Great music to mark the US Presidential hand-over! Raucous fun alongside the deep and meaningful, Three Places in New England is challenging, confusing, complex, silly and surprising music that leaves me baffled but smiling and moved too! A hundred years old but way ahead of its time from one of America’s first great composers, Charles Ives. Listening time 28mins.… Listen
Three musical geniuses really make the magic come alive in Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s classic, Nutcracker. (38 mins)… Listen
Burgeoning Spring, Love and Fate: Carmina Burana
They say you never forget your first loves and one of mine was Carmina Burana – it’s immediate and high impact. Even before I was properly into music I was into this… and you will be too! There’s really nothing like the sound of a huge choir and orchestra: it’s awesome stuff! Listening time: 35mins … Listen
This is a journey of discovery for me, exploring some musical detective work and blatant speculation with Songs from the 12/13th Century Carmina Burana- drinking, love and wickedness and all hugely entertaining! New music to me and lots to enjoy. Listening time 26 mins… Listen
I love the final September burst of summer and this piece – Samuel Barber’s Summer Music – is the perfect accompaniment. Languid, hazy and slightly wistful. (Listening time 16 mins)… Listen
My daughter’s bed time reading inspires a brief trip to the opera, for some great singing – high drama and high silliness from Mozart’s Magic Flute. Listen time 14 mins… Listen
George Gershwin spent two hectic weeks on holiday in Cuba and returned with a case full of percussion instruments, latin spirit and musical inspiration. Total listening time c14 mins… Listen
So much great music to delight and enjoy in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. And it turns out my 7 year old daughter knows the storyline better than I did! [31 mins]… Listen
