This Classical Life

Jess Gillam with... Francesca Dego Apr 02, 2024

Jess Gillam is joined by Italian-American violinist Francesca Dego to swap some of their favourite music. Francesca has played everywhere from Wigmore Hall to Lincoln Centre New York, and her latest recording of Brahms and Busoni violin concertos with BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Dalia Stasevska is out now via Chandos. Today Francesca has brought along music from neglected Finnish composer Helvi Leiviskä and a fiendish 12-tone work from Schoenberg, while I’ve chosen David Bowie’s swansong.

PLAYLIST:

GIOACHINO ROSSINI – ‘Una voce poco fa’ (Il barbiere di Siviglia: Act 1) [Teresa Berganza (mezzo soprano), London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson (conductor)] PETER MAXWELL DAVIES – Farewell to Stromness [Richard Casey (piano)] HELVI LEIVISKA – Orchestral Suite No 2, Op 11 (2nd mvt, Humoresque) [Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dalia Stasevska (conductor)] DAVID BOWIE - Lazarus JOHANNES BRAHMS – Concerto for violin and cello in A minor, Op 102 (2nd mvt, Andante) [Salvatore Accardo (violinist), Heinrich Schiff (cello), Kurt Masur (conductor), Gewandhausorchester] ARNOLD SCHOENBERG – Phantasy for violin and piano [Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Joonas Ahonen (piano)] LANKUM – Wild Rover

Produced by Rachel Gill.

Jess Gillam with... Alessandro Fisher Mar 23, 2024

Jess Gillam and tenor Alessandro Fisher share the music they love.

Alessandro Fisher is a former member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme, and a Kathleen Ferrier award winner: a versatile performer equally at home in baroque and romantic opera, or song. His choices today include barbershop quartet, brass band music, and the voice of Fritz Wunderlich. Jess has chosen music by Coleman Hawkins and multi-BRIT Award winner Raye.

Playlist: Schubert: An die Musik, D 547 - Fritz Wunderlich (tenor), Hubert Gisen (piano) Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Love Song from ‘Apache’ Fucik: Florentiner March - Grimethorpe Colliery Band Schubert: Wandrer’s Nachtlied, D 768 - Kian Soltani (cello), Aaron Pilsan (piano) Crossroads Barbershop Quartet: That Lucky Old Sun (just rolls around heaven all day) Paul Mealor: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal - Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor) Alain Romans: Quel temps fait-il à Paris (M Hulot’s Holiday) Raye: Worth It

Jess Gillam with... James Baillieu Mar 16, 2024

Jess Gillam swaps music with pianist James Baillieu, including works by Mozart, Bach, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Pianist James Baillieu has worked with musicians including Lise Davidsen, Timothy Ridout and Pretty Yende, and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Vienna Musikverein. He is also Senior Professor of Ensemble Piano and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He’s brought Martha Argerich playing Schumann and a classic Bob Dylan song, while Jess's choices include Mahler and Goldfrapp.

PLAYLIST: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – “Signori, di fuori” (Le nozze de Figaro: Act 2, Scene 9) [Lorenzo Regazzo (bass), Simon Keenlyside (baritone), Patrizia Ciofi (sop), Véronique Gens (sop), Concerto Köln, René Jacobs (cond)] JOHN ADAMS – Hallelujah Junction (1st mvt) [Nicolas Hodges (piano), Rolf Hind (piano)] BOB DYLAN – Blowin’ in the Wind GUSTAV MAHLER – Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt, Adagietto) [Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (cond)] JUAN TIZOL/DUKE ELLINGTON/IRVING MILLS – Caravan [Ella Fitzgerald (singer), Duke Ellington and his Orchestra] JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Cello Suite No 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 (4th mvt, Sarabande) [Yo-Yo Ma (cello)] ROBERT SCHUMANN - Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Kinderszenen, Op 15: No 1) [Martha Argerich (piano)] GOLDFRAPP – Lovely Head

Produced by Rachel Gill.

Jess Gillam with...Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha Mar 02, 2024

Jess Gillam and soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha share their favourite tracks.

South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha was the winner of the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2021 and is a current BBC New Generation Artist. She’s brought a track from iconic South African artist Miriam Makeba and Maria Callas singing a prayer from Verdi’s Otello, and Jess has picked a dance of death from Saint-Saens and jazz from Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker.

PLAYLIST: MAHALIA JACKSON– If I Can Help Somebody CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS – Danse macabre, Op 40 [Luben Yordandoff (violin), Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (cond)] GIUSEPPE VERDI – Ave Maria (Otello: Act 4) [Maria Callas (sop), Orchestre de la Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Nicola Rescigno (cond)] HENRY PURCELL – Music for a While (Oedipus, Z 583) [Martin Fröst (clarinet), Sebastien Dube (double bass)] MIRIAM MAKEBA – The Click Song JIMMY MCHUGH/DOROTHY FIELDS– Don’t Blame Me (Live) [Charlie Parker Quintet] DOMENICO CIMAROSA – Sonata No 42 in D minor, arr Ólafsson [Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)] VINCENZO BELLINI – Mira, O Norma (Norma) [Joan Sutherland (sop), Montserrat Caballé (sop), Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge]

Produced by Rachel Gill

Jess Gillam with... Keelan Carew Feb 29, 2024

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Keelan Carew, and between them they put together a boundary-pushing playlist with songs by Kurt Weill and Nat King Cole - pianistic fireworks by Busoni and Chopin, orchestral fireworks by Shostakovich and some classic Japanese jazz fusion by Casiopea.

Playlist: KURT WEILL: Der Abschiedsbrief [Teresa Stratus (sop), Kurt Weill (piano)] SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture [Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy (cond)] CASIOPEA: Swear [Album: Mint Jams] MAURIZIO CAZZATI: Ciaccona [L'Arpeggiata, Christina Pluhar] CHOPIN: Ballade no.1 in G minor, op 23 [Vladimir Horowitz (piano)] MEERNAA: Good Luck [Album: Strange Life] BUSONI: Piano Concerto in C major, op.39 – iv. All Italiana, Tarantella [Kirill Gerstein (piano), Boston Symphony Orchestra] NAT KING COLE: When I Fall in Love

Jess Gillam with... Jordan Bak Feb 17, 2024

Jess Gillam meets violist Jordan Bak to share some of their favourite music.

Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak is a proud new music advocate – he’s performed world premieres of works by composers including Kaija Saariaho and Augusta Read Thomas. His debut album IMPULSE was released in 2022 and he’s performed with orchestras including London Mozart Players. His musical picks include works by Florence Price, reggae singer Koffee, and Benjamin Britten, whilst Jess has chosen a classic Radiohead track and Stokowski’s take on Bach.

PLAYLIST:

FLORENCE PRICE – String Quartet No 2 in A minor (3rd mvt, Juba) [Catalyst Quartet] FANNY MENDELSSOHN - Schluss [Heather Schmidt (piano)] PALACE – Live Well JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH, ARR LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI – Passacaglia And Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor)] KOFFEE – Toast RADIOHEAD – House of Cards BENJAMIN BRITTEN – Night Piece “Notturno” [Stephen Hough (piano)]

Jess Gillam with... Kate Whitley Jan 31, 2024

Jess's guest this week is the composer Kate Whitley.

Kate is an award-winning composer and pianist, who also runs the Multi-Story Orchestra. The orchestra was born in a multi-story car park in Peckham, and perform in car parks around the country, as they wanted to take classical music out of formal concert halls. They also create hugely powerful musical projects like the RPS Award-winning The Endz that involve the local community and young people in their music making.

Kate and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love including a beautiful work by Caroline Shaw and Bjork, the biggest of brass by Mussorgsky, bluegrass courtesy of the Goat Rodeo and a contender for greatest ever cover version by the Pet Shop Boys.

Playlist:

CAROLINE SHAW – Partita for 8 Singers: 2. Sarabande [Roomful of Teeth] MUSSORGSKY – Night on Bald Mountain [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti (conductor)] BJORK: Pneumonia GOAT RODEO - Attaboy [Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo Yo Ma] VIVALDI – La Folia [Apollo’s Fire, Jeannette Sorell] SON LUX - This is a Life [Mitski, David Byrne] GABRIELE MIRABASSI – Girotondo [Gabriele Mirabassi [clarinet), Luciano Biondini (accordion)] PET SHOP BOYS: Always on My Mind

Jess Gillam with... Johan Dalene Jan 29, 2024

Jess Gillam meets Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene to swap some of their favourite music.

At 23 years old, Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene is already the winner of several awards, including the prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition in 2019, the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award in 2022, and a Swedish Grammy in 2023. His music choices include a squelchy bassline from Thundercat, a Swedish Eurovision classic, and a virtuosic violin concerto that’s close to his heart. Jess's choices include Bernstein conducting a favourite Mozart symphony, and music from the saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

PLAYLIST:

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Sonata for Violin and Piano No 8 in G major, Op 30 No 3 (3rd mvt) [Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich] BRANFORD MARSALIS – A Thousand Autumns [Branford Marsalis Quartet] TOMMY KÖRBERG - Stad i ljus (City in Light) WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Symphony No 40 in G minor, K 550 (1st mvt) [Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein] THUNDERCAT – Them Changes CARL NIELSEN – Violin Concerto Op 33 (IIb – Rondo: Allegretto Scherzando) [Arve Tellefsen, Yehudi Menuhin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] YEAH YEAH YEAHS FT. PERFUME GENIUS – Spitting Off the Edge of the World PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – The Nutcracker, Op 71: Miniature Overture [Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]

Jess Gillam with... Robert Ames Jan 13, 2024

Jess Gillam and conductor Robert Ames share some of the tunes they love, with music by Philip Glass, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Makaya McCraven, Pauline Oliveros and J.S. Bach.

Playlist: Philip Glass – Aguas da Amazonia - Madeira River [Uakti] Abel Selaocoe – Voices of Bantu Hildur Guðnadóttir - For Petra [London Contemporary Orchestra, Robert Ames] Tchaikovsky – The Tempest, Op. 18; VI. Andante non tanto [BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan] Makaya McCraven – In These Times Camille Saint-Saens – Le lever de la lune Pauline Oliveros / Stuart Dempster / Panaiotis - Suiren J.S. Bach – Aria from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 "Air on a G String" (Arr. Leopold Stokowski) [BBC Philharmonic, Matthias Bamert]

Jess Gillam with... Fleur Barron Jan 06, 2024

Jess Gillam meets mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron to swap some of their favourite music.

Singaporean-British mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron sings everything from opera to chamber music, from the baroque to the contemporary. She is mentored by Barbara Hannigan and has performed with LSO, Czech Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. She joins Jess ahead of performing Freya Waley-Cohen's Spell Book with Manchester Collective in London. Her music choices include a contralto version of Schubert's Winterreise, a traditional Uyghur folk song, and a toe-tapping melody from the musical Kiss Me, Kate. Jess brings along 'stadium jazz' from saxophonist Donny McCaslin, elegant incidental music from Purcell, and a joyful explosion of sound from indie band Villagers.

PLAYLIST: HENRY PURCELL – Abdelazer Z 570 (2nd mvt, Rondeau) [Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner] COLE PORTER - Too Darn Hot (Kiss Me, Kate) [2019 Broadway Cast Recording] OLIVIER MESSIAEN – La mort du nombre [Sholto Kynoch (piano), Kaoru Yamada (violin), Rhona McKail (soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor)] TRADITIONAL UYGHUR – Derdi Tolidur Yarning (Such Pain My Love) [Sanubar Tursun (vocals and dutar)] WILLIAM WALTON – Symphony No 1 in B flat minor (4th mvt) [London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis] DONNY MCCASLIN – Stadium Jazz FRANZ SCHUBERT – Gute Nacht (Winterreise, D 911) [Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), Inger Södergren (piano)] VILLAGERS – The First Day

Jess Gillam with... Laura Cannell Dec 30, 2023

Jess Gillam shares music with composer Laura Cannell, including a sublime Biber Requiem, new music by Kenya Grace, traditional Norwegian fiddle music and a Memphis Soul Stew!

Playlist: Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1; first movement [Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel] Kenya Grace - Strangers John Mackey – Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble [ Timothy McAllister, ASU Wind Ensemble] Sven Nyhus – Fanitullen (The Devil's Dance) Domenico Scarlatti – Sonata in F minor, K. 466 [Vladimir Horowitz] Tarquinio Merula - Ciaccona [His Majesty’s Sackbuts and Cornetts] King Curtis – Memphis Soul Stew Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Requiem in F minor - Dies Irae [Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh]

Jess Gillam with... Lise Davidsen (This Classical Christmas) Dec 23, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by Norwegian soprano and Last Night of the Proms star Lise Davidsen for a very Christmassy edition of This Classical Life. They share their favourite Christmas music and chat about what gives them that festive feeling!

Lise Davidsen has been described as “the greatest soprano in the world right now”, with a “one-in-a-million voice”. Her performance at the Last Night of the Proms 2023 received rave reviews, and she has sung at iconic venues including the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House, and Teatro alla Scala, Milan. And she’s just released a whole album of seasonal favourites and Nordic delights via Decca, called Christmas From Norway.

Lise brings along a haunting Scandinavian carol, a sugary-sweet soundtrack from a cult Christmas film, and a modern classic from Coldplay. Jess's choices include a traditional English wassail song, a rock'n'roll Rudolph from Chuck Berry, and a Christmas jig from Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster.

