigel Short. Hear clips from the recording and find out more about the music with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra and its principal conductor Okko Kamu have recorded the complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies. But how do they measure up? Join the BBC Music Magazine team to explore these seven orchestral works, in a podcast packed with musical clips and discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alina Ibragimova's solo Bach was one of the standout events of the 2015 BBC Proms. Here she turns to the composer's violin concertos, with equally captivating results. In this podcast, you can hear clips from her recording with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen for Hyperion, as well as discussion of the disc by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marin Alsop returns to the music of Leonard Bernstein, her mentor, for a new recording with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Joined by the Maryland State Boychoir, the Washington Chorus, soprano Kelly Nassief and narrator Claire Bloom, Alsop and her Baltimore musicians perform the Kaddish Symphony. Find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of the disc, which also includes Bernstein's Missa Brevis and The Lark, and listen to clips from the recording in this episode of First Listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Strauss's Symphonia Domestica isn't heard that often in concert but Die Tageszeiten is even more of a rarity. Yet it's a wonderful piece of music, as this recording by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Marek Janowski proves. Find out more about in this podcast with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A studio recording of a Verdi opera by a major label is a rarity nowadays. But Antonio Pappano has brought together an all-star cast, headed up by soprano Anja Harteros and tenor Jonas Kaufmann, for this project with his Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia orchestra. It's our November 2015 Recording of the Month, and in this podcast you can find out more about the piece and project, as well as hear clips from the disc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BBC Music Magazine editorial team listens to a disc of Vaughan Williams's complete original organ works and transcriptions of his music played by organist David Briggs, on Albion Records. Join us for discussion and clips from the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not so often that the recorder gets to step into the spotlight on disc, so a new recording of modern concertos for the instrument was the ideal choice for this episode of 'First Listen'. Join the BBC Music Magazine team to find out their thoughts on Michala Petri's new recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Watts is the soloist on this uplifting and engaging disc of Mozart opera arias and overtures with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and conductor Christian Baldini. Hear clips from the disc and discussion about the music on this podcast with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Les Siècles and conductor François-Xavier Roth turn to the colourful Spanish-inspired works of four French composers: Chabrier, Massenet, Debussy and Ravel. The orchestra plays on period instruments in this live recording for its own label. Hear clips from the disc and discussion about the recording in this edition of 'First Listen', presented by the BBC Music Magazine editorial team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Choral works by Barber, Copland, Bernstein and Thompson all feature on the August issue's Recording of the Month, a superb new disc from Polyphony and Stephen Layton. Hear clips from music by all four in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This month the team has been listening to James MacMillan's St Luke Passion, in the world-premiere recording conducted by Markus Stenz for the Challenge Classics label. Hear clips from and discussion about the disc in this episode of the monthly BBC Music Magazine podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

András Schiff's new Schubert disc is BBC Music Magazine's July issue Recording of the Month. It's not the first time the Hungarian pianist has recorded this music, but it's given a completely different character thanks to the instrument he has chosen to play – a fortepiano from 1820. Hear extracts from the recording in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our June Recording of the Month is a fantastic new disc of Tchaikovsky from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and conductor Andris Nelsons, featuring the Manfred Symphony and Marche Slave. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks for a discussion of the music, and to hear extracts of this superb recording, out now on Orfeo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our April cover CD features three pieces by British composers inspired by the sea: Elgar's Sea Pictures, Bax's Tintagel and Stanford's Songs of the Sea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simone Dinnerstein explores the transatlantic friendship between America and France on her new CD. As well as Ravel's Concerto in G and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, this disc includes the premiere of Philip Lasser's concerto The Circle and the Child. Find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of this CD in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will you vote for Handel's Tamerlano, Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg or Vivaldi's L'incoronazione di Dario in this year's Opera category? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joyce DiDonato, Christiane Karg and Julian Prégardien are the three singers nominated in this year's Vocal category. Find out more about their three recitals and hear clips from all the discs in this special Awards podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pianist Nelson Goerner turns to Schumann for his latest disc – with magical results. It's our Recording of the Month for the March issue and you can find out more about it in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year's Chamber nominations range widely across the genres: string quartets by Zemlinsky, piano trios by Beethoven and violin sonatas by Prokofiev. Tune in to this special Awards podcast to find out more about these three superlative recordings – and then cast your vote! