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Musical Connection
The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters
Music Under Restriction
Tom Services examines whether classical music has managed to rebuild itself after Covid.
Music and Activism
Pianist Igor Levit talks to Tom Service about life as a musician and political activist.
Contains Strong Language
Kate Molleson presents a live edition from the BBC's Strong Language Festival in Coventry.
Steve Reich at 85
José Serebrier
Conductor José Serebrier and book An Inconvenient Black History of British Musical Theatre
Minimalism, Laurence Crane at 60 & Nina Simone's Gum
Kate Molleson with Warren Ellis and composer, Laurence Crane.
Life, Music, Silence
Bernard Haitink, higher education in music, Nathalie Stutzmann and Sibelius.
The music of memory
A book on memory loss by a flautist; and Turnage's new piece. Wagner's 'new' symphony.
Music and the Environment
Tom Service explores music and climate change as world leaders gather for COP26.
Between tradition and evolution in Scotland
Piping competition, a new music centre in Edinburgh, School of Scottish Studies archive.
Manchester Camerata at The Monastery in Gorton
Tom Service visits the new home of the Manchester Camerata in the Monastery in Gorton.
André Rieu, Pavel Kolesnikov, Gold.Berg.Werk
Tom Service's guests include 'King of the Waltz' André Rieu, and pianist Pavel Kolesnikov.
60 years of West Side Story: Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece
As we celebrate the iconic 1961 film, we explore Spielberg's new take on West Side Story.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Llewellyn
Tom Service talks to actor and singer Lin-Manuel Miranda and soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn.
Jamie Barton, Jake Heggie, Lebanon
Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton and composer Jake Heggie in conversation.
Eric Whitacre, Unsuk Chin, Clemency Burton-Hill
Composers Eric Whitacre and Unsuk Chin, plus a look ahead to arts events in 2022.
Conducting today, Takacs Quartet, voice loss
How conductors work their magic today, and voice loss.
Tabea Zimmermann, Femi Elufowoju jr, Maria Yudina
Sara Mohr-Pietsch talks to viola virtuoso Tabea Zimmermann, plus Verdi's Rigoletto.
Andreas Ottensamer, Sarah Kirby, Walter Susskind
Tom Service talks to Sarah Kirby about her book Exhibitions, Music and the British Empire.
Holding onto Musical Traditions
Sara Mohr-Pietsch finds out about The Covid Variations: A Piano Drama at Birmingham Rep.
John Williams at 90, Ivan Fisher and tributes to George Crumb
Tom Service celebrates John Williams's 90th birthday. Plus an interview with Ivan Fischer.
Beatrice Rana, The Ordering of Moses, Claude Debussy and Emma Bardac
Beatrice Rana talks about her immersion in Beethoven's late piano sonatas during lockdown.
Art centres, Giovanni Antonini, Opera and food
Tom Service asks if the future of music venues and cultural hotspots is big or small.
Semyon Bychkov
Semyon Bychkov and Ukrainian musicians on Ukraine conflict; and female record producers.
Bill Frisell
Guitarist Bill Frisell, composer Eleanor Alberga, Hebrew oratorio Ester & Sonica Festival.
Ludovico Einaudi, Peter Grimes, Anna Clyne
Sara Mohr-Pietsch hears from members of a new production of Britten's opera Peter Grimes.
Klaus Mäkelä
Tom Service talks to author Brendan Slocumb and Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä.
Bobby McFerrin, Mari Kalkun, The Handmaid's Tale
Tom Service talks to virtuoso vocalist Bobby McFerrin, plus The Handmaid's Tale in opera.
Kirill Gerstein
New opera The Paradis Files.
Martin Fröst, SongPath, Beckett and Russia
The latest news and features from the classical music world.