Podcast: Florence Price. The concertos.

Conductor John Jeter has been central to the rediscovery and representation of Florence Price’s orchestral works. In this podcast, he discusses with Raymond Bisha his latest recording of her piano concerto and her two violin concertos, the only works she composed in the genre. The early First Violin Concerto, with shades of Tchaikovsky and undertones Read More …

Podcast: Classical Discoveries – CHARLES KOECHLIN: France’s Hidden Symphonist

In their latest episode of their #ClassicalDiscoveries podcast, Jens and Joe take a look at the scintillating music of Charles Koechlin, a fascinating composer and forgotten French symphonist who is impossible to pigeonhole. Neither an impressionist, nor simply a romantic, dramatic, lyric, abstract, or descriptive composer, he combined revolutionary, academic, and eclectic traits. One second, Read More …

Podcast: Lepo Sumera. At the forefront of Estonian music.

Lepo Sumera (1950–2000) was one of the most important figures in Estonian music following World War Two. He might also be considered one of the most important European symphonists during the last quarter of the 20th century, when he wrote his impressive series of six symphonies that embody imaginative orchestral colour and a skilful sense Read More …

Podcast: Evocative, filmic, celebratory. Sacred choral music by Philip Stopford.

In this podcast Raymond Bisha introduces an album of sacred choral music by Philip Stopford in which all the items were composed between 2013 and 2022 and are heard in their world premiere recordings. Beautifully crafted, memorable, colourful and deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition, Stopford’s works are immediately attractive and widely admired in the Read More …

Podcast: Weinberg’s complete music for cello and orchestra.

Working amidst political and personal setbacks, Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–96) flourished as a composer, admired by Shostakovich and championed by the leading Soviet musicians of the day. His death in Moscow in 1996, however, went largely unnoticed. More happily, his extensive catalogue has recently secured an increasing number of performances and recordings, witness this Naxos release Read More …

Podcast: Mischief, brevity, constancy. Piano works by Vittorio Rieti.

This podcast presents pianist Giorgio Koukl in conversation with Raymond Bisha at the end of a five-year project to rehabilitate the complete works for piano solo and duo by Vittorio Rieti (1898–1994). Virtually self-taught, Rieti went on to establish his composing credentials, becoming the only Italian composer, for example, to be invited to write ballet Read More …

Podcast: César Guerra-Peixe. The Brazilian Bartók.

Vol. 27 in the Naxos Music of Brazil series features music by César Guerra-Peixe (1914–1993). In this podcast, Raymond Bisha discusses the life and music of the composer, known as the ‘Brazilian Bartók’ on account of his ethnomusicological research, with conductor Neil Thomson. Describing Guerra-Peixe as an “extremely prolific, incredibly rounded, complete musician”, Thomson also Read More …

Podcast: Miklós Rózsa. A double creative life.

Raymond Bisha introduces the latest instalment in the Capriccio label’s exploration of rarely performed or recorded symphonic works by Miklós Rózsa, outlining his maturation not only into one of the most successful film composers of all time, but also the creator of equally fine concert works. The album’s programme comprises his Rhapsody for Cello, in Read More …

Podcast: Flights of imagination. Michael Daugherty’s new orchestral album.

The GRAMMY Award-winning team of composer Michael Daugherty, conductor David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony returns with a new album comprising a set of remarkable works exploring associations with flight and space exploration, both tragic and triumphant. In this podcast, the composer explains the context and inspiration behind the three works on the programme: Read More …

PODCAST: Classical Discoveries – EASTER CLASSICS beyond J. S. Bach 

Easter marks the high point of the Christian year. It cannot be surprising, then, that some of the greatest compositions in classical music have been written to mark this feast. When today’s concert halls give a nod to Easter, Bach dominates programming. In their latest podcast, Jens and Joe explore some gems beyond Bach, from Read More …