PLAYLIST:

ADOLPHE ADAM – O helga natt (Adams julsång) [Jussi Björling] NATALIE MACMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster] CHUCK BERRY – Run Rudolph Run KAREL SVOBODA – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Wishes for Cinderella): Motiv - Einleitung TRAD. ENGLISH – Wassail Song [John Kirkpatrick and friends] SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – The Forest of Wild Thyme Op 74: Christmas Overture (arr. Sydney Baynes for orchestra) TRAD. SCANDINAVIAN – Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart Forever Dwells) [arr. O. Matre for chorus] COLDPLAY – Christmas Lights

Jess Gillam with... Guylaine Eckersley Dec 16, 2023

Jess Gillam and bassoonist Guylaine Eckersley share their favourite tracks, with music by Abel Selaocoe, Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Laura Misch and a guilty pleasure from Frozen 2.

Playlist: Abel Selaocoe - Ka Bohaleng / On the Sharp Side Pergolesi - Stabat Mater [Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor), Julia Lezhneva (soprano), I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis] Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez - Into the Unknown [from Frozen 2] Rachmaninov - Symphony no 3 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet Seguin] Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in A minor, rv498 [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon), L’Onda Armonica] Laura Misch - Glass Shards Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra [Amadeus Chamber Orchestra] Vaughan Williams - Silent Noon (from the House of Life) [Roderick Williams (baritone) , Iain Burnside (piano)]

Jess Gillam with... Daniel Shao Dec 11, 2023

Jess Gillam and flautist Daniel Shao play each other their current favourite music. Daniel is a versatile musician, at home in the classical repertory with a number of leading orchestras, or performing contemporary music and exploring his Chinese heritage with the group Tangram. Daniel's choices include Britten, Whitney Houston, and music for the flute by Ibert.

Today's choices:

Britten - Dawn from 4 Sea Interludes (BBC Philharmonic, Edward Gardner) Gluck - Dance of the Furies from Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-On Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren Ibert - Flute concerto, 2nd mvt (Clara Andrada, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Jaime Martín) Hildegard of Bingen - Ancient Suite (Martin Fröst, The Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir) Whitney Houston - Didn't we almost have it all Cleo Sol - 23

Jess Gillam with... Cécile McLorin Salvant Nov 29, 2023

Jess Gillam meets jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant to swap some of their favourite music. Cécile is a 3 time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and her music shows off her passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque and folkloric music. She spoke to Jess ahead of her show at London Jazz Festival 2023 and picked some of her favourite voices from Maria Callas singing Puccini to flamenco star Camarón de la Isla and an air de cour by Gabriel Bataille.

Jess brought along a string quartet by Caroline Shaw, a Hollywood inflected Concerto by Korngold and the most beautiful of songs by Aretha Franklin

PLAYLIST:

GABRIEL BATAILLE: Sortés soupirs témoins de mon mártire [Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Annie Dufresne (soprano)] CAROLINE SHAW: Plan & Elevation – v. The Beech Tree [Attacca Quartet] WANDA JACKSON: Funnel of Love KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto, op.35 – 1st mvt [James Ehnes (violin), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey (cond)] ARETHA FRANKLIN: Ain’t No Way PUCCINI: La bohème, Act 4 “Sono andati” [Maria Callas (soprano), Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor), La Scala Milan Chorus & Orchestra, Antonino Votto (cond)] POULENC: Stabat Mater – i. Stabat Mater dolorosa [Cappella Amsterdam, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National SO, Daniel Reuss (cond)] CAMARON DE LA ISLA: Yo vivo enamorao (Tangos) [Camaron De La Isla (singer), Paco De Lucía (guitar)]

Jess Gillam with... Matthew Barley Nov 01, 2023

Jess Gillam and cellist Matthew Barley sit down to listen together to the music they love.

Matthew's career as a cellist has seen him straddle any number of different genres and continents. He's just as at home in front of an orchestra as he is improvising in a nightclub, playing chamber music with his wife – the violinist Viktoria Mullova - or going solo and combining his cello with electronics.

Their playlist today is suitably eclectic - Matthew brings a taste of Brazil from the singer Elza Soares and legendary songwriter Jobim, a lament on the duduk and reminisces his first childhood experience of classical music via the music of Beethoven. Jess has Tchaikovsky ballet music bursting with tunes, some sunshine by Marianna Martines and mandolin player Avi Avital and a beautiful piece of Junk by Paul McCartney.

Playlist: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM: Agua de Beber [Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano)] TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake – Act 4 finale [London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn (conductor)] ELZA SOARES: Flores Horizontais MANUEL DE FALLA: No. 4 Jota from Canciones populares españolas [Avi Avital (mandolin)] DJIVAN GASPARYAN: 7 December 1988 [Djivan Gasparyan (duduk/voice)] MARIANNA MARTINES: Overture in C major – 1st mvt [La Floridiana] PAUL MCARTNEY: Junk BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 6 (Pastoral) – 1st mvt “Erwachen heiterer…” [Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)]

Jess Gillam with... Ema Nikolovska Oct 28, 2023

Jess Gillam and mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska share the music they love, including a traditional Macedonian folk song, Janelle Monáe’s sci-fi concept album The Arch Android, a sublime Bach partita in the hands of guitarist Sean Shibe and the beautiful voices of Mara Carlyle and Odetta.

Playlist: Janacek - Prelude to The Cunning Little Vixen [Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras] Odetta - Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Tose Proeski - Zajdi, Zajdi Telemann - Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G2; I. Andante [Andrius Puskunigis, St Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Donatas Katkus] Janelle Monáe - Neon Valley Street Bartok - Divertimento for Strings; III. Allegro assai [Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe] Mara Carlyle – Pianni J.S Bach - Partita in C minor, BWV 997; III. Sarabande [Sean Shibe]

Jess Gillam with... Nicholas Collon Oct 14, 2023

Jess Gillam meets with the conductor Nicholas Collon to share some of the music they love. Today their musical journey takes in the harmonic genius of Jacob Collier, glorious choral music by Poulenc, a youthful Octet by Mendelssohn, a dreamy song from Sibelius, Britten’s iconic Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, some grooves from Pino Palladino and Taylor Swift visits The Lakes.

Playlist: Felix Mendelssohn – Octet in E flat major, IV. Presto [Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble] Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – Ekute Francis Poulenc – Figure humaine, VIII. Liberte [Tenebrae, Nigel Short] Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra [London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten] Taylor Swift – The Lakes Sibelius - Lieder No. 4 Op 37 - Was it a Dream [Kari Lövaas, Berliner Symphoniker, Eduardo Marturet] Jacob Collier / Henry Mancini – Moon River Carl Nielsen - Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (FS76) 'The Inextinguishable'; 1. Allegro [Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi]

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam with... Sumina Studer Sep 28, 2023

Jess Gillam and violinist Sumina Studer swap some of their favourite music. As well as picking up prizes for her playing in the Berliner International Music Competition and the Verbier Festival amongst others, and performing with various orchestras across the world, Sumina still finds the time to make hugely popular videos for social media where she demystifies the violin to try and bring classical music to the biggest possible audience.

She brought along to the studio the incredible voice of Millie Jackson, one of Ravel's most beautiful pieces for piano and something nostalgic from the soundtrack to the anime Kiki's Delivery Service. Meanwhile Jess chose some banjo virtuosity by Bela Fleck, a homage to Piazzolla by violinist Gidon Kremer and an elegy by Yoshimatsu.

Playlist:

JOE HISAISHI: A Town with an Ocean View PIAZZOLLA: Soledad [Gidon Kremer (violin)] RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G – 2nd mvt Adagio [Martha Argerich (piano), Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado (conductor)] MILLIE JACKSON: If You’re Not Back in Love by Monday BELA FLECK/EDGAR MEYER: The B Tune [Béla Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (table), Edgar Meyer (double bass)] TAKASHI YOSHIMATSU: And Birds are Still…. Op.72 [Manchester Camerata, Sachio Fujioka (conductor)] COPLAND: Symphony No. 3 – 4th mvt [San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)]

Jess Gillam with... Lucy Humphris Sep 16, 2023

Jess Gillam and trumpeter Lucy Humphris share their favourite music. Their musical adventure today includes scary Prokofiev, dreamy Debussy, wide open space from Edmund Finnis and Schoenberg, birdsong with Lady Maisery and some 8-bit chiptune from the computer game FEZ by Disasterpeace.

Playlist:

Cinderella-Suite Nr. 1, Op. 107, VIII. Midnight Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar

Edmund Finnis - Preludes I and II for Solo Cello Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

Disasterpeace - Adventure from FEZ

Debussy – Reverie Jean Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Lady Maisery – Birdsong

Colin Stetson - Nature is Timeless

Arnold Schoenberg - Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4: I. Sehr langsam Juilliard String Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma

Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 17: III. Andante Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Pablo Ferrandez (cello), Lambert Orkis (piano)

Jess Gillam with... Karim Kamar Sep 15, 2023

Jess Gillam and pianist Karim Kamar share some of their favourite music. Karim has an amazing musical story - after loving playing as a kid but never studying properly, at 25 he decided to quit his job and learn the piano seriously to become a professional musician. He spent years painstakingly learning how to play - and has since released 6 albums and performed at some of the most iconic music venues from Ronnie Scott’s to the Royal Albert Hall. He’s also a bit of a star on social media with millions of fans who follow his adventures of him playing the many street pianos you find around the country.

His music picks are all based around the piano - from the pure romance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, to the video game imagination of Ryuichi Sakamoto and the latin funk of Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile Jess finds a new inspiration in Sibelius's Third Symphony, one of her teenage soundtracks in Massive Attack and an uneasy waltz by Shostakovich.

Playlist:

MILES DAVIS: Nardis [Bill Evans Trio] SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suite no.2 – Waltz no 2 [Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (conductor)] RUYICHI SAKAMOTO: Seven Samurai: Ending Theme RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto no 2 – 2nd mvt Adagio sostenuto [Khatia Buniatishvilli (piano), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)] MASSIVE ATTACK: Hymn of the Big Wheel CHOPIN: Waltz op.64 no.2 in C sharp minor [Arthur Rubinstein (piano)] SIBELIUS: Symphony no.3 – 2nd mvt Andantino [BBC Philharmonic /John Storgards (conductor)] STEVIE WONDER: Another Star

Jess Gillam with... Delia Stevens Aug 31, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by percussionist Delia Stevens to share the music they love and make some new discoveries, including tracks by Tessa Lark, Avner Dorman, Fabiano do Nascimento and Jack Hylton and His Orchestra.

Playlist: Debussy: Danse profane for harp & orchestra Tessa Lark: Jig and Pop Cyrille Aimée: It’s a Good Day Vega Trails: Love Your Grace Avner Dorman: Frozen in Time (Indoafrica & Eurasia) Julius Klengel: Hymnus Fabiano do Nascimento: Forro Brasil Jack Hylton & His Orchestra: Life is just a bowl of cherries

Jess Gillam with... Braimah Kanneh-Mason Aug 24, 2023

Jess Gillam and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason swap some of their favourite tracks and chat about their lives in music. Braimah comes armed with a classic Beethoven recording by violinist Itzhak Perlman, a feel good tune by The Melodians and a Haydn quartet. Meanwhile Jess spins Rachmaninov at his most romantic, Monteverdi by the ensemble l'Arpeggiata and a soaring performance by Etta James.

Playlist:

HAYDN – String Quartet, op.33 no 2 ‘The Joke’ 1st mvt Allegro Moderato [London Haydn Players] ETTA JAMES – At Last RACHMANINOV – Symphony no 2 – 3rd mvt ‘Adagio’ [London Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle (cond)] JOSEPH ACHRON – Hebrew Melody, op.33 [Josef Hassid (violin), Gerald Moore (piano)] MONTEVERDI, arr. Pluhar – Zefiro Torna, SV251 [Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Nuria Rial (soprano), l’Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar (director)] THE MELODIANS: Rivers of Babylon TRAD: Ku-Isa Tama Laug [David Darling (cello), The Wulu Bunun] BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D, op.61 – 3rd mvt [Itzhak Perlman (violin), Berlin Philharmonic/Daniel Barenboim (conductor)]

(revised repeat)

Jess Gillam with... James Newby Aug 03, 2023

Jess Gillam and baritone James Newby swap some of their favourite tracks and chat about their lives in music. James - who was one of Radio 3's New Generation Artists - is one of the country's most exciting young baritones and performs all around Europe in everything from contemporary opera to intimate song recitals. His music picks include a choral piece by Howells that changed the direction of his life and catapulted him into a music career and the stunning voices of Celeste and Bryn Terfel. Meanwhile Jess picks a stunner of a voice of her own in Sarah Vaughan, alongside the energy of John Adams and a tender ballad for violin and piano by Donald Grant.

Playlist:

MOZART: Marriage of Figaro – Overture [Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nezet Seguin (conductor)] DONALD GRANT: Bha lá eile ann [Elena Urioste (violin), Tom Poster (piano)] HERBERT HOWELLS: Nunc Dimittis (from Collegium Regale) [Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury] CELESTE: Strange JOHN ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine [City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)] DILYS ELWYN EDWARDS: The Cloths of Heaven (Gwiseg Nefoedd) [Bryn Terfel (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)] CORELLI: Follia [Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall] SARAH VAUGHAN: Be My Love

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam with... Anne Sofie von Otter Jul 31, 2023

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter

Anne Sofie is one of classical music's most celebrated singers with a huge back catalogue of recordings, and she's also known for her huge versatility and musical curiosity working with artists from conductors Claudio Abbado and Giuseppe Sinopoli to Elvis Costello, Brad Mehldau and Rufus Wainwright.

