Captain, We Hit A Schoenber! Did Arnold Schoenberg break Classical music? Widely considered the greatest composer of the 20th century, Schoenburg’s innovations in ‘atonality’ (a term he detested throughout his life) changed the trajectory of music forever. In this episode, Joanna and Stephen explore the ripples of Schoenberg’s (much preferred) ‘emancipated d ... Show More
Feb 2024
The Piano Tuner
This week Joanna and Stephen are joined by a very special guest, Stephen's personal piano tuner, David Widdicombe. From concert grands, upright 'domestics' and honkytonks, David has tuned them all. Having worked with the world's most prestigious piano makers, Steinway, for 3 deca ... Show More
19 m
Feb 2024
The Bohemians: Martinů & Janáček
This week we’re diving into two 'bohemian' heroes of classical music, Bohuslav Martinů and Leoš Janáček. Stephen remembers encountering the music of Martinů at Cambridge, and being confronted by ‘pure simple joy’ of it. From the lyricism of Martinů, we work back towards Janáček – ... Show More
34m 46s
Aug 2024
Leonard Bernstein the Composer – with Edward Seckerson
Leonard Bernstein (1918-90) was perhaps the most ‘complete’ classical musician of the last century, as composer (covering everything from Broadway musicals to serial orchestral works), conductor (one of the 20th century’s most admired), teacher or pianist. Edward Seckerson interv ... Show More
45m 30s
Apr 2024
Morton Gould rewrites history
Synopsis
On this date in 1948, the ballet Fall River Legend was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House by the Ballet Theatre of New York. The choreography was by Agnes de Mille, and the music by Morton Gould.
The previous year, de Mille and Gould had met at the Russian Tea Roo ... Show More
2 m
May 9
Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin on returning to Scriabin's music
In 2007, Yevgeny Sudbin released an album of music by Alexander Scriabin. Reviewing it in Gramophone, Bryce Morrison described it as a 'disc in a million'. Now, Sudbin has returned to the composer for his 25th recording for BIS, and offers a wide-ranging survey of music that incl ... Show More
26m 35s
Nov 2024
Beethoven and Brusa take it slow
Synopsis
For later Romantic composers like Richard Wagner, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 was “the apotheosis of the dance,” and certainly sitting still during the Symphony’s dizzying finale is not always easy. But for those in the audience at its premiere in 1813, as part of a benef ... Show More
2 m