Talking Classical Podcast

Camilla is a BRIT nominated English opera singer, who was the first signing to Gary Barlow’s Universal label, Future Records. She’s performed in arenas and stadiums all over the world, and recently made the transition from having a hugely successful career as a classical crossover artist to opera singer, recently performing for the Royal Opera House and English National Opera as their first Associ...

Seb Philpott is a multi-faceted freelance trumpeter who has played in a variety of ensembles such as orchestras, period instrument groups, jazz bands and West End pit bands. Seb is also a presenter of the hugely popular Three in a Bar podcast, which features interviews with a wide range of people from across the music and performing arts industry. I interviewed Seb's co-host Verity Simmons so...

 I'm so pleased to share a conversation I recorded back in September with Iestyn Davies . Iestyn is one of the world's most sought after countertenors. A noted interpreter of Handel, his repertoire also extends beyond the traditional confines of the Baroque repertoire, having recently released a disc of English song, and relishing the challenges of contemporary music, as you'll hear later in this...

Last month, I was delighted to speak to cellist and composer Matthew Barley. His latest album, Light Stories is a deeply personal exploration of his own journey from darkness to light. Having experienced, a psychotic drug incident as a teenager. Matthew found solace in his cello playing and music-making as you'll hear in a moment. Matthew and I talked about the genesis behind his Light Stories...

On this podcast, sometimes I like to venture outside of the traditional confines of the classical music world and speak to people who have a relationship with classical music but work in different art forms. My guest on this episode is just that. Adam Cooper is a dancer, choreographer, director and all-round performer. He's best-known as a former Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet, and for...

On the last episode, I spoke to cellist Gabriella Swallow. This guest describes her as her "mysterious benefactor!" Like Gabriella, Verity Simmons is one of the most in-demand and versatile cellists within the music industry. She has a wide range of work from chamber music, West End shows, and being a session musician with some of the leading pop artists. You might also recognise her as...

Gabriella Swallow is one of the most in-demand and versatile cellists in the music industry. She plays everything from traditional classical repertoire to contemporary music, and playing with pop artists. She’s about to finish playing in the band for the acclaimed West End show Standing at the Sky’s Edge , a love letter to the city of Sheffield back dropped by the songs of Richard Hawley. I met Ga...

Camilla Harris is a British soprano, fast establishing herself in the opera world. Camilla and I were at university together, so it was lovely to meet her in March at her house in London and talk to her after a long time. Among the topics we talked about included: Camilla’s journey into music, the importance of her training as a chorister, training at college and during the COVID-19 pandemic, reci...

Ed Lyon is an internationally recognised tenor who enjoys a career in a wide range of repertoire from the Baroque to contemporary music, and performs in many of the major opera houses and concert platforms around the world. He is also a therapist, who specialises in helping people in the classical music industry deal with its unique challenges.  Last month, I played in a concert of Bach’s St. Matt...

Emily Pailthorpe is an internationally renowned oboist who also practises as a psychotherapist, seeing clients for the NHS and at The Door clinic in Chiswick, as well as online in private practice. I spoke to Emily in June when we talked about her versatile work in oboe playing and psychotherapy, and how both areas relate to each other. This led us to talk about a range of topics such as the heali...

Hattie Butterworth and Rebecca Toal are professionally trained classical musicians, Initially training as a cellist, Hattie is currently the editor of the Opera Now magazine and Rebecca is a freelance trumpeter who is training to be a counsellor. They also host a successful podcast called Things Musicians Don't Talk About , which is aimed at destigmatizing difficult conversations about aspects...

Brandon Lawrence is a Principal Dancer of the Birmingham Royal Ballet company but will be leaving at the end of the 22/23 season to join Ballett Zürich , the ballet company of Opernhaus Zürich. In this wide-ranging discussion, Brandon and I discuss his love of classical music, specific aspects surrounding the relationship between music and dance, working with orchestras and conductors, favourite b...