Today though she's listening to other people's recordings, as she and Jess sat down together to listen to a Janacek fanfare and a headphone blasting piece of Verdi. Jess picks a Nina Simone track that left them both speechless, while Anne Sofie brought along a ravishing piece by Rameau and (quite literally) turned up the volume on a barnstorming Beyoncé track.

Playlist:

JANACEK: Sinfonietta, 1st mvt 'Sokol Fanfare' [Vienna Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras (conductor)] JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON: Good Night, Day [Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello), Air Lyndhurst String Orchestra, Anthony Weeden (conductor)] BEYONCÉ: Countdown RAMEAU: Les Boréades, Act 4 Entrée de Polymie [Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski (cond)] VERDI: Requiem, Dies Irae (into Tuba Mirum) [Coro y Orchestra dell’Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano (conductor)] NINA SIMONE: Little Girl Blue BENGAN JANSON: I’ve Found a New Baby

Jess Gillam with... Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux Jul 22, 2023

Jess Gillam and violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux share their favourite music with each other, including the sublime voices of Dhafer Youssef and the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, an intimate transcription of Gluck, joy and happiness from Boccherini and the Maccabees plus the unmistakable vibrato of Sidney Bechet.

Jess Gillam with... Pekka Kuusisto Jul 15, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by the Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer Pekka Kuusisto. They share thoughts on some favourite music, from a jazz arrangement of a Monteverdi madrigal to piano music by Ligeti, and from Bernstein's Wonderful Town to the Swedish singer Katarina Barruk.

Jess Gillam with... Sehyogue Aulakh Jun 26, 2023

Jess Gillam and percussionist Sehyogue Aulakh share some of the music that they love, from Aretha Franklin to Dmitri Shostakovich, JS Bach and Seckou Keita.

Sehyogue's Playlist:

SHOSTAKOVICH – Symphony No. 5 in D Minor Op. 47: I. Moderato (Royal Concertegabouw Orchestra, Bernard Haiktink) MOBY – Porcelain COUPERIN arr. Ades – Les Baricades misterieuses (Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon) ARETHA FRANKLN – (You make me feel like a) Natural Woman SECKOU KEITA - Sakiliba COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – Ballade in A Minor Op. 33: I. Allegro energetico, ma non troppo presto (Chineke! Orchestra, Kalena Bovell SIMON MOULLIER - Acceptance (Simon Moullier - Vibraphone, Balafon, Percussions, Synths; Dayna Stephens - Saxophone ; Simon Chivallon – Piano; Luca Alemanno – Bass; Jongkuk Kim - Drums)

Jess Gillam with... Tessa Lark Jun 17, 2023

Jess Gillam meets violinist Tessa Lark to swap some of their favourite music. Tessa is an in-demand classical concert violinist but growing up in Kentucky, she’s equally inspired by bluegrass music and American folk styles and so blends the two influences in a lot of her work. Traditional music features prominently in her music choices as the Martin Hayes Quartet and Swedish duo Vasen rub shoulders with a Beethoven Symphony. Meanwhile Jess brings along an orchestral tearjerker by Pietro Mascagni, a track by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and some retro soul vibes by Saun and Starr.

Playlist:

VASEN: Silverschottis GIOVANNI SOLIMA: Il bell’Antonio – tema II [Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)] MICHAEL THURBER & THE HUNTERTONES: Gigantic Energy SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR: Violin Concerto in G minor, op.80 – 2nd mvt [Elena Urioste (violin), Chineke! Orchestra, Kevin John Edusei (conductor)] MARTIN HAYES QUARTET: The Boy In the Gap JEAN LENOIR: Parlez moi d’amour [Lucienne Boyer (singer)] BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 2 in D major, op.36 4th mvt ‘Allegro molto’ [Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (conductor) SAUN & STARR: In the Night

Jess Gillam with... Zubin Kanga Jun 10, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by composer, pianist and technologist Zubin Kanga, with music from Gesualdo to Ravel via Laurie Spiegel and Jaco Pastorius.

Jess Gillam with... Jasdeep Singh Degun Jun 09, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun to share and talk about the music that they both love, with tracks from Philip Glass, Monteverdi, Nishat Khan and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Along the way they discover some of the links between western and Indian classical music, and find out more about Jasdeep's childhood in Leeds, and his experiences in the world of classical composition.

Playlist: Rachmaninov: Elégie (Morceaux de Fantasie, Op 3 No 1) Nishat Khan: Raga Gaoti Nick Cave / Nicholas Lens: Litany of Gathering Up Monteverdi: Ahi, caso acerbo! (L'Orfeo) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: This Land is Your Land Philip Glass: Violin concerto Nadia Boulanger: Cantique Abi Sampa & Rushil: Man Kunto Maula (Orchestral Qawwali)

Jess Gillam with... Missy Mazzoli May 20, 2023

Jess Gillam's guest is pianist and composer Missy Mazzoli. They share some of the music that they love, including Ellen Reid, JS Bach, Julian Lage and Sudanese singer Aamina Camaari.

Jess Gillam with... Hazel Askew May 17, 2023

Jess's meets folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Hazel Askew to swap some of their favourite music. Hazel is a fixture in the UK folk music scene known for her bands Lady Maisery and the Askew Sisters, as well as numerous collaborative projects across different musical genres.

Today they sit down to listen to a full-blooded folk waltz by Warsaw Village Band, a symphony with all the tunes by Dvorak, Stevie Wishart channelling Hildegard of Bingen and a surprisingly emotional David Bowie cover by M Ward.

Playlist: WARSAW VILLAGE BAND – At My Mother’s ERIK SATIE – Gnossienne No.1 [Alexandre Tharaud (piano)] LEONARD BERNSTEIN – Chichester Psalms 1st mvt. Psalm 108 vs 2, Psalm 100 [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor)] M WARD – Let’s Dance ANTONIN DVORAK – Symphony no 9 – 4th mvt [Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor)] STEVIE WISHART – Azeruz ELIZA CARTHY & MARTIN GREEN – Fen LITTLE SIMZ & MICHAEL KIWANUKA – Flowers

Jess Gillam with... Gabriella Teychenné May 03, 2023

Jess Gillam's guest this week is conductor Gabriella Teychenné. Her musical life bounces between conducting brand new music, collaborating with symphony orchestras and she's the founder of Sinfonia Humanitas, a new ensemble whose concert programmes fuse early and contemporary music.

Gabriella and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a slice of Italian sunshine from Mendelssohn, a collaboration between folk artist Sam Lee and singer Elizabeth Fraser, a Schumann romance and a classic by Nick Drake.

Playlist:

LUTOSLAWSKI – Variations on a Theme by Paganini [BBC SO/Edward Gardner (conductor)] TRAD – The Moon Shines Bright [Sam Lee, Elizabeth Fraser] SCHUMANN – Symphony no 4 – 2nd mvt Romanza [London Symphony Orchestra/John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)] NICHOLAS BRITELL - Agape MENDELSSOHN – Symphony no 4 ‘Italian’ – 1st mvt [Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor)] JAMES BLAKE – Life Round Here RESPIGHI – Ancient Dances and Airs – Siciliana [Filarmonica della Scala/ Riccardo Chailly (conductor)] NICK DRAKE – River Man

Jess Gillam with... Soweto Kinch Apr 22, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by a fellow saxophonist the Award-winning composer, poet, MC and producer Soweto Kinch to chat and share the music they love.

Playlist: Debussy - Dances for Harp and Orchestra, L.103:2. Danse profane [Lavinia Meijer, Amsterdam Sinfonietta] Ben Webster - When I Fall in Love Steve Reich - Different Trains: America Before the War [Kronos Quartet] Amy Beach - 4 Sketches - Dreaming [Ambache Chamber Ensemble] Scott Joplin - Treemonisha: Act 3: A Real Slow Drag [Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers] Blanck Mass - Chernobyl Abel Selaocoe - Qhawe/Hero Beethoven - Symphony No 7 - 2nd movement [Berlin Philharmonic, Kirill Petrenko]

Jess Gillam with... Tine Thing Helseth Apr 01, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by acclaimed Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth to chat and share the music they love.

Playlist: Stravinsky - Rite of Spring - XIV Pt2 le sacrifice: danse sacrale l’Elue [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti] Mozart – Die Zauberflote, K.620; Act 2, no.17; Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden [Mari Eriksmoen, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend] Massive Attack – Teardrop Ibrahim Maalouf - Una Rosa Blanca Wilhelm Friedemann Bach– Duet for 2 Flutes in E minor, F. 54 [Patrick Gallois (flute), Kazunori Seo (flute)] Tchaikovsky – Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, TH 5: Lensky’s Aria [Janine Jansen (violin), Antonio Pappano (piano)] Sigrid – Mirror Janacek - In The Mists; I. Andante [Leif Ove Andsnes]

Jess Gillam with... Jack Bazalgette Mar 25, 2023

Jess Gillam chats to conductor Jack Bazalgette, co-founder of ‘through the noise’ which aims to innovate and revolutionise live classical music. Their musical journey takes them to Zimbabwe with the music of mbira player Chiwoniso, a forest in Sweden with the Danish String Quartet plus we have the sounds of Barbara Moore, Mahler and Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders.

Playlist: Franz Ignaz Beck - Symphony in C major, Op. 1, No 6, I. Allegro [New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong] Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders – Movement 1 (Promises) Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen - Waltz After Lasse in Lyby [The Danish String Quartet] Debussy - String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10, CD 91, L. 85: III. Andantino. Doucement expressif [Ebene Quartet] Barbara Moore - Steam Heat Domenico Scarlatti - Sonata in F Minor, K466 [Vladimir Horowitz] Chiwoniso - Zvichapera Mahler - Symphony No.4: I. Bedächtig, nicht eilen [Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado]

Jess Gillam with... Laura van der Heijden Mar 18, 2023

Jess is joined by the cellist Laura van der Heijden to share some of their favourite musical discoveries, including JS Bach interpreted by the Lodestar Trio, music from Philip Glass’s Book of Longing, a track from the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and Elena Urioste playing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Jess Gillam with... Peter Gregson Mar 11, 2023

Cellist and composer Peter Gregson joins Jess from LA. They share some of their favourite tracks and new discoveries, including Steve Reich's Different Trains, a special recording of Schubert's String Quintet, Bach's Mass in B minor, and songs by Eva Cassidy and Bon Iver.

Jess Gillam with... Laura Misch Feb 25, 2023

Jess Gillam and fellow saxophonist Laura Misch share the music they love, including tracks by Bjork, Hildegard von Bingen and Bob Marley.

Playlist: Sibelius - Impromptu V (Leif Ove Andnes) Bendik Giske - Cruising Sarah Vaughan - Just One of Those Things Hildegard von Bingen - O vis eternitatis (Sequentia) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (Sheku, Jeneba, and Isata Kanneh-Mason) Strozzi - Che si puo fare? (Simone Kermes, Enrico Casazza) Bjork - The Anchor Song

Jess Gillam with... Shivank Menon Feb 11, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by the Mumbai-born pianist Shivank Menon to talk about the records that they love. Their playlist includes Rostropovich playing Bach, Sviatoslav Richter playing Chopin, songs by Ravel, Fanny Mendelssohn and Donny Hathaway, and a recording of Bill Evans duetting with himself.

Playlist:

MORELENBAUM2 & RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: Sabia J S BACH ARR. KODALY: Vater unser im Himmelrich, BWV 762 (Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Herbert Tachezi, organ) CHOPIN: Polonaise No 7 in A flat, Op 61 (Sviatoslav Richter, piano) ROBERT DE VISÉE: Sarabande from Suite No 7 in D minor (Thomas Dunford, archlute; Jean Rondeau, harpsichord) FANNY MENDELSSOHN: Schwanenlied, Op 1 No 1 (Dorothea Craxton, soprano & Babette Dorn, piano + Benjamin Appl, baritone & James Baillieu, piano) RAVEL: Soupir from 3 Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano) DONNY HATHAWAY: A Song for You BILL EVANS: Emily

Jess Gillam with... Bishi Feb 08, 2023

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with singer, rock sitarist and composer Bishi. Together they journey through evocations of space from Meredith Monk, Holst and Roger Webb back home to different shades of the human voice in music - from sacred vocal music from the 15th century, via a Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass collaboration, the unique voice of Beverly Glenn-Copeland and singer Cosmo Sheldrake's wake-up call from the cuckoo.

Playlist:

RAVI SHANKAR/PHILIP GLASS: Prashanti TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA: O Magnum Mysterium [Voces8] STRAVINSKY – Petrushka – Tableau 1 Fete Populaire de la semaine grasse [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (cond)] ROGER WEBB: Moonbird (Heaven and Hell) MEREDITH MONK: Atlas Part 3 – Invisible Light: Earth Seen from Above HOLST: The Planets – Mars [London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski (cond)] BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND: La Vita COSMO SHELDRAKE: Cuckoo Song

Jess Gillam with... Ionel Manciu Jan 30, 2023

Jess is joined by violinist Ionel Manciu to chat about some of their favourite records and share their lives in music. Including a revelation of Ionel's past life as a Moldovan pop star, John Adams conjuring raindrops from the piano, a classic by Amy Winehouse and a piece by Arno Babadjanian that stopped Jess in her tracks.

