Music for the lockdown Episode 1: Bartok – Romanian Folk Dances
Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances are very short, snappy and full of life! [9′ listen]… Listen
Smiling music: Dvorák Symphony No.8
Cheery and life affirming music, that’s almost guaranteed to make you happy!… Listen
Walking the tightrope: Shostakovich Symphony No.6
Dmitri Shostakovich tries to speak the truth about the grim reality of life in 1930s Russia, whilst at the same time giving the authorities the upbeat, cheery music they wanted. An impossible task? [3 parts] The music: Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony … Listen
Gardens of Discovery
Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East. When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities … Listen
Epic and intimate piano: Schubert Piano Sonata No.20
Schubert wrote some great music that hardly any of us know. In his penultimate Piano Sonata we eavesdrop on his search for answers and acceptance. [4 parts] The music: Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata No.20 in A D.959 1. Allegro 2. … Listen
This is Cacophony
Hear more. Feel more. Be more! Come with me and dive into some great classical music. For over 1000 years great musicians have explored what it means to live, love, die and everything in between: asking all our deep and … Listen
New Beginnings
First up here are five special things to celebrate new beginnings starting with this month’s intro and a little burst of Richard Strauss:
… Listen
Mozart celebrates – Symphony No.35
Mozart’s short, joyful celebratory ‘Haffner’ Symphony [3 parts]… Listen
A Violinist’s Stream of Consciousness: Sibelius Violin Concerto
Sibelius’s Violin Concerto is one of my favourite concertos – it’s a magnificent, organic, work where the solo violinist’s long unfolding song sounds like a stream of consciousness.… Listen