Harmonious World

The latest episode of Harmonious World features an interview with composer, poet and singer Lara Solnicki. Lara's latest album - The One and the Other - is out now. It features a cinematic array of tone poems and jazz performances that are inspiring and exciting, Many thanks to Lara for allowing me to feature clips from The One and the Other  alongside our conversation. To find out more about...

Christian Loffler is a composer and artist and it was a pleasure to interview him for the latest episode of Harmonious World. Parallels  is a fitting, 21st Century tribute to Beethoven, and it was released to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer. Our conversation explores Loffler's reworking of performances recorded in the 1920s after he was invited to experiment with the Deutsche...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features a duo interview with Ashley Slater and Hattie Snooks. Ashley and Hattie are collaborating on a number of musical projects and it was great to catch up with them, especially as I have known Ashley since (as he reminded me!) 1979. As the duo Queen Mab, Ashley and Hattie are releasing the album Roll With The Punches and this episode features clips of th...

I was delighted to be joined for a second conversation with composer Michael Shapiro. We discuss Michael's 'Peace Variations for solo violin', performed by Tim Fain. Our conversation expanded to include several other works from this prolific and extraordinary composer. I am still waiting for the chance to see Frankenstein  accompanied by Michael's orchestral score, and the next...

For this episode of Harmonious World, I spoke to Dean Tsur, a sax player who is usually based in New York but found himself in lockdown in Israel. Dean's latest album - Live From Lockdown - is out now and if you're looking for a straight-ahead jazz album, you won't go wrong with this one. It has some great tracks on and I start the episode with a clip from my favourite - I Loves You...

Welcome to season 4 of Harmonious World. I have so many great interviews lined up, that I'm aiming for two episodes a week, starting tomorrow - 2 April 2021. Follow me on instagram.com/hilaryrwriter Follow me on facebook.com/HilaryRobertsonFreelanceWriter Follow me on twitter.com/hilaryrwriter Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate...

This episode of Harmonious World features violist Paul Laraia from Catalyst Quartet. The Catalyst Quartet has a new album out now - the first in a series of their 'Uncovered' project. This one features the work of little-known composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. To find out more about Catalyst Quartet, click here . Follow me on instagram.com/hilaryrwriter Follow me on facebook.com/HilaryRo...

This episode of Harmonious World features singer Lisa Reagan from Shunia. Lisa joined me to discuss Shunia's latest self-titled album of chants and music, filled with Sanskrit chants, Latin prayer, ancient poetry and exquisite orchestration. Many thanks to Lisa for allowing me to feature clips from Shunia alongside our conversation. To find out more about Shunia, click here . Follow me on ins...

I confess to being a little star-struck this week on Harmonious World. I interviewed a hero of mine - sax player Ernie Watts. You may not be familiar with Ernie's name, but you will certainly have heard his playing: the man's discography is extraordinary. His latest album - Home Light   - came out in 2018 and features his quartet. It's a great jazz album, and I had to finish our con...

I'm joined for this episode of Harmonious World by Hailey Brinnel, trombonist and singer. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles is Hailey's joyous album with touches of New Orleans jazz and a lot of fun. In fact, our interview has a lot of laughter - the editing process removed some, but I left a little in so you can see how much fun we had, talking about the album, music and lockdown. Many t...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features an interview with composer, pianist and bandleader Jorn Swart. Jorn's latest project is Hello Future , an album featuring his trio - Malnoia. The album launch starts on 13 March and will allow listeners to experience the music, the accompanying short stories and even the live videos from the trio's last tour before lockdown. Many thanks for...

In the latest episode of Harmonious World, I am joined by three-time Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn. Hilary and I discuss her latest album - Paris - which includes Chausson's Poeme , Prokofiev's Concerto for violin and orchestra and the world premiere of Rautavaara's stunning Deux Serenades . To find out more about Hilary, click here . Follow me on instagram.com/hilaryrwriter...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features a conversation with producer, composer, flautist and pianist Nicholas Gunn. Nicholas has just released his latest album - Sound Condition. In our conversation, Nicholas talks about the transformational power of music and explains to me what he means by the term 'sound condition'. To find out more about Nicholas, click here . Get in touch to...