Playlist: GEORGY SVIRIDOV: The Bells of Dawn [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), The Grand Choir ‘Masters of Choral Singing’/Lev Kontorovich (cond)] AMY WINEHOUSE: Love is a Losing Game ARNO BABADJANIAN: Piano Trio in F sharp – 2nd mvt ‘Allegro’ [David Oïstrakh (violin), Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello) Arno Babadjanian (piano)] JOHN ADAMS: China Gates [Bruce Brubaker (piano)] ASTOR PIAZZOLLA: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires – Invierno Porteño “Winter” [Lara St John (violin), Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela/Eduardo Marturet] ANOMALIE: Métropole RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op.45 - no.2 Tempo di Valse [Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle (cond)] DINICU: The Skylark (Ciocarlia) [Gheorghe Zamfir (pan flute)]

Jess Gillam with... Iyad Sughayer Jan 21, 2023

Jess is joined this week by the Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer. They're in the studio to share some of their favourite tracks with each other, and some new musical discoveries - including a joyful piano concerto by Haydn, terrifying music by Bartok, a mesmerising song by Caroline Shaw and classic Bob Dylan.

Playlist: Joseph Haydn - Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11 (Alexandre Tharaud, Violons du Roy) David Bowie & Gail Ann Dorsey - Under Pressure (from the album A Reality Tour) Ibrahim Maalouf - Will Soon be a Woman Bela Bartok - The Miraculous Mandarin: Introduction (Philharmonia Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen) Caroline Shaw - And So (Caroline Shaw with the Attacca Quartet) Jocelyn Pook - Oppenheimer (from the album Flood) Johann Paul von Westhoff - Sonata No.3 in D minor (David Plantier violin, Les plaisirs du Parnasse) Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall

Jess Gillam with... C Duncan Jan 14, 2023

Jess Gillam and Scottish composer C Duncan share the tracks they love, with music by Charles Ives, Broadcast, Lili Boulanger Messiaen and Mahler.

Playlist: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Symphony in E-flat Major Wq. 179 - 1. Prestissimo [Akademie für Alte Ausik Berlin] Broadcast - Colour Me In Lili Boulanger - D’Un Jardin Clair [Émile Naoumoff - piano] Charles Ives - 3 Places in New England - The Housatonic at Stockbridge [Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon] Harry Nilsson - Everybody’s Talkin Olivier Messiaen - O Sacrum Comvivium [Choir of New College, Oxford, Edward Higginbottom] Matt Maltese - As the World Caves In Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection”; V. Mit Aufschung… [Sir Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic, Kate Royal, Magdalena Kozena]

Jess Gillam with... Ellie Consta Jan 13, 2023

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Ellie Consta to share some of the music they love the most. Ellie is the founder of Her Ensemble which champions the work of female composers and strives to present classical music in new diverse ways, and her music choices reflect that - from Florence Price's dreamy Clouds to Little Simz Mercury-winning homage to women everywhere, Woman.

Jess brings along the majesty of Mozart's Requiem, some lunar insanity on the theremin and a cracker of a song by Bettye Swann.

Playlist: FLORENCE PRICE: Clouds [Lara Downes (piano)] HARRY REVEL: Lunar Rhapsody (from Music Out of the Moon) [Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman (theremin), Vocal Group and Orchestra/Les Baxter (bandleader)] TIGRAN HAMASYAN: The Dream Voyager MOZART: Requiem in D minor – Sequentia…Lachrimosa [Swedish Radio Choir, Berlin Phil/Claudio Abbado] LILI BOULANGER: Nocturne [Janine Jansen (violin), Itamar Golan (piano)] BETTYE SWANN: Tell it Like it Is GEORGE ANTHEIL: Over the Plains [BBC Philharmonic/John Storgards] LITTLE SIMZ: Woman

Jess Gillam with... Anna Lapwood Dec 31, 2022

Jess brings out the fizz and party poppers for a New Year's Eve listening party with the organist and conductor Anna Lapwood, as they introduce each other to their favourite music for this time of year. Their choices take them through the night, from classic Ella Fitzgerald, to pumping base from Vivaldi and Bonobo, reflective choral music by Silvestrov, mysterious organ sounds for the early hours from Saint-Saens, and a New Year message from Otis Redding.

Playlist: Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in D major, RV211, 3rd movement (Nicola Benedetti, Benedetti Baroque Orchestra) Supertramp – The Logical Song Bonobo / O’Flynn – Otomo (from album Fragments) Silvestrov – Christmas Lullabies, No.2: Quiet Night (Latvian Radio Choir) Glenn Miller – Moonlight Serenade (Barbara Hannigan, LUDWIG) Saint-Saens – Danse macabre, Op. 40 (arr. Lemare) (Olivier Latry, organ of Paris Philharmonie) Otis Reading – Try a Little Tenderness

Jess Gillam with... Love Ssega Dec 28, 2022

Jess meets up with Love Ssega to swap some of their favourite music. A founding songwriter and vocalist of Clean Bandit, Love Ssega is hugely in demand for his collaborative work across genres from pop to visual art. He is currently the Philharmonia's artist in residence.

Ssega came with some truly epic Elgar played by Sheku Kanneh Mason, a serious ear worm of an opera chorus by Verdi, and introduced Jess to the incredible voice of Alice Smith (she's been listening to her on loop since). Meanwhile Jess played Ssega Vivaldi arranged by Max Richter, some 12th century vocal music by Hildegard von Bingen, and an elegy to the environment by Marvin Gaye.

PLAYLIST:

MAX RICHTER/VIVALDI: Spring 1 – from the Four Seasons Recomposed [Daniel Hope (violin), Zurich Chamber Orchestra] VERDI: Va pensiero – Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco) [Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera House, London, Bernard Haitink (cond)] MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) ELGAR – Cello Concerto in E minor, op.85 – 1st mvt [Sheku Kanneh Mason (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (cond)] PETER GABRIEL: The Book of Love WILLIAM MATHIAS: Zodiac Trio, op.70 – 1st mvt ‘Pisces’ [Dallas Triptych Players] HILDEGARD von BINGEN: Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans [Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks (dir) ALICE SMITH: Wednesday’s Child

Christmas Party with the Kings Singers Dec 17, 2022

Jess Gillam dons her Christmas jumper to throw a This Classical Life Christmas Party. She's joined by The King's Singers, a fairy light bedecked studio, several packets of party rings and plenty of good tidings as they all share their favourite Christmas music and talk about their festive traditions.

From Nick's love of the 'Daniel Craig of the choral classics' Bach's Christmas Oratorio, to Pat's championing of the backing group in an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas tune. Jess, of course, manages to find a David Bowie track even at Christmas and Johnny shares a Beach Boys hit that encapsulates the Christmases of touring musicians.

Playlist:

ELLA FITZGERALD: Santa Claus is Coming to Town MORTEN LAURIDSEN: O Magnum mysterium [Chamber Choir of Europe/ Nicol Matt] YAZOO: Only You PROKOFIEV: Lietenant Kijé Suite, op.60 – Troika [Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado] WIZZARD: I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday TRAD IRISH: The Wexford Carol [Susannah Vango (sop) Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore] DAVID BOWIE/BING CROSBY Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy JS BACH: "Herr, wenn die stolzen feinde schnauben" from Christmas Oratorio [Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor/René Jacobs] THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows

Jess Gillam with... Caroline Shaw Dec 10, 2022

Jess Gillam and composer Caroline Shaw share their favourite music, with tracks by wordsmith Kae Tempest, a concert waltz by Scott Joplin, the incredible voice of Sarah Vaughan and an unfinished piece by Schubert (but not the one you're thinking!).

Playlist: Clara Schumann: 3 Romances Op. 22 No. 3 [Elena Urioste - violin, Isata Kanneh-Mason - piano] Mark Guiliana - a path to bliss Scott Joplin - Bethena [Randy Kerber - piano] Sarah Vaughan - Tenderly Josquin des Prez - Mille regretz [Hilliard Ensemble] Stanley Myers - Saxophone Concerto [John Harle, Argo Symphony Orchestra, James Judd] Kae Tempest - People's Faces Schubert - Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor, D.571 (Fragment) [Andras Schiff - piano]

Jess Gillam with... Vivi Vassileva Nov 26, 2022

Jess meets percussionist Vivi Vassileva to swap some of their favourite music...

Vivi is sharing the crazy time signatures of young jazz piano wizard Jesus Molina, traditional Bulgarian music and a Tchaikovsky waltz in 5/4! Jess is offering up the raw emotion of Anna Clyne, Alison Russell and Vikingur Olaffson playing Kaldalóns's Ave Maria on an upright piano.

Playlist: Anna Clyne – Shorthand [The Knights] Eva Quartet - Kalina Moma Sigvaldi Kaldalóns - Ave Maria (arr. Olaffson) [Vikingur Olaffson - piano] Jesus Molina - Night in Tunisia CPE Bach - Symphony in D Major [The English Concert, Andrew Manze] Alison Russell - Nightflyer Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique); II. Allegro con grazia [Kirill Petrenko, Berlin Philharmonic]

Jess Gillam with... Hugh Cutting Nov 19, 2022

Jess Gillam is joined in the studio by countertenor Hugh Cutting to share the music they can't get enough of. Hugh's choices include the voices of Barbra Streisand, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and Glen Campbell. Jess brings soundscapes by Anders Hillborg and Dictaphone, and a reimagining of Benjamin Britten's 'Concord' by cellist Matthew Barley.

Playlist: Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in E Minor, RV 484: III. Allegro [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) Ensemble L’aura Soave Cremona] Michel Legrand – A Piece of Sky (from Yentl) [Barbra Streisand] Anders Hillborg – Violin Concerto No.1 [Anna Lindal (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen] Vaughan Williams – On Wenlock Edge: Bredon Hill [Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Graham Johnson (piano), Duke Quartet] Dictaphone – Nr. 12 Bernstein – Candide Overture [Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic] Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman Britten – Concord [Matthew Barley]

Jess Gillam with... Daniel Elms Nov 16, 2022

Jess Gillam and composer Daniel Elms swap the tracks they love. Daniel's choices include a string quartet by Thomas Adès, a song by My Bloody Valentine, and the crazy cabaret of HK Gruber; Jess brings lush orchestral scores by Prokofiev and Sibelius, and a souful song from Lorraine Ellison.

Playlist:

DANIEL ELMS: Consolations in travel [BBC Concert Orchestra/Robert Ames] THOMAS ADES: Arcadiana - VI: "O Albion" [Endellion String Quartet] PROKOFIEV: Romeo & Juliet: Act 3, XLVII: Juliet alone [Oslo Philharmonic/Vassily Petrenko] MY BLOODY VALENTINE: Sometimes DONNY McASLIN: Body blow HK GRUBER: Frankenstein!! - Rat song and Crusoe song [BBC Philharmonic/HK Gruber] SIBELIUS: The Bard [Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Jarvi] KITAMURA MASASHI & PHONOGENIX: 'Variation III' LORRAINE ELLISON: Stay with me, baby

Jess Gillam with... Geneva Lewis Nov 03, 2022

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. Today her guest is the violinist Geneva Lewis, who is rapidly becoming known as one of the most classy young players around today. She has recently joined Radio 3's New Generation Artists and is hugely in demand as both a soloist and chamber musicians.

Jess and Geneva sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most, including tracks by Britten, Brahms and Billie Eilish.

Jess Gillam with... Daniel Pioro Oct 22, 2022

Jess Gillam is joined in the TCL studio by the violinist and composer Daniel Pioro, to share an eclectic mix of some of their favourite music. Jess' choices today include a violin concerto by Vivaldi, music for saxophone by Gavin Bryars and a track by James Blake. Daniel brings along one of Biber's Rosary Sonatas, music by Claire M Singer and a tribute to the American saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who died recently.

Jess Gillam with... Cosmo Sheldrake Oct 01, 2022

Jess Gillam is joined by composer and multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Sheldrake for a listening party. Music includes Gil Evans and Miles Davis's take on Concierto de Aranjuez, and Thomas Tallis's Spem in Alium.

Playlist: Rodrigo arr. Gil Evans - Concierto de Aranjuez [Miles Davis] JS Bach arr. Siloti - Prelude (BWV.855a), transc. for piano in B minor (orig. in E minor, '48' no.10) [Vikingur Olafsson] Mariah - Shinzo No Tobira Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 - III Allegro molto [Sakari Oramo, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra] Britten - Friday afternoons Op.7 for children's voices and piano: Cuckoo! [Choir of Downside School, Purley, Viola Tunnard] Bremer/McCoy - Drommer Tallis - Spem in alium for 40 voices [Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips] Courtney Pine - Haiti

Jess Gillam with... Fatma Said Sep 17, 2022

Jess is joined by Egyptian soprano, and former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Fatma Said, for a listening party of the music they love the most, including Dhafer Youssef, Elliott Smith, Jane Morgan, Massenet and Haydn.

Playlist: Ravel – Daphnis et Chloe, M. 57; Introduction [New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez] Ángel Gregorio Villoldos - Ad Ay Sa’ab (El Choclo) [Fatma Said, Quinteto Ángel] Elliott Smith - Between the Bars Massenet – Manon, Act 5: Ah des Grieux ! O Manon ! [Angela Gheorghiu (Manon), Roberto Alagna (Des Grieux), Orchestre Symphonique et Choeurs de la Monnaie, Antonio Pappano] Haydn - Symphony No. 44 in E minor, Hob.I.44 ‘Mourning’- IV. Finale (presto) [The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock] Jane Morgan – If Only I Could Live My Live Again Dhafer Youssef - Birds Canticum - "Birds Requiem" Suite Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54; I. Allegro affettuoso [Martha Argerich (piano), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky]

Jess Gillam with... Aaron Akugbo Sep 03, 2022

Jess Gillam meets the trumpeter Aaron Akugbo and they share some of their favourite music, including tracks by Jacob Collier, Errolyn Wallen, Mahler and Beyonce.

