Gramophone Classical Music Podcast

This week Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by Owain Park, conductor, composer and founding director of The Gesualdo Six to explore the ensemble's new album, 'Morning Star', a programme of music for the feast of Epiphany, released by Hyperion Records.

The Deutsche Grammophon recording of Carl Nielsen's Fourth and Fifth Symphonies – with Fabio Luisi conducting the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – was voted Gramophone's 2023 Recording of the Year, and in the December issue of the magazine our critics choose their personal favourite albums of the year. But, as is customary, this podcast focuses on some recommendations by Gramophone's editors, Editor, Martin Cullingford, Deputy Editor, Tim Parry, and Editor-in-Chief, James Jolly. This Gramophone Podcast is brought to you in association with STAGE+, the new streaming service from Deutsche Grammophon, which offers weekly live-stream videos of concerts from around the world, as well an archive of over 400 concerts to enjoy on demand, plus documentaries, audio albums, interviews and much more. Visit stage-plus.com or download the STAGE+ IOS App.

The soprano Maria Callas was born on December 2, 1923, and during her short life – she died aged 53 – rose to become one of the most celebrated singers of all time. And even 46 years after her death she remains a unique and unassailable figure in the world of opera and its interpretation. She left a substantial recorded catalogue – both commercially for Columbia/EMI/Warner Classics and on the myriad pirate recordings that still circulate. To mark this milestone anniversary Warner Classics has issued a 131-CD and one DVD set celebrating her art, 'La Divina – Callas in all her roles', a wonderful survey of her musical career. This Warner Classics Icons podcast has been made by Gramophone, and on it James Jolly talks to Richard Fairman, a regular contributor to Gramophone and also the music critic of The Financial Times.

Composer Errollyn Wallen speaks to Hattie Butterworth about her new book, out now on Faber, mapping her trajectory as an artist, extensive recordings and philosophy on life. Errollyn Wallen: Becoming a Composer Check out Deutsche Grammophon STAGE+ Music clips used: Cello Concerto from 'Photography' on NMC horseplay: lively from 'The Girl in My Alphabet' on Avie Records daedalus from 'Errollyn' on Avie Records Dervish for Cello and Piano from 'The Girl in My Alphabet' on Avie Records Peace on Earth from 'Peace on Earth EP' on the Kings College Cambridge label

Composer John Pickard joins the Gramophone Podcast this week to talk to Editor Martin Cullingford about his new album, Mass in Troubled Times, available on the BIS label.

Bertrand Chamayou, who won Gramophone's Recording of the Year in 2019 for his Erato album of two Saint-Saëns piano concertos, has turned his attention to two groundbreaking composers. John Cage was a great admirer of the music and aesthetic experiments of the Frenchman, Erik Satie - and Chamayou has created a programme for Erato that links the two, 'Letter(s) to Erik Satie'. James Jolly caught up with Bertrand Chamayou at his Festival Ravel in St Jean de Luz in south-west France this summer to talk about the project.

The music critic and regular Gramophone contributor Richard Bratby has just published a history of the Academy of Ancient Music, Refiner's Fire, the first book telling the story of a period-instrument ensemble (Elliott & Thompson; £25). James Jolly spoke to Richard about the book, about its charismatic founder and long-serving Music Director Christopher Hogwood, and about how a substantial recording contract with Decca'a L'Oiseau-Lyre label – masterminded by the producer Peter Wadland – shaped the ensemble's style and approach. This week's podcast is made in association with Wigmore Hall. For a full list of concerts, visit wigmore-hall.org.uk

This week's Gramophone Podcast explores the music by Gabriel Fauré for cello and piano to coincide with a beautiful new recording by Xavier Phillips and Cédric Tiberghien on La Dolce Volta - and the cellist and pianist join Editor Martin Cullingford to discuss it.

This week's topic is a new recording by Brecon Baroque of Bach's Goldberg Variations in a fascinating new arrangement by Chad Kelly who, together with violinist Rachel Podger, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about it. This week's Podcast is published in association with Wigmore Hall.

Miloš's new album is a journey of music around the continent of Europe in the era of the Baroque, and is named an Editor's Choice in the current issue of Gramophone. Editor Martin Cullingford met up with the guitarist to talk about the story behind this beautiful recording, which is available on the Sony Classical label.