Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

Soprano Rowan Pierce joins Jonathan Whiting to reflect on the intimacy of making chamber-scale Baroque music without a conductor, the challenges of Bach’s expansive recitatives, and the almost operatic drama of Handel’s 'Tra le fiamme'. She also speaks about her long collaboration with Ashley Solomon, the ensemble’s director, and about finding new colours and meaning in these works – music that, though written three centuries ago, resonates with striking relevance today. We were also incredibly honoured to recently learn that the Gramophone Magazine Podcast will now be included in The British Library Sound Archive, catalogued and preserved for future generations as part of the nation’s audio and cultural heritage. To hear other Gramophone podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'Gramophone' in your Podcast App of choice, or visit Gramophone's page on Apple or Spotify.

Jake Heggie, an acclaimed American composer known for his operas like 'Dead Man Walking', joins to discuss his recent work 'Intelligence', inspired by Civil War spies. He shares insights into its eight-year creative journey and the importance of emotional storytelling. The conversation also reflects on the 25th anniversary of 'Dead Man Walking', celebrating its impact as a leading contemporary opera. Heggie highlights the moral complexities of capital punishment and the transformative power of art in humanizing difficult narratives.

During the 2024-25 season, Alisa Weilerstein premiered three new cello concertos – Richard Blackford’s The Recovery of Paradise (which she has recorded for Pentatone with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Tomáš Netopil), Gabriela Ortiz’s Dzonot (recorded for Platoon with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel) and Thomas Larcher’s Returning into Darkness (premiered with the New York Philharmonic). James Jolly caught up with Alisa to talk about the two new recordings and also hear about her Fragments project that she’s bringing to London as part of a South Bank Centre residency later this year. The Gramophone Podcast will now be included in The British Library Sound Archive, catalogued and preserved for future generations as part of the nation's audio and cultural heritage.

Joel Link and Camden Shaw, members of the renowned Dover Quartet formed at the Curtis Institute, delve into their latest album, Woodland Songs. They explore the fascinating fusion of Dvořák's 'American' Quartet with contemporary works inspired by Indigenous music. The duo reflects on their musical evolution, the emotional journey of debuting new compositions, and the creative challenges of arranging diverse cultural elements. Their insights reveal a deep commitment to blending classical and modern narratives while mentoring the next generation of musicians.

Avi Avital, a renowned mandolinist and leader of the ensemble Between Worlds, shares insights from his latest album, 'Song of the Birds.' He discusses the mandolin's rich history and unique role in various musical traditions. The conversation highlights how the album blends classical and folk music across Iberia, Southern Italy, and the Black Sea. Avital also explores the cultural connections fostered through music and the exciting spontaneity of live performances that bring audiences and musicians together.

Join Hattie at the 2025 Three Choirs Festival in Hereford as she speaks to performers, composers, clergy and audience members to discover what makes the festival such a place of pilgrimage 300 years since its foundation

Guy Johnston, a celebrated cellist known for winning the BBC Young Musician Competition, delves into his latest recording of the challenging Arthur Bliss Cello Concerto. He shares fascinating insights on its historical context and the technical intricacies involved, all while reflecting on his teaching journey. Johnston also discusses balancing life as a parent with his musical career and hints at upcoming projects showcasing English works. His passion for pedagogy shines through, revealing the joy of mentoring the next generation of musicians.

As the 2025 BBC Proms season gets underway, Martin Cullingford is joined by Tim Parry and Hattie Butterworth select their top picks. From Rachmaninov with Yunchan Lim and the UK premiere of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s Cello Concerto to a late-night tribute to Arvo Pärt and a rare performance of Delius’s A Mass of Life, the team reflects on the Proms’s cultural significance, its breadth of programming, and the enduring tradition of live music at the Royal Albert Hall.

We're today continuing the theme set by last week's edition, in which we marked the 500th episode of the Gramophone Classical Music podcast by looking back over some of our most memorable interviews and episodes. The interview Editor Martin Cullingford chose to reflect on was a conversation he had with the guitarist Julian Bream all the way back in 2013, to mark his 80th birthday and also the fact that Gramophone had honoured him with our Lifetime Achievement Award. So here, for this week's podcast, we offer a retrospective edition - and a chance to hear at full length that earlier episode. 

Earlier this year the Gramophone Podcast passed 1 million downloads. Now we’ve reached another milestone: our 500th episode. Launched before podcasting’s current popularity, the series steadily built a following, which grew substantially once we adopted a weekly schedule and set formats. Those formats include: interviews with major artists on new albums; in-depth composer discussions; reflections with senior musical figures; and conversations with a new generation of musicians rethinking the artist’s role today. In a special celebratory edition, James Jolly, Martin Cullingford, Tim Parry and Hattie Butterworth each choose a standout: Julian Bream on a life in music; William Christie on Mondonville; Richard Wigmore on the enduring brilliance of Schubert and Fatma Said on collaboration.