Anthony Roth Costanzo is one of the world's most in demand countertenors who has recently completed a run of Philip Glass' opera Akhnaten at English National Opera, performing the title role of the legendary Egyptian king. In this short interview (Anthony was very kindly taking some time out from his off day to speak to me), we talked about some of the challenges of performing the very dem...

I'm delighted to be welcoming on this podcast Guy Johnston. Guy is one of Britain's leading cellists who was the winner of the BBC's Young Musician of the Year back in 2000 which set him on a glittering international career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher. This podcast was recorded after Guy had given two performances of Elgar's Cello Concerto at very...

I'm pleased to present this discussion with Emily Beynon, one of the Principal Flautists with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. I had the pleasure of seeing the orchestra at one of their concerts during their London residency at the Barbican Centre. Thank you to the Barbican Centre's Press Team for arranging that amazing experience! In this podcast, Emily and I discuss her mu...

I'm pleased to share this conversation with Claire Wickes, Principal Flautist of the Orchestra of English National Opera . Alongside her work as a flute player, she has recently developed a career as a media composer. I met Claire in October at the Royal Opera House a few hours before she had a performance at the London Coliseum that same evening. We talked about her musical journey, studying...

Davina Clarke is a violinist based in London who specialises in historically informed performance and Baroque music. She also hosts her own podcast called The Classical Corner where she has had the opportunity to speak to a number of distinguished artists about what makes them the top of their field. I was pleased to speak to Davina during a Saturday morning in October over Zoom where we talked ab...

Last week, I was so pleased to meet Ralph Allwood for a podcast interview. Having played under him in a concert with the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir a few years ago, and having interviewed for this podcast several distinguished alumni he has taught, it was wonderful to talk to him about his extensive and pioneering work in choral directing, singing and teaching music. We als...

I'm pleased to share this podcast with Daniel Pailthorpe, Co-Principal Flautist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. We had a fascinating discussion about his musical journey growing up, parallels between flute playing and singing, solo performances, what it's like playing for one of the top symphony orchestras in the country, performing at the BBC Proms and Royal Albert Hall (including a memo...

I am delighted to be back after a break from the podcast, and to share this discussion with coloratura soprano and Broadway soprano actor Meghan Picerno. Meghan is a wonderful and unique artist who has  not only great success in and understanding of the operatic world and repertoire but more recently in musical theatre. In this podcast, we talk about Meghan's career in opera and the turning p...

In this episode, I am pleased to share a discussion recorded earlier this year with Andy Higgs . Andy is a composer and piano accompanist specialising in writing and playing music for dance. Kasper Cornish (a previous guest on the podcast) recommended I talked to Andy as they both work together regularly in dance classes. We discuss Andy's journey to composing and accompanying dance, as well a...

Last month, I talked to Nina Brazier, an opera director who is currently on the staff at Oper Frankfurt . We discussed Nina's journey to becoming an opera director, the differences between the opera world (and approaches to opera directing) in Germany compared to the UK, her approach to directing, what happens on an opening night and her role in that, and diversity and inclusion in the opera b...

Last month, I recorded a podcast interview with Chief Executive of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Stephen Maddock. In this discussion, we talked about how Stephen got into the world of arts management and what led him to the esteemed post he's in today. We also discuss what makes the CBSO distinctive, the role of the orchestra within the city of Birmingham, artistic programming and...

Happy New Year!  I'm so excited to start 2022 with a great discussion with Gerald Finley, one of the world's leading opera and concert singers. I was pleased to talk to him amidst his very busy schedule. We talked last year, a few months ahead of a US recital tour he's embarking on next week with renowned British pianist Julius Drake.  Gerry had been very busy over the past two years des...

In this podcast, we'll be hearing from Andrew Nethsingha , Director of Music for the world-renowned Choir of St. John's College at the University of Cambridge. We talk about the Choir's latest album The Tree , a selection of recordings representing the idea of growth and showcasing the Choir under three of its music directors: Nethsingha, as well as David Hill and Christopher Robinson. We also dis...