Classics Unlocked with Graham Abbott

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores the dynamic between the literary themes of William Shakespeare and the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Verdi took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare three times in his career, once fairly early on ( Macbeth ), and then decades later for his final two operas ( Otello & Falstaff ). He is on record as having expressed deep admiration for Sha...

In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham looks at three of the most celebrated 'unfinished' symphonies, from the genius minds of Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Classics Unlocked , Graham Abbott explores one of the landmarks of 20th century piano music in Claude Debussy's Preludes. Following the tradition laid down by JS Bach and Chopin (among others), Debussy wrote a set of 24 preludes (across two books of twelve), but the stress on them wasn't so much key as it was colour, expression and emotional impact. This episode of Classics Unlo...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the last of the German Romantic composers, Richard Strauss, who is today remembered primarily for creating stunning works in two genres: orchestral tone poems and operas. Yet Strauss should be remembered just as much for his creation of music in another genre, because he took up the challenge of continuing and developing the Ger...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores another chapter in the extraordinary creative output of Ludwig van Beethoven: his piano concertos. Beethoven revolutionised the way composers composed, and the way performers performed. Today, it is easily forgotten that Beethoven's piano concertos were written for himself to display both his compositional and pianistic capabilities. T...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the mightiest works for the keyboard: Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations'. Today, it stands alongside the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor, The Art of Fugue and the Musical Offering as an eternal musical monument. This episode features four different recordings, headed by Lang Lang's 2020 Deutsche Grammophon alb...

This episode of Classics Unlocked delves into some rather recent piano music, from one of the most famous of all contemporary composers. Philip Glass is considered one of the founding fathers of the movement known as ‘Minimalism’. Graham Abbott explores one particular aspect of Glass’s canon – his Études for solo piano, using the 2017 Deutsche Grammophon album from Icelandic performer Víkingur Óla...

In this episode of Classics Unlocked , Graham Abbott looks at the solo piano music of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky. Best known for his dramatic symphonies, ballets and concertos, Tchaikovsky wrote a plethora of smaller works which rarely see the light of day. Thanks to a recording project from Decca pianist Valentina Lisitsa, Graham shines the torch on the many beautiful pieces the Russian master compo...

In this episode of Classics Unlocked , Graham Abbott unlocks the enormous orchestral output of Johannes Brahms – works which look simultaneously  backwards and forwards, in the sense that they say something truly new for their times and in the sense that they provide a new foundation of their own for composers who followed. This episode featured Decca recordings reissued on the Eloquence labe...

In this episode of Classics Unlocked , Graham Abbott explores the piano music of Béla Bartók. His music was, by and large, influenced by his researches into folk music traditions, but he also wrote works with starkly modernist characteristics. He was not only one of the great composers and music educators of the 20th century, but also one of its great pianists. And a pianist who wrote an enormous...

In this episode, Graham Abbott completes his journey dissecting the 32 published piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven by examining those classified as being written in his 'late' period, with specific attention paid to the composer's use of harmony and fugal structures. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas Wilhelm Kempff, piano Deut...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott provides an introduction to the two completed concertos by Sir Edward Elgar. Mention 'Elgar' and 'concerto' in the same sentence, and the chances are the piece that will come to mind will be his famous Cello Concerto from 1919; however Elgar also completed a magnificent, grand concerto for solo violin, composed a decade earlier. This episode of...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the middle piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven - a creative phase in which the composer breaks away from the classical model. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas Wilhelm Kempff, piano Deutsche Grammophon 483 7429 (8-CD + Bluray) DISCOVER: https://UMA.lnk.to/sijPHID Ho...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of Giuseppe Verdi's – indeed one of all opera's – most popular creations: his La traviata from 1853. This episode uses the legendary recording from 1977, featuring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Sherrill Milnes, with the Bavarian State Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Carlos Kleiber. Deutsche Grammophon 479 7287 H...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the most famous bodies of work in the Western music tradition: Beethoven's nine completed symphonies. This episode of Classics Unlocked features the legendary Deutsche Grammophon recordings of Herbert von Karajan's complete cycle with the Berliner Philharmoniker, released in 1963 and reissued on the Eloquence label. DISCOVER: ht...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott looks at two beautiful English works from the first half of the 20th century which evoke the spirit of Christmas and which are inspired by seasonal carols and poetry: Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols' and Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols'. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured Decca recordings reissued on the E...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores a small but vital corner of the 600 works Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left the world: his beautiful wind concertos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the gigantic symphonic output of Anton Bruckner. 'Once immersed in the sound world of a Bruckner symphony', says Graham, 'the experience can be truly overwhelming and deeply moving'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the early published piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven - a young man trying to impress! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz (1803–1869), one the greatest rule breakers in the whole history of music. All the recordings from this episode are on the Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Classics labels, and can be discovered at: classicsdirect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott talks about one of the most monumental works of art ever to come from the mind of man: Richard Wagner's 'Der Ring des Nibelungen'. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: WAGNER: Der Ring des Nibelungen Sir Georg Solti, conductor Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus Decca Classics 478 8370 (17-CD)...

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores the powerful and emotive symphonies of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This episode of Classics Unlocked features the following recording: P. TCHAIKOVSKY: The Symphonies; Symphonic Poems Mikhail Pletnev, conductor Russian National Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon 477 8699 (7-CD) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the symphonic output of Gustav Mahler. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: Mahler: The Symphonies & Song Cycles Bernard Haitink, conductor Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Decca Classics 483 4643 (12-CD + BluRay Audio Disc set) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the wonder and mystery of Johann Sebastian Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: J.S. BACH: The Six Cello Suites Pierre Fournier, cello Deutsche Grammophon 483 6385 (2-CD + BluRay Audio Disc set) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.