Maurice Ravel wanted his Piano Concerto to be lighthearted and brilliant, and not aim at profundity or at dramatic effects… and then wrote one of the most beautiful slow movements there is! Intro here: Listen here: or on Spotify: Please rate and … Listen
One of the great pieces of music for children, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Vanessa [7] loved this and is demanding repeat hearings, and I’m embarrassed at having resisted it so long… Music here: or on spotify: Listening time … Listen
If there’s such a thing as an underrated Beethoven Symphony, it’s this – his 8th. Short, punchy, joy-filled, playful, brilliant! This is the intro to the 2nd half of the piece. Total listen time – 15 mins Music here: or … Listen
If there’s such a thing as an underrated Beethoven Symphony, it’s this – his 8th. Short, punchy, joy-filled, playful, brilliant! Intro Part 2: Listening time: part 1: 19 mins Parts 1&2 [the whole thing] : 33 mins Music here: or … Listen
Fabulous and fun singing from Rossini’s Barber of Seville in honour of my first haircut in the hands of a 7 year old (and in tribute to my friends growing magnificent lockdown beards)! Music here, with pictures: or here on … Listen
We love this movement from Mozart’s 5th – and last – violin concerto, written to play himself, at the age of 19. It’s elegant and sophisticated and then wild and free. It’s a great piece for a dance around your … Listen
Simple pleasures in this episode: One of the most famous pieces of ‘early’ classical music is Pachelbel’s Canon, here in two great versions including one for rubber chicken… Enjoy! Music here: and here – a must watch: Courtesy of Twosetviolin … Listen
Give yourself a fright with a witches party on Bald Mountain! Scary stuff: Music here: or here on Spotify: Please listen, like, share subscribe on iTunes or your favourite podcast provider! Visit cacophonyonline.com
This great piece is slightly schizophrenic – is it a serious piece of music over-run by people having fun, or a fun piece that’s occasionally trying to look serious? Ligeti was showing his love for Romania, but the Soviet Hungarians … Listen