Harmonious World

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...

Hilary interviews pianist and composer Sarah McKenzie. There's a brilliant story behind Sarah's latest compositions, produced in lockdown in the UK, while Sarah was stranded at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fantastic 'Schneller!' has four trumpets interweaving, performed by the magical Kenny Rampton and then the sublime 'Waiting Here For You' features more o...

Hilary interviews award-winning singer-songwriter Laila Biali. Laila has just won an impressive SOCAN award for her songwriting, to go alongside her 2019 JUNO and her latest single is 'Both Sides Now' in honour of Joni Mitchell's birthday at the beginning of November. To find out more about Laila, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Ha...

Hilary interviews award-winning soprano Elyse Anne Kakacek As well as entertaining the world on social media and her neighbours from her open windows, Elyse has released her new album - Formless  - of Dvorak songs. To find out more about Elyse, 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 link and...

Hilary interviews pianist, composer, band-leader and amazing jazz accordionist Ben Rosenblum. Ben's third album - Kites and Strings - is just released, featuring a stunning sextet and special guests. To find out more about Ben, 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 link and subscribe to...

Hilary interviews composer and conductor Michael Shapiro. There's a good chance that I'll be jumping on a plane as soon as such things are possible again - this time to see the operatic version of Michael's film score to the original film of Frankenstein . To find out more about Michael, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious W...

Hilary interviews composer William Susman. William's latest album - Scatter My Ashes - is out now and there's a new one due out shortly, so take some time to listen. To find out more about Bill, 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 link and subscribe to support the show. Don't for...

Hilary interviews pianist, composer and podcaster Chad Lawson. Chad's approach to piano playing, neo-classical music and mental health made for a fascinating chat and I hope you enjoy it. To find out more about Chad, click here . There's a lot to listen to and enjoy. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: cl...

Hilary interviews singer-songwriter and guitarist Toby Jepson. Toby was lead singer of Little Angels, with whom Hilary appeared on stage (and on video) in 1991. After 29 years, this is their conversation about Toby's career, lockdown and what the future might hold. To find out more about Toby, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World...

Hilary interviews Grammy-Award winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider. Not only is Maria a hugely talented composer, but she's also passionate about the impact that the data-hungry digital world is having on our lives. Her latest double album, Data Lords is out now on Artist Share . Please do listen to it after you've heard our conversation. To find out more about Maria, click h...

Hilary interviews drummer Kenrick Rowe. You may not recognise Kenrick's name, but you have almost certainly heard his playing, as he's one of the UK's go-to drummers. He has most recently been heavily involved in the outstanding All About Eve soundtrack by PJ Harvey and The Specials' number one album Encore . Kenrick's experience extends across genres, including reggae, po...

Hilary interviews internationally-acclaimed guitarist Sharon Isbin. Sharon is one of the finest guitarist in the world and her two latest albums - Affinity and Strings for Peace - feature some stunning original compositions. Our chat over-ran our time slot, and we could have gone on for hours. To find out more about Sharon, click here or find her on social media. Get in touch to let me know what y...

Hilary interviews Italian jazz pianist Marco Marconi. Marco's gig at The Pheasantry on London's Kings Road in March was my last gig before lockdown. It was great to be able to chat with him online and to find out more about his background. I hadn't realised that Gerry Mulligan had been a pivotal musician for him, as he was for me.. To find out more about Marco, click here or find hi...

Hilary interviews New York bassist Mark Wade. It was great to chat with Mark, who I met on 3 February at Benslow Music, when he was playing with Hitchin's very own jazz pianist Marco Marconi. In our conversation, Mark explains his unusual journey as a bass player, and his latest album - Songs from Isolation . To find out more about Mark, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think...

Hilary interviews jazz guitarist Rob Luft. Listen to my conversation with Rob, where we cover life under lockdown, the future of live music and our mutual dislike of the 'shuffle' function. To find out more about Rob, click here . You can find the videos Rob talks about on YouTube . My review of 'Life is the Dancer' appears on KindofJazz.com . Get in touch to let me know what y...

Hilary interviews renowned cellist Inbal Segev. Inbal's latest album is a marvellous performance of two cello concertos, composed exactly 100 years apart - Elgar's immediately after the First World War and Anna Clyne's DANCE composer just a few months before the Coronavirus pandemic changed the world. The recording features the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop...

Hilary interviews Mike Paul-Smith, musical director of Down for the Count. The band Down for the Count plays swing music and has appeared at Ronnie Scott's and venues around the UK. Their latest project is an EP recorded entirely in isolation - with musicians in the UK, France and the United States - during lockdown, with 50% of the proceeds going to help the vital work of mental health chari...

Hilary interviews the hugely successful soprano, Anne Sofie von Otter. With Anne Sofie in Sweden and me in the UK, this was a great privilege. I had heard the PBO and Caroline Shaw album we talk about several weeks ago, and I was delighted to have this opportunity to interview the star soloist. To find out more about Anne Sofie von Otter, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Th...

Hilary interviews composer, pianist and violinist Ros Gilman. After meeting Ros on social media several months ago, this was the first chance for a proper chat. We cover lockdown, composition, and how a Russian ended up in London, via Vienna. To find out more about Ros, click here . Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and sha...