Edinburgh-born Aaron trained at the Royal Academy of Music, and cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical influence. An ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he now combines playing in some of the UK’s top orchestras with a career as a chamber and solo player, which has included a solo recital debut at this year's Lucerne Festival.

Playlist:

Mahler – Symphony No.5, 1st movement (Vienna Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez) Poulenc – Les chemins de l’amour (Sabine Devieilhe and Alexandre Tharaud) Jacob Collier ft. Daniel Caesar – Time Alone With You Goat Rodeo Sessions (Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile) – Quarter Chicken Dark Prokofiev – Toccata Op.11 (Freddy Kempf) Beyoncé – Love On Top Errollyn Wallen – Concerto Grosso, 1st movement (Chineke!) Leif Vollebekk – Elegy

Jess Gillam with... Isobel Waller-Bridge Aug 27, 2022

Jess's guest this week is composer Isobel Waller-Bridge. Best known for her work in TV and film, Isobel has scored The Split, Fleabag, Emma, Vita & Virginia and many more, but she's also a prolific composer for the theatre and is known for her evocative contemporary classical and electronic music for the concert hall.

Jess and Isobel sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most - Isobel offers some stunning moments of calm by Hinako Omori and a tuba jam by Sons of Kemet, while Jess interrupts the peace with an intimate song by Noah Yorke and possibly the funkiest string quartet ever written by Ravel.

Playlist:

HINAKO OMORI: Yearning RAVEL: String Quartet - 2nd mvt 'Assez vif' [Quator Ebène] SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS: Open Your Eyes CHOPIN: Nocturne no.8 in D flat major, op.27 no.2 [Maurizio Pollini (piano)] NOAH YORKE: Trying too Hard (Lullaby) SONS OF KEMET: To Never Forget the Source

Jess Gillam with... Sam Amidon Aug 13, 2022

Jess's guest this week is folk artist Sam Amidon. His songs reimagine and breathe new life into old songs and ballads, but his musical life also encompasses any number of collaborations with classical composers, experimental producers as well as the jazz world which he finds so inspiring.

Sam and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including Ornette Coleman and friends having a street party, Ennio Morricone in full blown cinematic mode, Sam shares a revelatory recording by the Georgian voices in The Rustavi Choir and Jess continues her bid to be reincarnated in the 1960s with a Dusty Springfield classic.

Playlist:

TRAD GEORGIAN: Shen Khar venakhi – Kartli Kakhetia (The Rustavi Choir) MORRICONE: Cinema Paradiso – Theme ORNETTE COLEMAN: Friends and Neighbours (Vocal version) [Live] PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet – Dance of the Knights (Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel (conductor)) SAILEOG NÍ CHEANNABHÁIN: Bean a’ Leanna EDMUND ANDERSON/TED GROUYA: Flamingo (Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (piano)) JANACEK: Kreutzer Sonata arr. for Strings – 1st mvt Adagio (Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (violin/director)) DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Anyone Who Had a Heart

Jess Gillam with... Laura Snowden Aug 06, 2022

Jess's guest this week is the guitarist and composer Laura Snowden. They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party which revels in the beauty of John Tavener's choral music; unwraps a piece for guitar by the Australian composer and synesthete Phillip Houghton during which explores the range of sounds possible to obtain from the instrument; pauses in the sound world of Laurie Anderson, and follows Berlioz's musical journey into psychedelia.

Playlist: John Tavener: The Lamb (Tenebrae, Nigel Short, conductor) Burt Bacharach/Hal David: I say a little prayer (Aretha Franklin) Lauryn Hill: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill) Buxton/Ratcliffe/Kekaula: Good Luck (Basement Jaxx, Lisa Kekaula) Laurie Anderson: O Superman (Laurie Anderson) Trad (Bulgarian): Bučimiš (Avi Avital, mandolin, Itamar Doari, percussion) Phillip Houghton: Wave Radiance (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 - V Dream of a witches' Sabbath (Orchestre de Paris, Charles Munch, conductor)

Jess Gillam with... Riopy Jul 16, 2022

Jess's guest this week is the French-born British pianist and composer Riopy. They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party including Debussy's Clair de Lune, a new concerto by Marius Neset for saxophone, the Gotan Project's driving anthem to Buenos Aires, and epic organ music by Bach.

Playlist: Müller/Makaroff/Solal: Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (Gotan Project) Marius Neset: Manmade - Saxophone Concerto: Mvt II Edison (Marius Neset, saxophone, Bergen Phliharmonic, Edward Gardner, conductor) Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune (Khatia Buniatishvili, piano) Arvo Pärt (arr. Eduard Wesly) : Summa for reed quintet (Calefax Reed Quintet) Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Souvenirs d'Andalousie - Op.22 (Alan Marks, piano) Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543:1 – Prelude (Karl Richter, organ) Josh Tillman: Chloë (Father John Misty) Andrew John Hozier-Byrne: Nina Cried Power (Hozier ft. Mavis Staples)

Jess Gillam with... Max Ruisi Jul 09, 2022

Jess's guest this week is the cellist Max Ruisi, artistic director of the 12 Ensemble, a "revolutionary string orchestra". They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party including a beautiful lament by Monteverdi, a bird-themed string quartet by Haydn, mesmerising music for solo oboe by Britten, and tracks from Cosmo Sheldrake and Herbie Hancock.

Playlist: Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3; 1st mvt (Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado) Monteverdi - Lamento della Ninfa (Anna Prohaska, Arcangelo) Bartok - 6 Romanian Dances (Avi Avital, Pottsdam Chamber Academy) Elena Tonra (arr. Josephine Stephenson) - The Dazzler (Ex:Re, Josephine Stephenson, 12 Ensemble) Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op.33 No.3 “The Bird”; 3rd mvt (London Haydn Quartet) Cosmo Sheldrake - Come Along (from The Much Much How How and I) Britten - 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid (Francois Leleux, oboe) Herbie Hancock - Dolphin Dance (from Dedication)

Jess Gillam with... Lavinia Meijer Jun 25, 2022

Harpist Lavinia Meijer has worked with an impressive list of people, including Philip Glass, Iggy Pop and Patty Smith, she joins Jess Gillam this week to chat about the music they can't get enough of. Lavinia is declaring her love for the bagpipes with a track by The Chieftains, we’ve two stunning concertos from Unsuk Chin and Korngold, re-worked film music by Peter Gabriel plus Stravinsky, Alabama Shakes and a very famous Waltz!

Playlist: Johann Strauss II - An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314 [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan] Peter Gabriel - With this Love The Chieftains - The Humours of Carolan Debussy – Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G Major, L. 3: Third Movement [Andre Previn (piano), Julie Rosenfeld (violin), Gary Hoffman (cello)] Unsuk Chin - Violin Concerto; Movement I [Viviane Hagner (violin), Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano] Korngold - Cello Concerto in C Major, Op.37; I. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco [Edgar Moreau (cello), Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Sanderling]

Jess Gillam with... Maya Youssef Jun 18, 2022

Jess Gillam is joined by Qanun player Maya Youssef for a listening party of some of the music they love the most. Jess brings some spine-tingling violin by Philip Glass and an absolute classic by Peter Gabriel, while Maya shares an earworm by Dvorak, and like all good parties it all ends with a little studio dance session to tracks by Toufic Farroukh and Hooverphonic

Playlist: John Adams - Shaker Loops: i. Shaking and Trembling [Bournemouth SO/Marin Alsop (conductor)] Toufic Farroukh - Elhob ?! Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer JS Bach - Fuga in G minor, BWV1000 [Yasunori Imamura (lute)] Philip Glass - Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt [Gidon Kremer (violin), Vienna Philharmonic/Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor)] Hooverphonic - 2 Wicky Dvorak - Symphony no.9 'From the New World' - 2nd mvt [Vienna Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan (conductor)] Morten Schantz - Godspeed

Jess Gillam with... Plínio Fernandes Jun 11, 2022

Jess is joined in the studio by Brazilian guitarist Plínio Fernandes to share the music they love. Plínio shares his Latin roots with Villa-Lobos, Albéniz and a beautiful duet by Elis Regina and Tom Jobim, and Jess offers up Bartok inspired Jazz from Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter, a fiendishly difficult concerto by John Adams and Scott Walker is lamenting the weather.

Playlist: Heitor Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, W.424; IV. Danza [Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony] Eddie Sauter / Stan Getz - I’m Late, I’m Late Beethoven - Bagatelles, Op. 33: V. Allegro, ma non troppo [Cristian Budu] Scott Walker - It’s Raining Today Isaac Albeniz - Suite espanola no. 1, Op.47; III. Sevilla [Julian Bream] John Adams - Saxophone Concerto; II. Molto vivo: a hard, driving pulse [Timothy McAllister (sax), St Louis Symphony, David Robertson] Elis Regina & Antônio Carlos Jobim - Águas de março Johann Sebastian Bach – O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht Motet, BWV 118 [English Baroque Soloists, The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner]

Jess Gillam with... Magdalena Hoffman Jun 06, 2022

Jess Gillam and harpist Magdalena Hoffman meet online to share the music they love, with the revolutionary sound of Gil Scott-Heron, Portico Quartet, Nino Rota, Schumann and Esperanza Spalding.

Playlist: Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Handel - Keyboard Suite No 1 (Set II) in B-flat Major, HWV 434 (trans. Wilhelm Kempff) - Roberto Cominati (piano) Schumann - Szenen aus Goethes Faust , WoO 3. Pt. VII Hier ist die Aussicht frei - Christian Gerhaher and BRSO Nino Rota - Trio for Flute, Violin and Piano; I. Allegro ma non troppo - Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Eric Le Sage (piano) Esperanza Spalding - Lest We Forget (blood) Charles-Valentin Alkan – 13 Prieres, Op. 64; No. 11. Andantino - Olivier Latry (organ) Portico Quartet - Youth Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 E-Flat Major Op. 100 II. Andante (Trio Wanderer)

Jess Gillam with... Alison Balsom at the Hay Festival Jun 06, 2022

Jess Gillam and trumpeter Alison Balsom are joined by a live audience at The Hay Festival to have a listening party of some of the music they love the most. Alison brings along one of their most beautiful tunes and outs herself as a Queen superfan, then shares the Miles Davis tune that brings her most joy. Meanwhile Jess shares an absolute banger by Piazzolla, an epic sax solo by Rachmaninov and a breathtaking performance by Nina Simone.

Playlist:

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto no.4 - 1st mvt (English Concert, Trevor Pinnock) DAVID BOWIE: Dollar Days (from Blackstar) MILES DAVIS: If I Were a Bell (Miles Davis Quintet) RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op. 45 - No.1 {Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin) PIAZZOLLA: Histoire du Tango: Night Club 1960 (Astoria) QUEEN: Love of my Life (from A Night at the Opera) NINA SIMONE: Stars (Live at the Montreux Jazz festival) STRAVINSKY: The Firebird - finale (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle)

Jess Gillam with... Charlotte Politi May 21, 2022

Jess chats with conductor Charlotte Politi about the music they both love, with a ballet by Tchaikovsky, an opera by Mozart, Isobel Waller-Bridge's Illuminations and a classic by The Supremes.

Playlist: Khachaturian – Masquerade – Ballet Suite: 1. Waltz [London Symphony Orchestra, Stanley Black] Mozart - Così fan tutte: 'Soave sia il vento' [Véronique Gens (soloist), Pietro Spagnoli (soloist), Bernarda Fink (soloist), Concerto Köln, René Jacobs] Isobel Waller-Bridge - Illuminations Billie Holiday - Blue Moon Modest Mussorgsky - A Night On The Bare Mountain [Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado] Rameau - Les Indes Galantes Ouverture [Jordi Savall, Le Concert Des Nations] The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On Tchaikovsky – Sleeping Beauty, Op.66: No. 29c Adagio [The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Mark Ermler]

Jess Gillam with... Kunal Lahiry May 16, 2022

Jess Gillam and pianist Kunal Lahiry have a listening party of tracks they love, including a seminal teenage memory involving Tori Amos, a Nirvana cover and an apple martini. Plus tracks by Orlando Weeks, epic choral music by Brahms and Yo-Yo Ma playing one of the most beautiful melodies ever written, Dvorak's Song to the Moon

Jess Gillam with... Benjamin Appl Apr 23, 2022

Jess Gillam and baritone Benjamin Appl share music they love - including tracks by Barbra Streisand and Thom Yorke, the tune of all tunes from Tchaikovsky violin concerto, a heartbreaker by Marlene Dietrich and Ben reveals his majestic side with a choral banger that he always takes on planes...

Jess Gillam with... Amalie Stalheim Apr 16, 2022

Jess Gillam and cellist Amalie Stalheim share the music they love, including the soundtrack to Amalie's teenage years, two very different lullabies and a 'feel-good' sonata.

Playlist: Shostakovich - Jazz Suite No 2 - Dance 2 [Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky] Björk- Army of Me Mendelssohn – Cello Sonata No.2 in D Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro assai vivace [Steven Isserlis - cello, Melvyn Tan - piano] Joesef - Comedown Josef Suk - Serenade for Strings in E-flat major, Op. 6: IV. Allegro [Vienna Philharmonic, Clemens Krauss] Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime Icelandic Folk Song - Sleep for Mama (Vikingur Olafsson - piano) Fredrik Lindborg - Danny’s Dream

Jess Gillam with... Jakub Josef Orlinski Apr 09, 2022

Jess Gillam and countertenor Jakub Josef Orlinski share some of the music they love, including saxophone music by John Harle, Andreas Scholl singing Handel, a slice of feelgood from Gregory Porter and some Polish rap from O.S.T.R.

Plus Jakub shares how he ended up becoming one of the world's biggest countertenors by drawing straws in his choir (and losing) and how his past as a skateboarder and breakdancer influenced the music he loves

Playlist: Gregory Porter - Everything You Touch is Gold John Harle - The Interpretation of Dreams [John Harle (sax), Doric Quartet, Sarah Leonard (voice)] O.S.T.R. - O robieniu bitów Aleksander Debicz - Recipe [Aleksander Debicz (piano), Lukasz Kuropaczewski (guitar)] Air - Playground Love Handel - Dove sei (from Rodelinda) [Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin] Joy Crookes - When You Were Mine

Jess Gillam with... Ella Jarman-Pinto Apr 03, 2022

Jess Gillam and composer Ella Jarman-Pinto share the music they love, with life-affirming tunes from Anna Meredith, Flora Purim and Jungle. Beauty in simplicity from Howard Skempton and Luke Howard, fire passion and grit from Elizabeth Maconchy and a little moment of comfort from Johann Christian Bach.

Playlist: Anna Meredith – Sawbones Johann Christian Bach – Sonata No.5 in A Major, Op. 17, No. 5: I. Allegro [Daniil Trifonov, piano] Elizabeth Maconchy - Quartet for strings no. 1, 1st movement; Allegro feroce [Hanson String Quartet] Jungle - Keep Moving Howard Skempton - Lento [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mark Wigglesworth] Alberto Iglesias - Los Vestidos Desgarrados Flora Purim – This Is Me Luke Howard - Portrait Gallery

Jess Gillam with... Esther Abrami Mar 28, 2022

Jess Gillam and violinist Esther Abrami swap playlists, including a French-inspired movie score by Rachel Portman, Paris meets Beirut in jazz form by trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, a gorgeous Motown tribute to Otis Redding, and a classic French chanson reimagined by the one and only Jarvis Cocker.

Playlist:

Jonny Greenwood - House of Woodcock (from the Phantom Threads OST)

Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64 - 2nd mvt [Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz (conductor)]

Jarvis Cocker - Aline

Faure - Chanson d'amour, op.27 no.1 [Barbara Bonney (soprano), Warren Jones (piano)]

William Bell - Tribute to a King

Rachel Portman - Main title from 'Chocolat'

Christian Sinding - Rustle of Spring, op.32 no.3 [Christian Ihle Hadland (piano)]

Ibrahim Maalouf - Lily will Soon Be a Woman (live)

Jess Gillam with... Edgar Moreau Mar 26, 2022

Jess Gillam and cellist Edgar Moreau share some of the music they love, with shimmering piano pieces by Debussy and Rachmaninov, and epic emotion from Serge Reggiani and Dusty Springfield. Abdullah Ibrahim is playing the soprano saxophone and Edgar takes us back to his very first orchestral experience with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

Playlist: Debussy - Suite bergamasque for piano: Clair de lune Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Offenbach - Harmonies des bois, Op. 76; No. 3 Les Larmes de Jacqueline Mischa Maisky (cello), Dania Hovora (piano)

Abdullah Ibrahim - Ishmael Abdullah Ibrahim (soprano saxophone), Cecil McBee (double bass), Roy Brooks (drums)

Serge Reggiani - Ma fille

Bremer/McCoy - Ordet

Rachmaninov - Suite No 1 op 5 Fantaisie Tableaux, Barcarolle Martha Argerich, Alexandre Rabinovitch (piano)

Dusty Springfield – You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64; II. Andante cantabile… Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko

Jess Gillam with... Anna Meredith Mar 05, 2022

In a special show for International Women's Day, Jess sits down with composer Anna Meredith to share some of their favourite tracks by female artists - from lush strings by Bjork and Hildur Guðnadóttir via heartbreakers from FKA Twigs and the Shirelles, to a brand new banger by composer/producer Carmel Smickersgill

Playlist

Bjork: Stonemilker Meredith Monk: Ellis Island FKA Twigs: cellophane Hildur Guðnadóttir: Folk faer andlit Carmel Smickersgill: Thinking Louise Farrenc: Nonet, op.38 - 3rd mvt (Consortium Classicum) Emily Hall: Eternity (Olivia Chaney) The Shirelles: Will you Still Love me Tomorrow

Jess Gillam with... Joseph Havlat Mar 04, 2022

Jess Gillam swaps mixtapes with pianist and composer Joseph Havlat, with tracks by Nick Drake and Mike Oldfield, a Romantic classic by Tchaikovsky and a toe tapping early folk tune.

Playlist:

Trad - Kathryn Oggie [Baltimore Consort] Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture [Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov (conductor)] Nigel Westlake - Shards of Jaisalmer [Grigoryan Brothers] Nick Drake - Saturday Sun Mike Oldfield - Incantations (pt 4) Punch Brothers - All Ashore Schumann - Traumerei, op.15 no.7 [Martha Argerich (piano)] The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

Jess Gillam with... Laufey Feb 12, 2022

Jess swaps favourite tracks with singer, songwriter and cellist Laufey, from silky jazz piano from Bill Evans and virtuosic fireworks in Sibelius Violin Concerto to Joe Cocker covering The Beatles.

Playlist: Bill Evans - Like Someone in Love Shara Worden - From the Invisible to the Visible Ravel - Pavane pour un enfant defunte (Louis Lortie (piano)) Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends Sibelius - Violin Concerto, 3rd mvt (Hilary Hahn (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa‐Pekka Salonen (conductor)) Chet Baker - While My Lady Sleeps Shostakovich - Cello Concerto, 1st mvt (Sol Gabetta (cello), Munich Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel (conductor)) Tsegue Maryam Guebrou – Homesickness, pt 2

Jess Gillam with... Sebastian Plano Feb 07, 2022

Jess Gillam talks to Argentinian composer Sebastian Plano about the music they love, including Villa-Lobos and an army of cellos taking on Bach, synth wizard Vangelis conjuring up the sound of Antarctica, the soulful voices of Mercedes Sosa and Lianne La Havas, plus a real tearjerker from Elgar.

Playlist: Rossini - William Tell – Overture [Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan] Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar Ryuichi Sakamoto - Amore Vangelis - Theme from Antarctica Jóhann Jóhannsson - Flight from the City Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No.1. Introduction Lianne La Havas - Bittersweet Elgar - Variations on an original theme, Op 36 “Enigma”: 9 Nimrod (Adagio) [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam with... Jamie Phillips Jan 29, 2022

Jess is joined this week by the conductor Jamie Phillips. They share some of their favourite tracks and musical discoveries, including Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto, a jazz arrangement of Holst's The Planets, elegiac piano music by Busoni and a track by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.

Jess Gillam with... Lucie Horsch Jan 22, 2022

Jess Gillam talks to recorder player Lucie Horsch about the music they love including the warm vocal tones of Omara Portuondo, some speaker shaking bass from Mark Guiliana, an early choral classic from Faure and masterful film music from Bernstein and Hans Zimmer.

Playlist: Bernstein – West Side Story: Overture [Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story Orchestra, Johnny Green] Omara Portuondo – La sitiera (Rafael Lopez) Mark Guiliana - Bud Schubert – 4 Impromptus Op.142, D.935: No.4 in F minor: Allegro scherzando [Andras Schiff, piano] Faure - Cantique de Jean Racine [City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier] Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes Hans Zimmer - Matera from 'No Time To Die' Handel – Theodora - oratorio in 3 acts: Act 1 sc.4; As with rosy steps the morn [Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo-soprano), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Harry Bicket]

Jess Gillam with... Oliver Zeffman Jan 15, 2022

Jess Gillam is joined by the conductor Oliver Zeffman to share some of the music they love. Including a rare and beautiful song by Tchaikovsky, a banging tune by Lizzo, plus possibly THE greatest ending in all of music with Mahler’s 8th Symphony.

Playlist: Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21, in C Major, K. 467; II. Andante [Mitsuko Uchida (piano), English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate] Alex Baranowski - Constellations Lizzo - Good as Hell Pauline Oliveros – The Beauty of Sorrow [extract] Jordan Rakei - Brace Tchaikovsky - None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, TH 93, No. 6 [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Ivari Ilja (piano)] Abdullah Ibrahim - Maraba Blue Mahler - Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major – ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ Part 2: Finale [Leonard Bernstein, The London Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Festival Chorus]

Jess Gillam with... Eimear Noone Jan 08, 2022

Conductor and composer Eimear Noone is best known for her film and video game scores - she joins Jess Gillam to swap mixtapes and together they get swept away with a vintage Beethoven recording, dream of Orkney with Erland Cooper and get revved up with AC/DC.

Jess Gillam with... Nicky Spence (Mr Christmas) Dec 18, 2021

Jess Gillam and tenor Nicky Spence don their Christmas jumpers to share their favourite seasonal music, from Jon Vickers singing Handel to Joni Mitchell, and from Vivaldi's Winter to joyful harmonies from Pentatonix.

Playlist: Trad. Jingle Bells - Ella Fitzgerald Trad. arr. Ola Gjeilo - The Coventry Carol (Choir of Royal Holloway) Yma Sumac - Malambo No.1 Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Overture & Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy (Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev conductor) R Strauss - Weihnachtsgefuhl (Edita Gruberova) Vivaldi - Concerto No.4 in F minor RV297 ‘Winter’ (Henning Kraggerud violin, Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra) Mervyn Warren - Joyful, Joyful (Pentatonix) Handel - Messiah, Part 1: Comfort ye, my people; Every valley (Jon Vickers tenor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham conductor) Joni Mitchell - River

Jess Gillam with... Felix Klieser Dec 11, 2021

Jess Gillam and horn player Felix Klieser share the music they love, with some sumptuous early Prokofiev, Kate Bush, Sidney Bechet, Piazzolla and Sting.

Playlist: Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major, K. 495; III. Rondo, Allegro vivace [Hermann Baumann (horn), Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pinchas Zukermann] Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Verano Porteno The Police - Every Breath You Take Prokofiev - Autumnal Sketch [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits] Kate Bush - Pi Sidney Bechet - Petite Fleur Saint-Saens - Romance in F major, Op. 36 R. 195 [Mischa Maisky (cello), Orpheus Chamber Orchestra] Olafur Arnalds - Respite

Jess Gillam with... Erland Cooper Dec 04, 2021

Jess Gillam chats to composer Erland Cooper about the music they love, with music by Peter Maxwell Davies, The Pixies, Florence Price and Boards of Canada.

Playlist: Ravel - Le Tombeau de Couperin; I. Prelude [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez] Boards of Canada - Zoetrope CPE Bach - Sonata In A Minor For Oboe Solo Wq. 132: I Poco Adagio [Branford Marsalis] Ennio Morricone - Se telefonando [Mina] Florence Price - Adoration [Randall Goosby] Peter Maxwell Davies - Farewell to Stromness The Pixies - Where is my Mind? Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending [Daniel Pioro]

Jess Gillam with... Samuele Telari Nov 29, 2021

Jess Gillam and accordionist Samuele Telari swap mixtapes and chat about the music they love, including accordion music by Piazzolla, Satie on the guitar, traditional Italian song and classic David Bowie.

Jess Gillam with... Eydís Evensen Nov 20, 2021

Jess Gillam and composer Eydís Evensen share the music they love, with music from Rachmaninov, Sigur Rós, Christine Southworth and Minnie Riperton.

Jess Gillam with... Bruno Philippe Nov 06, 2021

Jess Gillam and the French cellist Bruno Philippe share some of their favourite music, including movements from Schubert's final string quartet and Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Sixth Symphony, tracks by Amy Winehouse and Alex Turner, and music by Lera Auerbach and John Ireland.

Playlist: Puccini - Overture from Madame Butterfly [Orchestra Dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Alberto Erede] De Visee - Sarabande from Pieces for lute, Suite No.7 [Thomas Dunford, Jean Rondeau] Amy Winehouse - Back to Black Lera Auerbach - T'filah (Prayer) for solo violin [Vadim Glutzman] Schubert - String Quartet No.15 in G, 1st movement [Hagen Quartet] John Ireland - Fantasy Sonata [Michael Collins, Michael McHale] Alex Turner - Piledriver waltz Beethoven - Symphony No.6 in F major 'Pastoral', final movement [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti]

Jess Gillam with... Mari Samuelsen Oct 30, 2021

Jess Gillam and violinist Mari Samuelsen share the music they love, including Gershwin, Nick Cave, Hannah Peel, Huw Watkins and Queen!

