Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

Academic and conductor Martin Wåhlberg from Trondheim discusses French literature of the Enlightenment, opera-comique, and the work of composer Andre Gretry during a run of performances of Raoul Barbe Bleue. Recorded in Trondheim on Thursday 15 November 2018.

This podcast features Dr. Sophie Fuller who is the Programme Leader at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich, South East London, author of The Pandora Guide to Women Composers in Britain and the United States, and along with the Head of Orchestral Studies at Trinity Laban Jonathan Tilbrook is behind the year-long celebration of women composers [Venus Blazing](https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/creative-innovation/venus-blazing).  Excerpts from works by women composers featured in this podcast include the first movement from Elizabeth Maconchy's first string quartet, the first movement of Louise Farrenc's third symphony, and Meena Keel's Symphony performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted at the BBC Proms in 1989.

Ahead of the start of the Australian Chamber Orchestra's Barbican residency on 22nd October 2018, I talk to artistic director Richard Tognetti about Sydney Opera House, Mozart 40, Beethoven String Quartets and Bach. He explains why there's absolutely nothing wrong with arrangements for string ensembles.  [Concert listings](https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/series/aco-international-associate-at-milton-court) on the Barbican website.

Tips on how start up a string quartet, how to do competitions, and the mindset for approaching any work (terrifying advice). And ahead of their latest release on [Signum](https://signumrecords.com/product/resilience/SIGCD551/), the impetus for selecting the works that appear on their latest album. Recorded at St George's Hotel on Saturday 14 July 2018.

Recorded during the first Karol Szymanowski Music Competition staged at the NOSPR Concert Hall in Katowice, Poland. Jon Jacob speaks to competitors, and discovers the hall's distinctive acoustic and the appeal of Polish composer Szymanowski's music.

Sounds from the 2018 Leeds International Piano Competition, including an exclusive tour of The Cobbe Collection of antique pianos, masterclasses with Lars Vogt and Imogen Cooper, and reflections on the final performances from Aljoras Jurinic, Anna Geniushene, Mario Haring, XinyuanWang, and winner Eric Lu.

This podcast features composer Owen Roberts who is part of the creative team behind concluding work in the 14-18 NOW season - the UK's cultural commemoration of the WW1 centenary. Owen has composed the music that accompanies an immersive theatrical experience in Swansea 'Now the Hero'. The production opens the Swansea International Festival on 29th September. Owen Roberts has joined forces with Welsh artist Marc Rees, writer Owen Sheers and the choir Polyphony to create and perform Now the Hero. In this podcast - recorded at the Southbank Centre on Monday 10 September - Owen discusses who and what inspired him to compose, his training at Durham University, and his work with the late award-winning composer Johann Johannsson. For more of Owen's work, follow him on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/owenrobertsounds) or [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/owenroberts-1).  'Now the Hero' is supported by the Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales, the Taliesin, National Lottery Fund, Swansea Council, Swansea Unive

Musicologist Hannah Chan-Hartley discusses academia, the shift from scholarly study to content marketing, and her visual Listening Guides developed for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. For more information on the Visual Guides and to purchase individual copies, visit [[https://www.symphonygraphique.com/shop](https://www.symphonygraphique.com/shop)](Musicologist Hannah Chan-Hartley discusses academia, the shift from scholarly study to content marketing, and her visual Listening Guides developed for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. For more information on the Visual Guides and to purchase individual copies, visit [https://www.symphonygraphique.com/shop](https://www.symphonygraphique.com/shop) This podcast was recorded on Wednesday 5 September 2018 at the Southbank Centre in London.) This podcast was recorded on Wednesday 5 September 2018 at the Southbank Centre in London.

The fifteenth Thoroughly Good Podcast was recorded in August 2018 at the British Youth Opera rehearsals in London South Bank University. British Youth Opera - an opera training company for graduates and young professionals was founded in 1987\. It has annual programme of productions, masterclasses and workshops for new opera talent. Amongst its alumni features Laura Attridge who appeared on the Thoroughly Good Podcast about Trinity Laban's production of Rape of Lucretia a few episodes back. This year British Youth Opera stage two productions at the Peacock Theatre from 1st September - Stravinsky's Rakes Progress and Jeremy Sams' Enchanted Island. You'll hear from the Enchanted Island cast and production team talk about the experience of working in British Youth Opera later in this podcast. First, is a conversation with Executive Director David Balcombe. Performances of The Enchanted Island are on Saturday 1, Wednesday 5 and Friday 7 September at 7.00pm at the Peacock Theatre on Portugal Street. The product