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sviatoslav Richter's birth, our March 2015 cover CD features the pianist's 1969 Royal Festival Hall recital of works by Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Debussy< Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three pianists are competing for this year's Instrumental Award: Mikhail Pletnev, Marc-André Hamelin and Benjamin Grosvenor. Hear clips and find out more about their recordings in this special Awards podcast before casting your votes at www.classical-music.com/awards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, oboist Xenia Löffler and violinist Baiba Skride are the three concerto soloists in the running for an Award this year. Find out about their recordings of Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 4, Venetian oboe concertos, and Szymanowski's two Violin Concertos on this special Awards podcast, then head to www.classical-music.com/awards to cast your votes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An all-star cast including countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic and soprano Julia Lezhneva come together for this world premiere recording. Hear clips from Hasse's Siroe, re di Persia and find out more about this 1763 opera in this podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three ages of British music are represented in the Choral category of this year's Awards, with works by Byrd, Elgar and Birtwistle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Turnage, Bruckner and Rachmaninov are all in the running for this year's Orchestral Award. Find out more about all three recordings and hear clips from them in this special BBC Music Magazine Awards podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our February issue cover CD features a fantastic selection of works by Sibelius, including his brooding Fourth Symphony and the well known Finlandia, Op. 26. Hear clips from the performances and an introducion to the works from Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe wrote four pieces for the unusual combination of string quartet and didgeridoo. In this podcast you can hear clips of this music as played by the Del Sol Quartet and didgeridoo player Stephen Kent, and find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the magical world of the Tallis Fantasia to the elusive and haunting Pastoral Symphony, this new recording from the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder gets to the heart of Vaughan Williams's music. In this podcast Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks discuss the pieces and play clips from the disc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath introduce Mstislav Rostropovich's 1975 Edinburgh Festival performance of Bach's Cello Suites Nos 2,3 & 6, featured on our January 2015 issue cover CD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does the Italian mezzo-soprano fare on her Russian musical adventure? Join the BBC Music Magazine team as we have a listen to Cecilia Bartoli's new St Petersburg album, and give our verdict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sir Andrew Davis conducts an overwhelming performance of Elgar's masterly oratorio, with Stuart Skelton, Sarah Connolly and David Soar as soloists. Find out more about the piece and hear clips from the recording in this podcast, presented by Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Christmas cover CD features a selection of beautiful carols sung by the choir of Merton College, Oxford. Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath present clips and an introduction to the collection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Hill discovered a previously unknown piano piece by Messiaen two years ago. Now he's recorded it as part of a recital titled 'A Messiaen premiere with birds, landscapes and homages'. Find out what the BBC Music Magazine team made of this new recording and hear clips from the disc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two symphonies by Shostakovich, written 30 years apart, feature on our bleak but brilliant Recording of the Month, played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Hear clips from the recording and find out more about the music in this month's podcast, presented by Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

English choral works written around the time of the First World War are the subject of this month's First Listen podcast. Join the BBC Music Magazine team as they explore and play clips from this new disc from Truro Cathedral Choir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our December cover CD features performances of music by CPE Bach by Rachel Podger and friends to mark the composer's 300th anniversary. Hear clips and an introduction to the works from Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This wonderful new recording by King's College Choir, Cambridge recreates the first complete liturgical performance of Fauré's Requiem, and also features the French composer's Messe basse and Cantique de Jean Racine. Join Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks as they chat about the disc and play highlights from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our November cover CD includes performances of Schumann's Symphony No. 1 and Schubert's Symphony No. 4 by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra under Gianandrea Noseda and Juanjo Mena respectively. Hear clips and an introduction to the works from Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From those famous chilling string chords in Psycho to the pop and jazz-inspired score for Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock used music to great effect in his films. In this podcast, find out what the BBC Music Magazine team makes of a new disc exploring Hitchcock film music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The young British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor plays JS Bach, Chopin, Scriabin, Granados and more in this sparkling recital, our October Recording of the Month. Hear clips from the disc in this podcast with Rebecca Franks and Jeremy Pound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's a disc with not just Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto, but the less well-known Second Piano Concerto as well. Join the BBC Music Magazine team as they discuss Simon Trpčeski's new recording with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claudio Abbado's final concert with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra included Bruckner's Symphony No. 9. It's a profoundly moving performance. Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks discuss the piece and play clips from the recording in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Pound and Rebecca Franks introduce Brahms's Symphony No. 3 and Variations on a theme by Haydn, as heard on our October cover CD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath discuss the songs and arias performed by sopranos Maria Callas, Lucia Popp and Elisabeth Söderström on our September Cover CD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howells's complete violin and piano music has been recorded for the first time, by Rupert Marshall-Luck and Matthew Rickard. In this First Listen podcast, the BBC Music Magazine explore these rarely heard works - and give their verdict on the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Pound and Rosie Pentreath discuss piano sonatas by Beethoven, Schubert and Haydn as heard on the BBC Music Magazine August issue Cover CD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does a complete live concert recording of Bernstein's West Side Story shape up? The BBC Music Magazine team share their thoughts on the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's new CD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices