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Barbican Classical Music

<p>Hear interviews, performances and exclusive tracks from the world’s finest classical musicians and performers, Barbican resident orchestras and our international associates in Barbican Classical Music podcasts.</p>

Barbican Centre

You might have noticed things have been a little quiet on the Barbican Classical Music podcast...We will soon be retiring this podcast and invite you to subscribe to the new and improved weekly Barbican podcast, Nothing Concrete, where you'll be able to find everything you love about the Barbican in one place. Listen to a teaser of what's coming up on Nothing Concrete including Josie Long who will be presenting a new series, Sound Unbound, with guests including composer Steve Reich, director Ken Loach, comedian Jayde Adams and Ballet Black's Cassa Pancho. Subscribe to Nothing Concrete on Acast, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Introducing the new Barbican podcast, Nothing Concrete

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In the final episode, host Edward Seckerson is joined by BBC Symphony Orchestra conductor Sakari Oramo to discuss his fellow countryman Jean Sibelius, and the themes of nature and Finnish national identity woven throughout his music.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Composer Focus – Episode 5: Jean Sibelius with Sakari Oramo

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode four, host Edward Seckerson is joined by violinist, composer, and Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director Richard Tognetti to discuss the genius, larger than life character, and prodigious talent of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Composer Focus – Episode 4: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with Richard Tognetti

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode three, host Edward Seckerson is joined by conductor and pianist Sir Antonio Pappano to discuss Gustav Mahler, whose extreme, powerful and raw symphonic writing stretches both conductors and orchestras to their limits.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Composer Focus – Episode 3: Gustav Mahler with Sir Antonio Pappano

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode two, host Edward Seckerson is joined by baritone and composer Roderick Williams to discuss Benjamin Britten, a complex and often contradictory character, and one of the 20th century’s greatest opera composers.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Composer Focus – Episode 2: Benjamin Britten with Roderick Williams

In a five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode one, host Edward Seckerson is joined by countertenor Iestyn Davies to discuss George Frideric Handel, the German-born composer whose prolific portfolio of operas and hits such as the Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and Messiah, won the hearts of the British public.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Composer Focus – Episode 1: George Frideric Handel with Iestyn Davies

Jeremy Denk talks to Edward Seckerson about the arts of practicing, programme-building, recording, writing and performing, as we find out what makes the innovative pianist tick.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

In conversation with Jeremy Denk

Edward Seckerson would happily describe himself as a Bernstein fanatic, conducting one of the last major interviews with his idol before his death in October 1990. 

Here he shares why the American icon remains a never-ending source of fascination.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Edward Seckerson muses on the great Leonard Bernstein

'This music is buzzing with intergalactic messages and surrealism…’ 

We speak to the inimitable director about the apocalyptic anti-anti-opera ahead of his production at the Barbican with the LSO and Sir Simon Rattle   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Peter Sellars on Ligeti’s Le grand macabre

‘The whole piece is about me being put to the test…’ 

The violinist Leila Josefowicz talks about Scheherazade.2 – the piece written for her by John Adams – and her life as a musician, ahead of her performance of ‘S.2’ with the LSO next month.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Leila Josefowicz on John Adams

'Music is above and beyond all else... It's about feeling.'  
As the pioneering American composer celebrates his 70th birthday, we spoke about his life, music and varying influences. 

  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

John Adams at 70

We go on a trip down the rabbit hole looking at Gerald Barry’s latest bonkers opera – talking to the composer, Barbara Hannigan – who plays Alice in the premiere – and conductor Thomas Adès.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Gerald Barry / Alice’s Adventures Under Ground

We speak to James MacMillan, the Scottish composer and conductor, whose Stabat Mater is premiered at the Barbican as part of a day celebrating his urgently communicative choral music.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

James MacMillan - Choral Music

'There is something about mortality or the knowledge that time is not infinite that tends to focus artists' energy in a particular way'. We talk to Jonathan Biss, the American pianist and writer, about the late music of the great Romantic composers and his relationship with their music  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Jonathan Biss talks the late music of Beethoven, Brahms and more

We caught up with contemporary composer George Benjamin about his career, his love of teaching, and the challenges of composing for opera. We also spoke to Iestyn Davies who will be singing the UK Premiere of Benjamin's new song-cycle Dream of the Song about working with the composer.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Benjamin at the Barbican: George Benjamin and Iestyn Davies

‘Hans Zender has taken Schubert's Winterreise and exploded it, he's made a work of art about a work of art.’ As we prepare to transform our Theatre into the winter's landscape of Winterreise, we talk to director Netia Jones, tenor Ian Bostridge, conductor Baldur Brönnimann and more about this iconic piece of art  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Dark Mirror: Zender's Winterreise with Ian Bostridge & Netia Jones

We talk to composer Andrew Norman and video artist Deborah O'Grady about how the American landscape influences classical and contemporary music, and how to make a visual statement from these works.
Both Andrew and Deborah feature Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic's upcoming International Associate Residency, which covers the themes of American Soundscapes and includes the music of John Williams and Mahler- for more info see www.barbican.org.uk/music/series.asp?id=1505  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

American Soundscapes with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Ian Bostridge talks to the Guardian’s Tom Service about his special relationship with Schubert’s song-cycle and the demands it places on the performer, following his recital at the Barbican Centre in January 2015.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ian Bostridge talks Winterreise

When computer pioneer and war-hero Alan Turing received a posthumous pardon in 2013, New York composer Nico Muhly had questions...Sentences is the result of those questions, and premieres at the Barbican on 6th June. In this classical podcast we speak to Iestyn Davies who Muhly wrote the piece for about what it’s been like to work on the project.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Iestyn Davies on Nico Muhly's Sentences

Ahead of the Boulez at 90 series at the Barbican, this podcast explores the life and music of the great musical provocateur, Pierre Boulez, with interviews from those who knew and worked with him. Featuring interviews with composer Nico Muhly, conductor François-Xavier Roth, and musicians from the Ensemble Intercontemporain, founded by Boulez in 1976.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Boulez at 90

Journey down the rabbit hole in this Barbican classical podcast exploring Unsuk Chin's operatic adaptation of Lewis Caroll's beloved stories, ahead of its UK Premiere at the Barbican on Sunday 8 March. Includes interviews with composer Unsuk Chin, director Netia Jones and infamous gonzo artist Ralph Steadman, whose illustrations frame the production.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland

In this exclusive Barbican classical podcast, writer and broadcaster Catherine Bott interviews Fabio Biondi, director and founder of Italian period instrument ensemble Europa Galante, shedding light on the detective work that brought Vivaldi’s 1738 l'Oracolo in Messenia back from obscurity.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

February 2015 - Fabio Biondi: Vivaldi Detective

In anticipation of the acclaimed Mariinsky’s Opera’s London Residency at the Barbican in November 2015, we sit down with esteemed conductor Valery Gergiev to discuss Boris Godunov and the UK premiere of Levsha – both cornerstones of this historic residency.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Mariinsky Opera Residency podcasts – interview with Valery Gergiev (part 2)

Mariinsky Opera Residency podcasts – interview with Valery Gergiev (part 1)

We talk to Harrison Birtwistle’s closest friends and collaborators to find out more about the man behind the music of one of our greatest living composers. Audio clips used by kind permission from Universal Edition.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Birtwistle at 80 – The man behind the music

Ben Eshmade explores the music and myths featured in our series of concerts celebrating the 80th birthday of one of our greatest living composers, Sir Harrison Birtwistle. Audio clips used by kind permission from Universal Edition.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Birtwistle at 80 – Music and Myth

In the first of a series of three podcasts, we introduce you to our Birtwistle at 80 celebration and speak to Sir Harrison Birtwistle's peers and collaborators about his life and work, as well as the great man himself. Audio clips used by kind permission from Universal Edition.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Birtwistle at 80 – An Introduction