Playlist: Gershwin – Walking the dog (Promenade) from Shall we Dance [Los Angeles Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas] John Bennet – Weep, O Mine Eyes [Attacca Quartet] Nick Cave – Push The Sky Away Hannah Peel – Emergence In Nature Huw Watkins – Flute Concerto; III. Allegro Molto [Adam Walker (flute), Halle, Ryan Wigglesworth] Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now Korngold – Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35; I. Moderato nobile [Nicola Benedetti, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits] Vivaldi / Max Richter – Recomposed, Vivaldi The Four Seasons; Spring 3 [Daniel Hope (violin), Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin, André de Ridder]

Jess Gillam with... Carlos Simon Oct 16, 2021

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Carlos Simon to share the music they love including the Philip Glass opera Akhnaten, Quincy Jones' Happy Feet, Gabriela Lena Frank, Earth Wind and Fire and a cracking tune from Sibelius.

Playlist: Philip Glass - Funeral of Amenhotep (from Akhnaten) [Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Karen Kamensek, Zachary James] Bach - Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No.3 in E Major, BWV 1016; 3rd movement [Renaud Capuçon (violin), David Fray (piano)] Quincy Jones - Happy Feet (from the movie Walk, Don’t Run) Traditional – The Butcher's Boy [Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant] Gabriela Lena Frank - Leyendas, “An Andean Walkabout” - mvt. 2 Tarqueada [Chiara Quartet] Fanny Mendelssohn - Das Jahr - June [Liana Serbescu (piano)] Earth Wind and Fire - Can’t Let Go Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43; 2nd Movement [New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam with... Claire M Singer Oct 09, 2021

Jess Gillam and composer Claire M Singer share the music they love, with music from Meredith Monk, Telemann, Lee Scratch Perry, Schnittke and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Playlist: Meredith Monk – The Games: Spaceship (Arr. M Gordon for Chamber Ensemble) [Bang On A Can All-Stars] Telemann – Sonata TWV 41:f1 in F minor; I. Triste [Frans Bruggen (recorder), Anner Bylsma (cello) Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)] Lee Scratch Perry – Blackboard Jungle Dub Miklos Rozsa - Spellbound [LSO, John Williams] Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Storm (Excerpt) Eydis Evensen - Brotin Alfred Schnittke – Requiem aeternam [Eric Ericsons Kammarkör, Radiokören, Conductor – Tõnu Kaljuste] Eric Whitacre – October [Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Band, Stephen Gage]

Jess Gillam with... Gabriella Swallow Oct 02, 2021

Jess Gillam and cellist Gabriella Swallow share the music they love including Scott Walker's Sleepwalkers Woman, Barbara Hendricks singing Britten, electricity and fire from CPE Bach, love and longing from Carole King and Stravinsky is at The Fair.

Playlist: Stravinsky – Petrushka First Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair [Concertgebouw, Riccardo Chailly] Chilly Gonzales - Overnight Benjamin Britten – Les Illuminations, Op. 18 IX. Depart [Barbara Hendricks, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis] Alfa Mist - Mulago John Adams – Shaker Loops IV. A Final Shaking [Orchestra Of St. Luke's, John Adams] Carole King – So Far Away CPE Bach: Flute Concerto in A minor, Wq.166, H.431 1. Allegro Assai [Emmanuel Pahud, Kammerakademie Potsdam, Trevor Pinnock] Scott Walker – Sleepwalkers Woman

Jess Gillam with... Jacob Mühlrad Sep 27, 2021

Jess Gillam and composer Jacob Mühlrad share the music they love. Jacob introduces us to the music of Sven-David Sandström and a glistening re-mix of Josin by Kiasmos. We have some passionate tango performed by Nicola Benedetti and friends, a landscape of sound from John Cage and Missy Mizzoli tells the story of Isabelle Eberhardt. Plus some early Mahler, unfinished Schubert AND a meeting of musical magic with Chris Thile and Brad Meldhau.

Playlist:

Carlos Gardel - Por Una Cabeza (Arr. John Lenehan) - Nicola Benedetti (violin), Ksenija Sidorova (accordion), Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Leonard Elschenbroich (piano), Alexander Sitkovesky (violin) John Cage – In a landscape (Alexei Lubimov - piano Chris Thile, Brad Meldhau - Tabhair dom do Lamh Mahler – Piano Quartet in A minor - Gidon Kremer (violin), Veronika Hagen (viola), Clemens Hagen (cello), Oleg Maisenberg (piano) Missy Mizzoli – Song From the Uproar: Overture - Abigail Fischer (mezzo), NOW Ensemble, Steven Osgood Josin – Company (Kiasmos Remix) Sven-David Sandström - Agnus Die - Swedish Radio Choir, Peter Dijkstra Schubert - Symphony no. 8 (D.759) in B minor "Unfinished", 1: Allegro moderato - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber

Jess Gillam with... George Harliono Sep 18, 2021

Jess Gillam and pianist George Harliono share the music they love. George introduces us to the fascinating world of Soviet composer Mikael Tariverdiev as well as Bobby Hebb's joyous dedication to his brother 'Sunny'. Missy Mazzoli writes a chorus inspired by Sardinian folk music and Itzhak Perlman lovingly performs Elgar's Salut d'amour. Plus we'll hear heart-wrenching music from Anthony and the Johnsons and Saint-Saëns PLUS Dvořák's playful piano quintet.

Playlist: Antonín Dvořák - Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 81 (3rd mvt) (Andreas Haefliger - piano, Takács Quartet) Missy Mazzoli - Vesper Sparrow (Roomful of Teeth) Mikael Tariverdiev - Prelude from 17 moments of Spring (Mikael Tariverdiev - piano) Edward Elgar - Salut d’amour (Itzhak Perlman - violin, Samuel Sanders - piano) Bobby Hebb – Sunny Jean Sibelius - Andante Festivo (Gothenburg Symphony, Neeme Jarvi - conductor) Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There’s Someone Camille Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, Act II: Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix (Anita Rachvelishvili - soprano, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI, Giacomo Sagripanti - conductor)

Jess Gillam with... Sheku Kanneh-Mason Aug 28, 2021

Ahead of his performance at the 2023 Final Night of the Proms, revisit cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason's chat with Jess Gillam as they share the music they love. First aired August 2021

Mozart takes us to heavenly plains with his Great Mass, Leroy Anderson plays a typewriter, Max Richter sends us to sleep and we'll hear some heart-wrenching cello playing from Jacqueline du Pré in Dvorak's Silent Woods. Plus Jess and Sheku discuss the iconic voices of legends Bob Marley and Nina Simone.

Playlist: Dvořák - Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, Op. 68 No. 5 (Jacqueline du Pré - cello, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim - conductor) Sam Cooke – Falling in Love Mozart - Mass in C minor, K427 'Great' – Kyrie (Barbara Bonney - soprano, Berlin Radio Choir, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado - conductor) Margaret Bonds – Troubled Water (Samantha Ege - piano) Leroy Anderson – The Typewriter (Eastman Rochester Pops Orchestra, Frederick Fennell) Bob Marley & The Wailers – African Herbsman Max Richter – Dream 1 Nina Simone – I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free (Nina Simone - vocals/piano, Studio Orchestra, Sammy Lowe - conductor)

Jess Gillam with... Jonathan Bloxham Aug 21, 2021

Jess Gillam and conductor Jonathan Bloxham share the music they love. With a beautifully pensive tango from Piazzolla, Curtis Mayfield's life-affirming song 'Move on Up' and court jesters and curses from Verdi. Also, Anna Clyne is inspired by Persian poetry, Nick Drake sings about growing up and Haydn keeps to time.

Playlist: Haydn - Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock' - finale (Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado - conductor) Piazzolla – Oblivion (Gidon Kremer - violin, Per Arne Glorvigen - bandoneon, Alois Posch - double bass, Vadim Sakharov - piano) Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up Anna Clyne – DANCE: I. when you're broken open (Inbal Segev - cello, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop - conductor) Verdi – “Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata” - Rigoletto, Act 2 (Sherrill Milnes - baritone, Rigoletto, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge - conductor) Nick Drake – Place to Be Brahms - Piano Trio, Op. 8 in B - 1st mvt, Allegro con brio (Jascha Heifetz - violin, Arthur Rubinstein - piano, Emanuel Feuermann - cello) Michael Nyman – Water Dances - Stroking… Syncronizing (Michael Nyman Band)

Jess Gillam with... Courtenay Cleary Aug 11, 2021

Jess Gillam joins up with the Australian violinist Courtenay Cleary to share some of their favourite music, including an iconic work by Richard Strauss, a highly charged Janacek String Quartet, a spellbinding farewell from David Bowie, kaleidoscopic Australian jazz-funk and a special gift from the Aurora Orchestra.

Playlist: R. Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic) Janacek - String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" (Emersen String Quartet) David Bowie - Lazarus Arvo Part - Fratres (Ursula Schoch, Marcel Worms) Marcello - Oboe Concerto in D Minor (Heinz Holliger, I Musici) Hiatus Kaiyote - Nakamarra Scriabin - Piano Sonata No.5 in F Sharp Major (Vladimir Ashkenazy) Barber - Sure On This Shining Night (Allan Clayton with Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon)

Jess Gillam with... Tom Weaver Jul 31, 2021

Jess Gillam joins up with American pianist Tom Weaver to share some of their favourite music, including Dvorak's Eighth Symphony, a virtuosic Vivaldi violin concerto played on the trumpet, an energetic tango by Piazzolla, plus tracks from Aerosmith and Electric Light Orchestra.

Playlist: Dvorak – Symphony No.8, 3rd movement (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion (from Toys in the Attic) Piazzolla – Night Club 1960 (from Histoire du Tango) (Astoria) Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in A minor (arr. trumpet) (Alison Balsom, Scottish Ensemble) Mahler – Das Lied von der Erde, 1st movement; Das Trinklied vom jammer der Erde (Jonas Kaufmann, Jonathan Nott, Vienna Philharmonic) George Walker – Hoopla (A Touch of Glee) (Sinfonia Varsova, Ian Hobson) Electric Light Orchestra – The Whale (from Out of the Blue) JS Bach – Fugue in D# minor, BWV 853 (from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1) (Edward Aldwell, piano)

Jess Gillam with... Bridget Kibbey Jul 24, 2021

Jess Gillam and harpist Bridget Kibbey share the music they love. Greek saxophonist Alegros Gramma takes us to Morocco while Chick Corea is in Spain. Sol Gabetta plays Haydn, Martha Argerich plays Ravel plus we hear Sophie Hutchings, Portishead, Rachmaninov AND Beethoven's iconic fifth Symphony.

Playlist: Beethoven – Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67; I. Allegro con brio (London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati) Sophie Hutchings - Elysian Days Alegros Gramma – Mousaka Bari Bari (Traditional Gnawa) Haydn – Concerto no. 1 in C major H.7b.1; III. Allegro molto (Sol Gabetta (cello), Kammerorchester Basel, Sergio Ciomei) Portishead – Roads Ravel – Jeux d’eau, M.30 (Martha Argerich - piano) Chick Corea - Spain Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2 In C minor Op.18; II. Adagio sostenuto (Vladimir Ashkenazy - piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn)

Jess Gillam with... Toby Young Jul 17, 2021

Jess Gillam chats to composer and producer Toby Young about the music they love. With sparkling chamber music by Paul Hindemith, a heartbreakling aria by Henry Purcell, plus we'll dip into Motown with the Four Tops and spend some time with glorious choral music from Carlo Gesualdo.

Playlist:

Carlo Gesualdo – Ecce vidimus eum, Responsories from 1st Nocturn (The King's Singers) Four Tops - Bernadette Paul Hindemith - Kammermusik Op.24 No.1 for 12 instruments (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly) Henry Purcell - When I am laid in earth, from Act III of Dido and Aeneas (Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev) Tigran Hamasyan – Ancient Observer Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma – Your Coffee is a Disaster Keeno – Nocturne Giuseppe Verdi - Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore (Choir and Orchestra of la Scala, Milan, Riccardo Muti)

Jess Gillam with... Zeynep Özsuca Jun 26, 2021

Jess Gillam and pianist Zeynep Özsuca talk about the music they love. With music by Robert Schumann, Handel, Stevie Wonder and Woodkid.

Playlist: Robert Schumann - Piano Quintet in E flat Major, Op.44; I. Allegro brillante (Jerusalem Quartet and Alexander Melnikov) Woodkid - Iron Brahms - Symphony no. 3 (Op.90) in F major, 3rd movement; Poco allegretto (Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Daniel Harding) Joby Talbot - Ink Dark Moon; III. Allegro vigoroso (Milos, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ben Gernon) Stevie Wonder - Ebony Eyes Bach - Prelude and Fugue in E minor from Book 1 No. 10 BWV 855 (András Schiff) Handel - Rinaldo, HWV 7a / Act 2 "Lascia ch'io pianga" (Magdalena Kozena, Venice Baroque Orchestra, conductor Andrea Marcon) Ferde Grofe - Grand Canyon Suite: Sunset (Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Felix Slatkin)

Jess Gillam with... AyseDeniz Gokcin Jun 19, 2021

Jess Gillam is joined by composer and pianist AyseDeniz Gokcin to share the music they love. With passionate and romantic music by Rachmaninov, Chopin and Brahms, the celestial and other worldly sounds of Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral and Max Richter’s Journey CP1919, plus the powerful empowering force that is Beyonce.

Jess Gillam with...William Thomas Jun 15, 2021

Jess Gillam and opera singer William Thomas share the music that love, from Bach to Billy Joel.

