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 Hefti Danny Elfman’s Batman theme Shirley Walker’s theme to Batman: The Animated Series Main theme from Batman Forever by Elliot Goldenthal Hans Zimmer’s score to The Dark Knight ‘Journey to the Line ..read more

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-event ..read more

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 Referenced John Williams’s soundtracks to Jaws, ET, Schindler’s List, Superman and Star Wars Richard Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration Carter Burwell’s score toThe Banshees of Inisherin: ‘The Mystery of Inisherin’, ‘Walking Home Alone’ Bulgarian Women’s Choir: Polegnala E Toudora John McCormack: ‘Siciliana / Cavaller ..read more

Sam chats to one of his mega heroes, the composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall. Together they discuss awards ceremonies, Howard’s pandemic piece Never to Forget, the mixed field of composition and, of course, working with Rowan Atkinson. … Howard Stuff Website: http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/ Scores: https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/list?_contributor=Howard%20Goodall&order=sales_desc …  Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod  …  Follow us here: instagram.com/classicalpod/ twitter.com/ClassicalPod facebook.com/ClassicalPod ..read more

A short time ago in a South London bedroom not so far away … CLASSICAL POD. Sam finds new ways of listening, via the early work of John (Coolidge) Adams. He analyses the US composer’s 1973 work for chamber ensemble and tape Christian Zeal and Activity. Meanwhile, Tim quizzes Sam on City of Culture 2025 Bradford, not before a quick pit stop at Iceland’s world-famous Phallological Museum. … Music referenced: Star Wars: Main Theme by John Williams Vince Vance & The Valiants: ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ The ‘Lacrimosa’ from Mozart’s Requiem ‘Make Our Garden Grow’ from Bernstein’s Candide ..read more

Sam chats to Professor and International Chair of Music Education at the Royal Northern College of Music Nate Holder about decolonising the music curriculum – what it means, and what it practically involves – as well as questioning what the goals of music education should be. … Nate Stuff Website: https://www.nateholdermusic.com/ The Why Music Podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-why-music-podcast Books (order here): Where Are All The Black Female Composers? Where Are All The Instruments? Why Is My Piano Black And White? I Wish I Didn't Quit: Music Lessons …  Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-f ..read more

This Christmas, to celebrate 50 years since Jesus Christ Superstar first opened on Broadway, we’ve dedicated an entire episode to unwrapping its magic. What is it about the rock opera that makes it, as one Times critic wrote, ‘the one masterpiece of Lloyd Webber’s career’? Why, after five decades, does it still give pause for theological thought? And how can one piece of music connect such disparate-seeming artists as Dmitri Shostakovich, Googoosh, Lin Mannuel Maranda, and Kanye West? Featuring interviews with Sirs Tim Rice and Karl Jenkins, Alain Boublil, Peaches and Nico Muhly, this is … The ..read more

NuqneH! In this week’s episode Sam has a good old podcast chat with the founding members of Manchester Collective, Rakhi Singh and Adam Szabo. They discuss unusual programming and widely sourced inspirations – as well as the range of skills a modern musician needs. Qapla'! … Music referenced: Manchester Collective performing Bryce Dessner’s Aheym Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe & Chesaba performing Ka Bohaleng The Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir performing Kaval Sviri under Katya Barulova Manchester Collective & Mahan Esfahani performing Górecki’s Harpsic ..read more

Against all the odds, the boys were invited backstage to the Ivors Composer Awards. Tune in to hear them try almost too hard to brand themselves the Ant and Dec of the classical music world. Also – the late, great Victoria Wood in this week’s analysis of Franz Schmidt’s Fourth Symphony, not before some flagrant Handelian recycling. … Music referenced: ’Pizzicato’ from Delibes’s Sylvia Sometimes Voices by Alex Paxton, performed by HYPER DUO CATAMORPHOSIS by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic under Kirill Petrenko Caroline Kraabel’s London 26 and 28 March 2020: Imitation ..read more

It’s the 50th episode of the Classical Music Pod! We struck gold with today’s guest, composer and bandleader Cassie Kinoshi, who previews her upcoming Aurora Orchestra commission, Three Suns Suite, and discusses how labels and preconceptions can be limiting for musicians. … Music referenced: Seed performing ‘Interplanetary Migration’, written by Cassie Kinoshi Seed performing Cassie Kinoshi’s ‘Afronaut’ from the Mercury Award nominated album Driftglass If She Could Dance Naked Under Palm Trees by Cassie Kinoshi, performed by the LSO …  Buy us a coffee innit: https://ko-fi.com/classicalpod ..read more