Episode 14 of the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast was recorded behind the scenes at the inaugural Waterperry Opera Festival in the idyllic setting of Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire. This podcast features a tour of the site with Festival Director Guy Withers, and an interview with baritone Nick Morton and Musical Director Bertie Baigent plus excerpts from the final dress rehearsal for one of the operas in production - Jonathan Dove's sparkling setting of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. The Waterperry Opera Festival runs until 19th August 2018\. Next year's dates are 25th-28th July 2019\. Find out more at waterperryoperafestival.co.uk

This episode features pianists Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva - artistic directors of the London Piano Festival - a five day series of concerts from 3-7 October 2018 at Kings Place featuring appearances from Stephen Kovacevich, Pavel Kolesnikov, and Samson Tsoy. Charles, Katya and I met at Kings Place in London on the 10th August 2018 and talked about Debussy, the performance experience, and the challenges of running a festival. They provide some highlights of the Festival towards the end of this podcast. Tickets at kingsplace.co.uk/lpf

Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Esmee Fairburn Trust, the Philharmonia's award-winning multimedia digital is touring the UK with an exhibition dedicated to Holst's Planet Suite and a virtual reality experience. Jon Jacob meets Events Manager Elizabeth Howard, Director of Residencies Jonathan Mayes, and Audience Development Manager Tom Spurgin at the exhibition's current home in Bedford. For more information on the exhibition visit philharmonia.co.uk/virtualorchestra. Watch a video recording of the unedited discussion on YouTube >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=let6I4ZjXvY

Laura Attridge and Jonathan Tilbrook discuss opera production and the challenges staging Benjamin Britten's problematic opera Rape of Lucretia in the #MeToo era.  Trinity Laban's production of Rape of Lucretia is on 6, 7 and 8 July 2018 at Stratford Arts Circus, London. Tickets are £15\. More details here >> https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/britten-the-rape-of-lucretia-2

Recorded at the Khachaturian Cello Competition in Yerevan, Armenia, Jon Jacob speaks to some of the finalists competing for the first prize about the competition experience, the challenges of playing some of the repertoire and their own hopes and aspirations for the future.

Opera Holland Park General Director Michael Volpe and opera-goer Ruth Elleson join Jon Jacob in a discussion about opera appreciation, inspiring the younger generation, ticket prices, and this year's OHP season. For more information about the 2018 season, visit http://www.operahollandpark.com/2018-season/. Watch Hip Hop to Opera on YouTube here >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coz6CUlXi38 And for the Inside Out character Michael refers to in the podcast, see here >> https://twitter.com/ImIncorrigible/status/1001756462794903552

The Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast invites three people who play, listen or otherwise work in classical music to sit and discuss the subject they love. They’re unplanned conversations recorded as live, very nearly unedited, and more often than not take unexpected twists and turns. Podcast 8 recorded in the Steinway Piano Showroom in London features a returning participant – the marvellous Fran Wilson from the Cross-Eyed Pianist blog - one of the two artistic directors of this years Leeds Piano Competition, and former Radio 3 New Generation Artists Editor, Adam Gatehouse.

Podcast seven was recorded in the Royal Overseas League off Arlington Street in Central London. It features Royal Overseas League Arts Director Geoff Parkin, and previous Royal Overseas League Gold Medal Final winner saxophonist Huw Wiggin.  For a full list of the topics we discussed head over to the Thoroughly Good Blog.

Podcast six was recorded in the much-maligned hotel bar The Heights – and features music journalist Ariane Todes and I talking to violinist Hugo Ticciati. Hugo talks about his new album 'White Light – The Space Between', why he went without glasses for five years, the challenge of improvisation for classical music musicians, and rock balancing.  For a full list of the topics we discussed head over to the Thoroughly Good Blog.

Episode 5 of the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast features conductor Damian Irorio, currently the music director of the Milton Keynes City Orchestra, and Alexander van Ingen of the Academy of Ancient Music. The Academy of Ancient Music will be playing Bach’s St John Passion on Good Friday at 3pm at the Barbican.

Recorded at Barbican, Jon Jacob is joined by pianist and composer Andrew James Johnson, and author, coach and art lover Debs Henry-Pollard for a conversation spanning piano lessons, Wagner and the CBSO. Andy's new album Winter's Heart is out now and available via Spotify. **Show Notes** Breakfast: bacon and spinach Introductions Andy’s CBSO work experience Orchestral manager job interview Marin Alsop’s womens conductors masterclass Audience members with conductors scores How does the music make you feel? Andy’s piano teacher The Tristan chord Budapest Opera Festival Comprehensive vs. Grammar School Andy’s new album: The Winter’s Heart Which composer would you want to have met? What one disc would you fight to keep? Cultural Recommendation: V&A Ocean Liner’s Exhibition Cultural Recommendation: Bluthner Piano Day, 29 March 2018 Andy’s first piano