One of the world’s oldest and most prestigious symphony orchestras, The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam returns to the Barbican for its second International Associate residency in April. Led by Chief Conductor Mariss Jansons, the residency celebrates the orchestra’s strong Bruckner tradition as three of his greatest and most evocative symphonies are performed together with concertos by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Mariss Jansons and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam

In 2012, multi award-winning Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes recorded the music of Beethoven for the first time in his career. In letting the world hear his thoughts on some of the most significant piano music ever written, Andsnes confirmed those qualities that have made him one of the greats – his selfless admiration for the composer, his combined humanity and spirituality, his taste for balance and his verve and wit. Jon Tolansky catches up with him to talk about his forthcoming Barbican recital that sees his performing Beethoven’s tempestuous, tuneful, beautiful and uplifting piano sonatas.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Leif Ove Andsnes talks Beethoven

Ben Eshmade explores Britten's beautiful Church Parable, Curlew River, a work inspired by Japanese 'Noh' plays. This podcast features exclusive interviews with Netia Jones, William Lacey and Ian Bostridge, who discuss their upcoming, innovative performances of the work at St Giles' Cripplegate, 14-16 November. Martin Holm, Visitor Services Manager at RSPB Rainham Marshes, highlights the distinctive features of the melancholic Curlew bird call. To find out more about our celebration, visit www.barbican.org.uk/britten  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Barbican Britten: Exploring Curlew River

For the second of our series of Barbican Britten podcasts, Jon Tolansky explores a selection of Britten's powerful and evocative vocal works, featuring exclusive interviews with performers Ian Bostridge, Thomas Hampson and James Gilchrist, conductor Harry Christophers and scholar Graham Johnson. To find out more about our celebration, visit www.barbican.org.uk/britten  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Barbican Britten: Britten and the Voice

There’s no better way to experience Brahms’s music than this:  the world’s oldest symphony orchestra, led by one of today’s most accomplished conductors. Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig conductor Riccardo Chailly gives fascinating insights into the music of Brahms and its performance, in preparation for their much awaited International Associate residency, 22-31 October 2013.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Chailly's Brahms with Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig

Timed to coincide with the climax of Benjamin Britten’s centenary, and encompassing the composer’s own birthday, Barbican Britten is an unmissable two-week celebration bringing fresh life to a huge range of Britten’s work through imaginative, daring and sensational performances.  For the first of three Barbican Britten podcasts, Sandy Burnett caught up with author, documentary maker and Britten scholar, John Bridcut and as well giving us fascinating insights into his life, he tells us how he is seeking to illuminate this great composer  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Barbican Britten: Celebrating 100 Years

Ahead of their performance of Monteverdi’s Fifth Book of Madrigals at the Barbican on 15 June, Catherine Bott travels to Paris to speak to Les Arts Florissant’s director for this project, Paul Agnew about these multi-voiced songs of life and love and the intriguing controversy that surrounded them after they were completed.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Paul Agnew talks Monteverdi's Fifth Book of Madrigals

In this edition, Catherine Bott talks to AAM founder Christopher Hogwood as he continues his celebrated cycle of Handel operas at the Barbican with a classic but surprising tale of piracy, lost love and a journey to the underworld. Premiered in 1740, Imeneo was Handel's "farewell to Italian opera" and contains all the vivid characterisation and drama he had been perfecting over the previous decade.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Christopher Hogwood on Handel's Imeneo

Broadcaster Sandy Burnett presents this special edition Barbican Classical Music podcast live from our 2013-14 season launch. We introduce you to our packed programme of concerts and speak to representatives from our resident and associate orchestras and ensembles about their seasons.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Live from the 2013–14 classical music season launch

On 16 March, Barbican audiences will finally get to hear the European premiere of 'The Gospel According to the Other Mary', John Adams and Peter Sellars's hugely anticipated follow up to the Nativity oratorio El Niño. This epic oratorio for orchestra, chorus and soloists will be performed by the LA Phil and led by Gustavo Dudamel who describes the piece as "one of the most important works for our time". Ben Eshmade speaks to the key people involved in this project and explores its journey from inception to realisation.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

