The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Pilgrimage

Sam chats to composer Eric Whitacre about their experience recording The Sacred Veil together with VOCES8. The 12-movement work is a collaboration between Whitacre and poet-lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri, and comprises texts by Silvestri, Whitacre and Silvestri’s late wife Julie. Its intimate score ‘tells a story of courtship, love, loss and the search for solace’.Find out more about the piece here: https://ericwhitacre.com/music-catalog/the-sacred-veil …Featured Clips:Mov. 1: The Veil OpensMov. 11: You Rise, I FallMov. 4: Magnetic PoetryMov. 12: Child of Wonder… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Today’s episode is all about geography. Tim talks international competition politics and how Rachmaninov’s disputed legacy ties into the debate. Meanwhile Sam forges a musical map of Middle Earth in a Lord of the Rings analytical pilgrimage. All topped off with a very literal fluffy-dog story. Live long and prosper. Check out Russia Beyond’s dubious Rachmaninov listicle: https://www.rbth.com/arts/334377-sergei-rachmaninoff-russian-composer …Music ReferencedBeethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17, ‘The Tempest’’Meet the Flintstones’ by Hoyt CurtinThe Open University theme tuneVarious themes from Howard Shore’s soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Bear McCreary’s soundtrack to The Rings of Power… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Tim travels to the home of Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir for a classical chat. They discuss Icelandic’s musical pedigree, her upcoming role as Featured Artist at the Aldeburgh Festival, her cameo in Todd Field’s Tár and the importance (or unimportance) of a work’s conceptual inspiration in the ears of the listener.…Featured Clips:ARCHORA, performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra under Eva OllikainenAIŌN, performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra under Eva OllikainenRó, performed by CAPUT Ensemble under by Guðni FranzsonLinks:Anna’s website: https://www.annathorvalds.com/ Some info on her upcoming residency: https://www.annathorvalds.com/blog/2022/12/20/featured-artist-at-the-2023-aldeburgh-festival Andrew Mellor on Iceland as a classical music powerhouse: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/05/iceland-classical-music-symphony-orchestra-uk-tour … Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

In today's episode Sam and Tim discuss recent concert hall dramas as unionised musicians seize the means of sound production. Meanwhile Sam peers into the gilded musical cages of Jane Austin’s Sense and Sensibility in the next instalment of his film music series.…Music Referenced‘Mars’ from Holst’s The Planets‘Gallop’ interlude from Shostakovich’s opera The Nose‘My Father's Favourite’ from Patrick Doyle’s score to Sense and Sensibility… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Tim speaks to the US singer, composer and producer Caroline Shaw. They cover her various composer hats, the upcoming performance of her Four Portraits at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and their shared appreciation for Abba and Fiona Apple.…Links:Caroline’s website: https://carolineshaw.com Some info on Four Portraits: https://www.lyricopera.org/lyric-lately/notes-on-four-portraits/ … Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

In our latest instalment: *POW* Sam investigates Batman’s secret musical identity *WHAM* Tim holds the Anglican Church to account in a hard-hitting exposé (not) *ZOINKS* We discuss Ukrainian composer Galina Grigorjeva’s new disc of choral music *ZAP* And yes, another excuse to talk about Star Trek.…Music Referenced‘The Ritual/Ancient Battle /2nd Kroykah’ by Gerald Fried‘Batman Theme’ by Neal HeftiDanny Elfman’s Batman themeShirley Walker’s theme to Batman: The Animated SeriesMain theme from Batman Forever by Elliot GoldenthalHans Zimmer’s score to The Dark Knight‘Journey to the Line’ from Hans Zimmer’s score to The Thin Red Line‘Gollum’s Theme’ from Howard Shore’s score to The Lord of the RingsGalina Grigorjeva: Agnus Dei; Prayer; Diptych; In Paradisum; God is the Lord; and Nox vitae, performed by the Estonian National Male Choir under Mikk Üleoja… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Sam speaks to soprano Ella Taylor about their upcoming roles in Philip Glass’s Akhnaten at ENO and Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Royal Opera. The conversation turns to Ella’s trepidation at embarking on a new production with a new set of co-workers, what it means to be a trans singer playing trouser roles – and ancient Egyptian trivia.…Links:Trans Voices video: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/video/2022/mar/10/the-uks-first-professional-trans-choir-its-a-joyful-act-of-resistance Akhnaten at ENO: https://www.eno.org/whats-on/akhnaten/ Don Carlo at ROH: https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/don-carlo-by-nicholas-hytner-details Shadwell’s Powder Down: https://shadwell.bandcamp.com/album/powder-down … Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Returning to your ears for the first time this year, the boys bring with them a film-music special. Sam unwraps Carter Burwell’s magnificent score to The Banshees of Inisherin while Tim quizzes Sam on Oscar nominations, German model trains and a certain topless dictator. …Music ReferencedJohn Williams’s soundtracks to Jaws, ET, Schindler’s List, Superman and Star WarsRichard Strauss’s Death and TransfigurationCarter Burwell’s score toThe Banshees of Inisherin: ‘The Mystery of Inisherin’, ‘Walking Home Alone’Bulgarian Women’s Choir: Polegnala E ToudoraJohn McCormack: ‘Siciliana / Cavalleria’… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Tim speaks to wunder cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason about sibling dynamics, touring in the States and his new album Song. But before all that, Sam gets stuck in a Groundhog Day-inspired time loop while trying to analyse one of the pieces from Sheku’s album: the 12 Variations on ’Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen‘ by Ludwig van Beethoven.You can find links to Sheku’s album Song here: https://sheku.lnk.to/SongSo …Music ReferencedBeethoven‘s 12 Variations on ’Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen’‘Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen’ from Mozart’s The Magic FluteABBA: ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’Beethoven‘s Vestas Feuer‘Notte e giorno faticar’ from Mozart’s Don GiovanniBeethoven’s Diabelli Variations in C Major, Op. 120: Variation 22Alien Ant Farm: ‘Smooth Criminal’… Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/

Sam is back in the interview seat chatting to conductor, producer and arranger Jules Buckley about his upcoming Aretha Franklin Prom with singer-songwriter Sheléa. They talk about he art of arranging, the unquestionable genius of Franklin and Buckley’s relationship with the Proms.…Aretha Prom StuffEvent Page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eqrcd4 Watch it on BBC Four/iPlayer (from 27 August): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bdx5 Listen on Radio 3/Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001b5km … Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod … Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod/