Classical Interviews
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Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins reflect on 'Reflection'
6th May 2026
The violinist and composer-pianist discuss their album of music by Prokofiev, Stravinsky, the late Oliver Knussen and Watkins himself, released in February on Signum Classics.
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Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey on Marianna Martines
27th Apr 2026
Idith Meshulam Korman and Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey talk about their new album dedicated to the complete keyboard works of Marianna Martines, and their passion for giving voice to a composer and performer of considerable talent who has been unfairly obscured by history and the conventions of her time.
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Joseph Nolan on the organ works of Alkan
23rd Apr 2026
The organist talks about the first instalment of his new project - recording the complete organ works of the French Romantic keyboard sorcerer Charles-Valentin Alkan, known as much for his epic-scale piano works as for his organ compositions.
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The Complete Alkan Organ Works: Volume 1
Joseph Nolan (organ)
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Pēteris Vasks at 80
16th Apr 2026
The Latvian composer (whose big birthday falls today) looks back over the past nine decades, reflecting on some of the musicians who have shaped his work and the inspiration which he draws from nature and his faith.
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Michael Waldron on Arthur Oldham
13th Apr 2026
To mark the release of Mentor (out now on Orchid Classics), the conductor of London Choral Sinfonia discusses the unique relationship between Benjamin Britten and his only private pupil, whose centenary falls this year.
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Nicholas Collon on Hans Zender
8th Apr 2026
The British conductor discusses recording and performing Zender's 'composed interpretation' of Schubert's Winterreise with Aurora Orchestra and Allan Clayton, and explains why he believes that this version of the piece has much to offer to seasoned Schubertians and newcomers like.
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Cristian Măcelaru on Elsa Barraine
2nd Apr 2026
The Romanian conductor discusses the remarkable legacy of 'one of the most prominent figures in twentieth-century French cultural life', whose symphonies he recently recorded with the Orchestre National de France for Warner Classics.
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Anne-Sophie Mutter on East Meets West
30th Mar 2026
To celebrate the launch of her new series on Alpha Classics, ASM Forte Forward, the violinist talks about her long history of commissioning and performing new works by composers including John Williams, Witold Lutosławski, Unsuk Chin, and Aftab Darvishi.
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Rosa Feola on Donizetti
25th Mar 2026
The Italian soprano discusses collaborating with Carlo Rizzi on the seventh instalment of Opera Rara's mammoth Donizetti Song Project, masterminded by musicologist Roger Parker and launched in late 2024.
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Donizetti Songs Vol. 7
Rosa Feola (soprano), Carlo Rizzi (piano)
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Claire Booth on Life Stories
24th Mar 2026
The soprano discusses her recent cabaret-themed album on Orchid Classics, featuring the world premiere recording of Zoë Martlew's theatrical song-cycle Hôtel Babylon plus music by Gershwin, Eisler, Poulenc and Adès.
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Kazuki Yamada on Walton
19th Mar 2026
The Japanese conductor discusses his recent recording of the symphonies with the CBSO, settling into life in Birmingham, his first brush with English music as a high-school student, and inspirational visits to Ischia, Malvern and Aldeburgh.
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Nimrod Borenstein on his concertos and Shakespeare Songs
18th Mar 2026
The composer talks about his new album on SOMM, featuring concertos for mandolin and for oboe plus his Shakespeare Sonnets for soprano and orchestra.
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Michael Finnissy at 80
17th Mar 2026
On his eightieth birthday, the English composer talks to our contemporary music guest-contributor about his student days at the Royal College of Music, drawing inspiration from country hedgerows, and why he's 'still amazed by Verdi'...
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Christian Immler on Be Still My Heart
16th Mar 2026
In the run-up to the release of Raphaël Pichon's recording of the St John Passion (on which he sings the bass arias and Pilatus), the German singer discusses a recent passion-project of his own - a beguiling recital of songs by Wilhelm Grosz and Robert Gund with pianist Helmut Deutsch on Alpha Classics.
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Martin James Bartlett on Bach, Mozart and Britten
12th Mar 2026
The British pianist discusses his new album of early concertos by Bach and Mozart plus Britten's Young Apollo, recorded in Salzburg with the Mozarteumorchester and Howard Griffiths.
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Ludovic Tézier, Marina Rebeka and Francesco Meli on Simon Boccanegra
25th Feb 2026
The stars of a new account of Verdi's political thriller on Prima Classic discuss their roles, some of the singers and conductors who have inspired them in this music – and why there are ‘ghosts everywhere’ in the theatre where they recorded...
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Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
Ludovic Tézier (Simon Boccanegra), Marina Rebeka (Amelia), Francesco Meli (Gabriele Adorno), Michele Pertusi (Fiesco), Mattia Olivieri (Paolo), Andrea Pellegrini (Pietro) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, Michele Spotti
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Simon Callaghan on Sterndale Bennett
23rd Feb 2026
Known for his adventurous exploration of neglected repertoire, the British pianist discusses his latest recording of concertos by William Sterndale Bennett (released last month on Lyrita).
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Alexandra Dariescu on A Child's Dream
18th Feb 2026
The Romanian pianist takes us back to the beginning of her musical journey on her new album, featuring the first piece she ever played with an orchestra (at the tender age of nine) plus music by Nadia Boulanger, Amy Beach, Missy Mazzoli and more.
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Martyn Brabbins on The Dream of Gerontius (and Havergal Brian)
5th Feb 2026
The conductor discusses his new recording of Elgar's masterpiece with Huddersfield Choral Society, and reflects on how he became such an enthusiastic ambassador for the music of Havergal Brian (whose 150th birthday fell last week).
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Martin Helmchen on Schubert
29th Jan 2026
To mark the composer's 229th birthday on Saturday, the German pianist reflects on the joys of discovering his early and unfinished sonatas (several of which feature on the first instalment of his new cycle on Alpha Classics).
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Schubert: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1
Martin Helmchen (piano)