John Adams talks The Gospel According to the Other Mary

In the second part of our Maxim Vengerov podcast, Maxim continues discussing his passion for teaching music, his charity work with UNICEF, MIGDAL and MIAGI and the programme for his Barbican recital on Wed 20 Feb, which includes Beethoven, Schubert, Franck and Saint-Saëns.  Find out how old Vengerov was when he gave his first music lesson, made his first recording and why solo performing is like driving a Formula 1 car!  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Maxim Vengerov in recital – Part 2

Speaking with Catherine Bott, countertenor David Daniels and scholar Jonathan Keats explore the rich musical characterisations in Handel's Radamisto, from bloodthirsty tyrant Tiridate, to the wonderfully moving presentation of love between husband and wife, Radamisto and Zenobia.  Among other topics, Daniels and Keats also discuss the historical context and topicality of Radamisto's theme of dynastic intrigue, how Handel dealt with the prima-donnas of the 18th Century and the simple key to the beauty of Handel's writing that reaches 'right to the core of the soul'.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

David Daniels stars in Handel's Radamisto

In discussion with Jon Tolansky, Vengerov recalls his strict musical education in communist Russia, his attempt as a ten year-old to learn Paganini's Violin Concerto No 1 in just ten days, and how his fledgling conducting career has changed his approach to performance. Also hear Vengerov like never before, playing electric viola in snippets from Benjamin Yusupov's extraordinary-sounding Viola Tango Rock Concerto.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Maxim Vengerov in recital – Part 1

Superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato chats with Warwick Thompson about the extreme emotions on display in her new album Drama Queens, the delights and challenges of singing to the Barbican audience, and 'the most inventive, gorgeous, stunning, dramatic gown' she has ever seen – which she will wear at the Barbican on 6 Feb  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Joyce DiDonato talks Drama Queens

To coincide with the Barbican's 30th Anniversary, we focus on our Resident Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, who celebrates 30 years at the Barbican. We speak to the Orchestra, the LSO's Managing Director Kathryn McDowell as well as featuring interviews with former conductor of the LSO, Mstislav Rostropovich, the LSO's President, Sir Colin Davies and Principal Conductor, Valery Gergiev.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

London Symphony Orchestra – 30 years at the Barbican

When Les Arts Florissants return to the Barbican in December, they bring with them Handel's oratorio Belshazzar, a biblical story of Babylonian binge-drinking, bacchanalia, and battles. Catherine Bott travels to Paris to meet William Christie, conductor of Les Arts Florissants, and discuss the plot, characters, music, and cast in their upcoming performance of what Christie labels ‘some of the best music [Handel] ever wrote'.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

William Christie / Les Arts Florissants – Handel's Belshazzar

Renée Fleming talks to us about the mesmerising programme she has in store for her concert at the Barbican on December 9th. In discussion with Jon Tolansky, Fleming touches on topics ranging from romantic poetry and lieder composition, to the fascinating personal and musical relationships of the composers Wolf, Mahler, Schoenberg, Zemlinsky, and Korngold, revealing an intriguing historic trajectory to her programme.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Renée Fleming in recital

Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin may be only 41, but such has been his astonishing career that he is already considered a legendary interpreter of acclaimed skill and insight and is now considered one of our age's most remarkable musicians.  A child prodigy, he first recorded aged 13, and in the three decades since has embraced the monuments of the pianist's repertoire.  Jon Tolansky catches up with him ahead of his recital at the Barbican next month.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Evgeny Kissin exclusive

On Nov 3, enter the weird and wonderful world of Maurice Sendak's much-loved books for children and see his iconic drawings brought to life in these wildly imaginative operas by Oliver Knussen.  In this edition, we look at how these new productions have come together from its beginnings to the dress rehearsal for the first performance at the Aldeburgh Festival before it comes to the Barbican later this year.  Along the way, we speak to director and designer, Netia Jones, costume designers, monsters, Jenny the Dog, and Max himself.  These performances take place during BBC SO's Total Immersion weekend, celebrating Oliver Knussen at 60.  Book your tickets now and ‘Let the wild rumpus start!'  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Where the Wild Things Are – An opera double bill by Oliver Knussen