Renowned Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov joins me for this episode of Harmonious World. His latest album - Silver Age - is a brilliant collection of works by Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Scriabin. In our conversation, Daniil gave a real insight into why these pieces form the basis of Russia's Silver Age and the importance of Sergei Diaghilev, as founder of the Ballets Russes. To find out more ab...

My first podcast with extracts from the composer's music. With grateful thanks to composer William Susman, I hope you enjoy our conversation. The new album - 'A Quiet Madness' is available now, featuring three piano pieces, a piano and violin duet, a series of seven scenes for four flutes and a solo accordion piece that was composed as a response to Hurricane Katrina. To find out mo...

Another fascinating discussion that I hope you will enjoy. For this - episode 30 - I was joined online by composer, pianist and inventor of the Refractor Piano(TM), Peter Manning Robinson. 'Double Helix' is out now, and it contains two CDs of music that I think you will love. If you can, please do look at Peter's website and watch some of the beautiful videos. In our conversation, w...

I was joined by American saxophonist and composer Jane Ira Bloom for episode 29. Jane's new album - 'Some Kind of Tomorrow' - features improvisations with bassist Mark Helias. The tracks were recorded through 2020 as the musicians' responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. "We just had to play - to connect with each other across a distance in whatever way we could," said Ja...

Episode 28 features an interview with my second Grammy-nominated guest of 2021, composer Luna Pearl Woolf. 'Fire and Flood' is nominated for Best classical compendium and we now have to wait until 14 March to find out if it's successful. Even the nomination is a huge accolade for this wonderful album. There's lots of laughter, and discussion of growing up playing clarinet in ba...

The first episode of Season 3 (and 2021) features an interview with composer Richard Danielpour. Richard has had a productive lockdown, composing prolifically and working hard on a new opera, which he hopes to finish in 2021. This interview focuses particularly on 'The Passion of Yeshua', which is a stunning oratorio. The recording has been nominated for three Grammys - Best engineered a...

Happy New Year! I have some great musicians lined up for season 3 and I wish you all the very best for 2021. The first episode will appear on Monday 4 January 2021. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: click on the link and subscribe to support the show. Don't forget the Quincy Jones quote that sums up why I do this...

For the last episode of 2020, Hilary interviewed mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital. Avi has a new album out - 'Art of the Mandolin' - which feature music composed specifically for the instrument. There are some stunning performances and this is a great album to end 2020 with. Avi was the first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy, and you can hear why for yourself. To find...

It was Beethoven's 250th anniversary when Hilary interviewed pianist Jeni Slotchiver. 'American Heritage' is Jeni's latest album and it's a stunning collection of 18 pieces of American music of all genres, with influences from folk, jazz, blues and gospel. It's a launch pad album - you can follow any number of routes into some really fascinating American composers. To...

Hilary interviews pianist Robin Spielberg. Listen to Robin's latest album - her 20th - if you can. It features some beautiful classical pieces reimagined. My favourite is undoubtedly 'Skater's Waltz'. To find out more about Robin, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: click on the lin...

Hilary interviews guitarist and bandleader Aleksi Glick. Aleksi's two latest singles with band Snack Cat are available now and we discuss 'Breaking Point' and 'Fight or Flight', as well as the pandemic, looking forward to live shows and how the band got its name. To find out more about Aleksi, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening...

Hilary interviews classical guitarist Yuri Liberzon. Yuri has just released an album that collects his expressive interpretations of three of JS Bach's violin sonatas. This is a stunning album, and our conversation was fascinating about the complexity of Bach's compositions and the implications for a performer.. To find out more about Yuri, click here . Get in touch to let me know what y...