It’s great to be able to escape from life’s concerns. Dvorak’s sixth symphony is full of good tunes, and a spirit of generosity and optimism. So forget about everything else for a bit and bask in Dvorak’s warmth and positivity. 35, 24 or 57 mins listen!… 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
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
Sibelius takes us on an all-encompassing journey from the musical spring to the wide open ocean: it’s organic, generous, inevitable and uplifting. Total listen: 35 mins… Listen
George Gershwin spent two hectic weeks on holiday in Cuba and returned with a case full of percussion instruments, latin spirit and musical inspiration. Total listening time c14 mins… Listen
Erich Korngold was one of the composers who invented the sound of Hollywood – and his music for The Sea Hawk (a 1940 Errol Flynn swashbuckler) is passionate, exhilarating and hugely influences our very ideas of what film music should sound like. [36 mins]… Listen
So much great music to delight and enjoy in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. And it turns out my 7 year old daughter knows the storyline better than I did! [31 mins]… Listen
One of the great pieces of music for children, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Vanessa [7] loved this and is demanding repeat hearings, and I’m embarrassed at having resisted it so long… Music here: or on spotify: Listening time … Listen