For this rare interview, the great American composer chats to Ben Eshmade in a London cab, ahead of the celebrations for his 75th birthday at the Barbican Centre in London. Featuring plenty of Philip Glass's music and insights into his work, his legendary collaborations, his beginnings, the “music world” and the “music business” and some Schoenberg records which took five years to sell in his father's record store…  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Philip Glass at 75 – Exclusive Podcast

Britten Sinfonia is 20 years old this year and continues to surprise and inspire with its visionary artist collaborations, cutting-edge programming and irrepressible verve.  Ahead of their first season as Associate Ensemble at the Barbican, Marcus O'Dair and Ben Eshmade speak to artists and key members from the orchestra about their exciting year ahead.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Britten Sinfonia – Associate Ensemble

In this edition we look at how Oscar Wilde's enduringly popular play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest' has been transformed by composer Gerald Barry from the stage and cinema screen into a fantastic new opera.  Prior to the European premiere at the Barbican on 26 April we brought together some of the opera's and Oscar Wilde's biggest champions to discuss the opera in more detail: Stephen Fry, Fiona Shaw, composer Gerald Barry and Thomas Adès who will be conducting the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group in the performances in both London and Birmingham.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Importance of Being Earnest – An opera by Gerald Barry

Broadcaster Sandy Burnett presents this special edition Barbican Classical Music podcast live from our 2012-13 Classical Music season launch.  In this edition, we introduce you to our packed programme of concerts and speak to representatives from our Resident Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, our Associate Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and our two new Associate Ensembles, the Academy of Ancient Music and Britten Sinfonia.  Highlights from our 2012-13 season include 11 world premieres, 11 UK premieres and appearances from world-class artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Evgeny Kissin, Maxim Vengerov, Juan Diego Flórez and Cecilia Bartoli.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

2012-13 Classical Music Season launch

On its world premiere in Luxembourg in 2007, the Guardian placed Jonathan Harvey's Wagner Dream on the lengthening list of operas by British composers that urgently need a staging here.  Finally, on 29 January, this thrilling work will have its UK premiere as a semi-staged performance in the Barbican Hall with Martyn Brabbins conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  Marcus O'Dair and Ben Eshmade speak to the key people involved in this project and unearth the delights and surprises that are in store. Part of BBC SO's Total Immersion Weekend (28 – 29 Jan) celebrating the life and music of Jonathan Harvey.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Wagner Dream

The Academy of Ancient Music's energised, sparky and engaged performances of baroque and classical music have thrilled audiences worldwide for nearly 40 years, with live concerts on every continent except Antarctica and over 300 Brit and Grammy Award-winning recordings.  Writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson talks to the AAM's Music Director, Richard Egarr, about their new appointment as an Associate Ensemble of the Barbican, the history of the AAM and their exciting series of concerts during the Barbican's 2012-13 season.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Academy of Ancient Music

The New York Philharmonic return to the Barbican as an International Associate Orchestra bringing with them the glitz, glamour and grandeur of the Big Apple!  Under music director Alan Gilbert, the orchestra present four stunning concerts, each featuring music with a special connection to New York.  Highlights include Mahler's Ninth Symphony, concerts with Lang Lang and Joyce DiDonato, a Young People's Concert and creative learning activities.  Writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson catches up with Jamie Bernstein in the Bernstein family home in New York and talks to her about her father, the New York Philharmonic's forthcoming residency and her involvement with the orchestra's legendary Young People's Concerts.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

New York Philharmonic -  Jamie Bernstein and the Young People's Concert

The Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig can proudly claim the title as the world's oldest symphony orchestra and boasts an enviably prestigious roll-call of conductors including today's highly acclaimed chief conductor Riccardo Chailly.  Writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson talks to Riccardo Chailly about his approach to performing all of Beethoven's Symphonies, the Gewandhaus Orchestra's rich history and unique sound, and why their first residency as International Associates of the Barbican is so important to the Orchestra.  Music clips taken from the Orchestra's latest Beethoven Symphonic Cycle recording for Decca  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy