How Scottish do you have to be to be worthy of the name? If you’re going to write a Scottish Symphony should it contain Scottish music? Does Mendelssohn pass the test? Regardless, his Symphony No.3 is brilliant, moving and surprising… (29 mins)… Listen
Exhilarating and fun, Beethoven’s fourth symphony is like one of the best days out. This is Beethoven in the best of moods and relishing what’s possible. It’s a joyful ride! (Listening time 43′)… Listen
This is a new discovery for me – and it’s deeply wonderful: Beethoven’s late string quartet song of thanks. Written as he recovered from severe illness, it’s music that heals and restores our mind and soul. [31 mins]… Listen
Why is Beethoven – perhaps – the greatest composer of them all? One thing he does is expand everything – the volume goes up to 11 and down to almost nothing. Also, he cared deeply, about music and humanity. In his Coriolan Overture he makes us care about an obscure Roman general intent on [self-]destruction… and it’s fab. (14 mins)… Listen
When Tristan & Isolde take a magic love potion it’s not exactly happy ever after. Love wins in the end, it’s just they’re both dead. Passionate, overwhelming, transformative music from Richard Wagner sends them on their way and leaves us all in a state of transcendent bliss. Listening time 30 mins… Listen
What’s in a name? Not much it seems. An ‘Intermezzo’ is often a short piece that breaks up something bigger… but Brahms used it as his go to name for any short piano pieces where nothing else came to mind! In any case, these three Intermezzos for solo piano from late in Brahms’s life are beautiful, wistful, dreamy and give us a perfect break from whatever you’ve got going on… Like all Brahms pieces they’re musically perfect too. [21′]… Listen
They say you never forget your first loves and one of mine was Carmina Burana – it’s immediate and high impact. Even before I was properly into music I was into this… and you will be too! There’s really nothing like the sound of a huge choir and orchestra: it’s awesome stuff! Listening time: 35mins … Listen
Visionary, mystic, scientist, naturalist, medic, nun and more: Hildegard of Bingen, born 1098, is also one of the very first known composers – and savvy enough to preserve her legacy! Her life was extraordinary in any era and her music is timeless, moving and special. Listening time = 17mins (intro conversation 7′, music 10′)… Listen
300 years ago JS Bach was writing music at the cutting edge – with the newest instruments and freshest ideas. I’m joined by Jason Lai, who says Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5 is an ‘unbelievable box of delights’ in our conversation about this conversational music, that’s both moving and full of life. Listen time 34 mins.… Listen