Today we played:

Oscar Peterson – C Jam Blues (Oscar Peterson (Piano), Ray Brown (Double Bass), Ed Thigpen (Drums)) Bernstein – Rumble From West Side Story (Studio Orchestra, Johhny Green) Bach – Ich Habe Genug Bwv 82 No.1 : Aria ‘Ich Habe Genug‘ (Hans Hotter (Bass-Baritone), Geraint Jones (Organ), Sidney Sutcliffe (Oboe), Philharmonia Orchestra, Anthony Bernard) Nitin Sawney – Broken Skin Elgar – Symphony No. 1 In A Flat Op. 55 3rd Mvt Adagio (Sir George Solti, London Philharmonic Orchestra) Michael Nyman - Chasing Sheep Best Left To Shepherds (Michael Nyman Band) Billy Joel – And So It Goes Eric Whitacre – The Seal Lullaby (The Eric Whitacre Singers)

Jess Gillam with... Eve-Marie Caravassilis Jun 09, 2021

Jess Gillam talks to cellist Eve-Marie Caravassilis about the music that the love, from Handel to Gnarls Barkley.

Today we played:

Handel: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a "Tu del Ciel ministro eletto" (Julia Lezhneva (soprano), Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini) Max Richter: moth-like stars Pt. 14 (Max Richter (piano), Ben Russell (violin), Yuki Numata (violin), Caleb Burhans (viola), Clarice Jensen (cello), Brian Snow (cello)) Rodriguez: Crucify your mind Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 oboes in D minor RV 535 (John Abberger and Washington McClain (oboes), Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon) Josephine Baker: J’ai deux amours Gnarls Barkley: Crazy Dvorak: Rondo Op. 94 (Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), BBC SO, Jiri Belohlavek)

Jess Gillam with... Anna Tsybuleva May 29, 2021

Jess Gillam and pianist Anna Tsybuleva talk about the music they love - with works by Vivaldi, Led Zeppelin, Beethoven and Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Jess Gillam with... Martin Kohlstedt May 22, 2021

Jess Gillam talks to composer and pianist Martin Kohlstedt about the music they love - with music from Bartók, Radiohead, Chopin and Dusty Springfield.

Today we played...

George Walker – Lyric for Strings (London Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman) Natureboy Flako - Gelis Caroline Shaw – Its Motion Keeps (Caroline Shaw, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun Menaker) Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (Arthur Rubinstein) Dusty Springfield – The Look of Love John Tavener – Funeral Canticle (The Academy of Ancient Music, Paul Goodwin) Radiohead – Codex Béla Bartók - Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119, 2nd mvt - Andante Religioso (Géza Anda, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay)

Jess Gillam with...Jess Dandy May 19, 2021

Jess Gillam talks to contralto Jess Dandy about the music they love, from Wagner to The Waterboys and including folk music from Ireland and Argentina.

Today we played...

Wagner - Gotterdammerung, WWV 86D / Act 3: Fliegt heim, ihr Raben! (Birgit Nilsson, Gottlob Frick, Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti) Ibert - The Deserted House (Peter Katin) Mercedes Sosa - Gracias A La Vida Frank Waxman A Place in the Sun – Suite (London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams) Lankum - The Wild Rover Göran Fröst - (Martin Fröst, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra) Deep Listening Band - Lear (Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, Panaiotis) The Waterboys - The Whole of the Moon

Jess Gillam with...Poppy Ackroyd May 18, 2021

Jess Gillam is joined by composer, pianist, and violinist Poppy Ackroyd to share the music they love, including Debussy, Brad Mehldau and Radiohead.

This we we played... Debussy –Jardins sous la pluie (Jean-Yves Thibaudet) Brad Medlhau – When it Rains Origamibiro - Vitreous detachment Prokofiev – Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major Op.19: II. Scherzo: Vivacissimo (Hilary Hahn, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franc) Schubert - String Quintet in C Major, D.956; II. Adagio (Quatuor Ebene, Gautier Capucon) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On John Williams – Hedwig’s Theme (London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams) Radiohead – Reckoner

Jess Gillam with... Benson Wilson May 18, 2021

Jess Gillam and baritone Benson Wilson share the music they love, including the voices of Johnny Mathis, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Samoan gospel singer Lani Alo.

Today we played…

Copland – Appalachian Spring: Allegro (Leonard Bernstein, New York Phil) Erroll Garner - Misty (Johnny Mathis) Pulp – Common People Verdi – Don Carlos: "O Carlo, ascolta" from Act IV Scene 2 (Dmitri Hvorostovsky, BBC Welsh SO, Richard Armstrong, recorded at 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World final) Interpol – Untitled (from Turn on the Bright Lights) John Rutter – What sweeter music (Choir of King’s College Cambridge Stephen Cleobury, Robert Quinney (organ) Lani Alo – Alo i ou faiva (Lani Alo and Livingston Efu) Poulenc – Double Piano Concerto in D Minor: III. Finale (Mischa Cheung and Yulia Miloslavaskaya (pianos), Giraud Ensemble Chamber Orchestra, Sergey Simakov)

Jess Gillam with... Rosey Chan May 08, 2021

Jess Gillam talks to pianist and composer Rosey Chan about the music that they love, including Mahler, Miles Davis and Eurythmics.

Today we played:

Vivaldi – Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727; ‘Se in ogni guardo’ (Philippe Jaroussky, Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi) Mahler - Totenfeier (OAE, Vladimir Jurowski) Miles Davis/Bill Evans - Blue in Green (Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb) Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Francaix - Petit Quartour 1. Gaguenardise (John Harle, Glenn Martin, David Roach, Andrew Findon) Samthing Soweto (feat. Mzansi Youth Choir) – The Danko! Medley Chopin - Nocturne for piano (Op.posth) in C sharp minor [1830] (Vladimir Ashkenazy) Mozart - String quartet No.19 K465 “Dissonance”; 1. Adagio – Allegro (Emerson String Quartet)

Jess Gillam with... Ryan Bancroft Apr 17, 2021

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Ryan Bancroft to share the music they love, with music by Debussy, Aruna Sairam, Caroline Shaw, Joby Talbot and Massive Attack plus a warm hug from Beethoven.

Playlist: Debussy - Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (Orchestra National de la RTF, Constantin Silvestri) Joby Talbot - Once around the sun; January - A Yellow Disc Rising from the Sea Aruna Sairam – Tillana, Kalinga Nardhanam Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy Leos Janacek – Taras Bulba; 1. The Death of Andri (Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras) Nina Simone – Strange Fruit Caroline Shaw – Entr’acte (Attacca Quartet) Beethoven - Emperor Piano Concerto no.5; II. adagio (Murray Perahia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink)

Jess Gillam with... Tom Donald Apr 03, 2021

Jess Gillam is joined by composer and pianist Tom Donald to swap tracks they love, including music by Keith Jarrett, Schumann, Stravinsky, big dog little dog and Elton John.

Playlist:

Keith Jarrett - Book of Ways 4 Igor Stravinsky - Infernal Dance from The Firebird (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons) Gustav Mahler - Symphony No 3 in D minor - Part 2 (4th mvt) (Christa Ludwig / New York Philharmonic / Leonard Bernstein) J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Aria (Murray Perahia) Ross Edwards - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1st mvt) (Dennis Hennig / Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman) big dog little dog - Panorama Elton John - Idol Robert Schumann - Concert Piece for 4 Horns & Orchestra, Op 86 (1st mvt) (Markus Maskuniitty / Martin Schöpfer / Kristofer Öberg / Mónica Berenguer Caro / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Sakari Oramo)

Jess Gillam with... Alexandra Oomens Mar 08, 2021

Jess Gillam and soprano Alexandra Oomens share the music they love, including Handel, Janacek and Marilyn Monroe.

Today we listened to...

Handel – Guilio Cesare: Act 3; Da Tempeste (Amanda Forsythe, Apollo’s Fire, Jeanette Sorrell) Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now Elena Kats-Chernin - Memorial Rag (Gondwana Voices, Lyn Williams) Janacek – Glagolitic Mass: VIII. Intrada (CBSO, Simon Rattle) Andrew Bird – Pulaski at Night Philip Glass – Glassworks: I. Opening (Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman) Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby, lyrics by Bert Kalmar – I wanna be loved by you (Marilyn Monroe, Matty Malneck and His Orchestra) Tchaikovsky – Piano Concert No. 1: 1st mvt Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito (Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado)

Jess Gillam with... Sasha Scott Feb 27, 2021

Jess Gillam and composer and violinist Sasha Scott share the music they love, including Vivaldi, Ligeti, Henriette Renié, and The Prodigy. Sasha Scott was one of the Senior Category winners in the BBC Young Composer 2019 competition.

Playlist:

Witold Lutosławski – Symphony No 4 (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit) Francis Poulenc – Flute Sonata FP 164 (1st mvt) (Emmanuel Pahud / Éric Le Sage) The Prodigy – Out of Space Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons: Winter (1st mvt) (Pekka Kuusisto / Virtuosi di Kuhmo) György Ligeti – Sonata for Solo Cello (1st mvt) (Miklós Perényi) Henriette Renié – Harp Concerto in C minor (1st mvt) (Emmanuel Ceysson / Orchestre Régional Avignon Provence / Samuel Jean) Brahms – Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat, Op 83 (1st mvt) (Krystian Zimerman / Wiener Philharmoniker / Leonard Bernstein) Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again

Jess Gillam with... Jasmin Kent Rodgman Jan 30, 2021

Jess Gillam and composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman share the music they love including Tchaikovsky, Arve Henriksen, Pan Daijing, Ella & Louis and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Playlist:

Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - op.20 Act 2, No. 10 (LSO, Andre Previn) Arve Henriksen - Arco Akropolis Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Let’s Call the whole thing off Pan Daijing – Phenomenon Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique – Un Bal (West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim) Mosseri, Herskedal, Talbot, Marshall - San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) Penguin Cafe Orchestra - The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and It Doesn’t Matter Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Andante (Dmitri Shostakovich Jr, I Musici De Montreal, Maxim Shostakovich)

Jess Gillam with... Cassie Kinoshi Jan 16, 2021

Jess Gillam chats to composer and saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi about the music they love. With music by Heiner Goebbels, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Dinah Washington and Prokofiev.

Playlist: Heiner Goebbels - Suite for Sampler and Orchestra: Courante (Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Peter Rundel) Louise Farrenc - Nonet in E flat major Op.38 for chamber ensemble: 3rd mvt; Scherzo vivace (Consortium Classicum) Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 55; IV. Larghetto (Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda) Dinah Washington - This Bitter Earth Empirical - The Simple Light Shines The Brightest Anna Thorvaldsdottir - In the Light of Air; III. Existence (International Contemporary Ensemble) Toru Takemitsu - Litany: II. Lento misterioso (Kotaro Fukuma, piano) Michael Nyman - Prosperos Magic (from Prosperos Books)

Jess Gillam with... Ayanna Witter-Johnson Dec 22, 2020

Jess Gillam talks to singer, cellist and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson about the music they love including Errollyn Wallen, Jill Scott, Barber, and Berio.

Playlist: Errollyn Wallen - Concerto Grosso: 1st mvt (Tai Murray, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Chineke!, Anthony Parnther) Caroline Shaw - And the Swallow (The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna Lapwood) The Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights Samuel Barber - Adagio for strings (New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein) Lucio Berio - Sinfonia: iii. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung (London Voices, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Peter Eotvos) Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 10: 2nd mvt (Liverpool Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko) Jill Scott - Slowly, Surely

Jess Gillam with... Eric Whitacre (This Classical Christmas) Dec 19, 2020

Jess Gillam and composer Eric Whitacre get all Christmassy and share their favourite festive sounds including music from Prokofiev, Darlene Love, Danny Elfman and Nat King Cole.

Playlist: Prokofiev – Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60; IV Troika (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi) Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Danny Elfman – What’s This? Ella Fitzgerald – The Secret of Christmas Philip Lawson - Lullay My Liking (The King’s Singers) Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Christopher Bell) Gustav Holst (Arr. Gjeilo) – In the Bleak Midwinter (Voces8) Jacob Collier - In the Bleak Midwinter Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)

Jess Gillam with...Toby Thatcher Dec 12, 2020

Jess Gillam and conductor Toby Thatcher share the music they love. With music including Debussy, George Lewis, Bartok, and Sixto Rodriguez.

Playlist: Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife (Live in Berlin) Debussy - La Damoiselle élue (Vikingur Olafsson) George Lewis - Anthem (Wet Ink Ensemble) Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 5 in D major (3rd mvt) Rodriguez - Cause Poulenc - C'est ainsi que tu es (Métamorphoses; No.2) Bartók - Bluebeard's Castle: Door 6 Charlie Chaplin - Smile (Nat King Cole)

Jess Gillam with... Stephen Upshaw Dec 08, 2020

Jess Gillam shares music with viola player Stephen Upshaw

Playlist:

Robert Schumann - Marchenbilder Mvt IV [Nobuko Imai, Martha Argerich (pianos) Johann Strauss II – Der Fledermaus; Overture [Carlos Kleiber, Bavarian State Opera] Idjah Hadidjah - Aram Bandung Steve Reich – Mallet Quartet: iii. Fast [Colin Currie group] Orlando – Blood Orange Kurt Weill – September Song [Sydney Bechet] Morton Feldman – Rothko Chapel 5 Florence Price arr. W.G. Still - Dance in the Canebrakes i. Nimble Feet [Chicago Sinfonietta, Mei-Ann Chen]

Jess Gillam with... Seljan Nasibli Dec 05, 2020

Jess Gillam and soprano Seljan Nasibli share the music they love. Their selections include Miles Davis, Karayev, Caroline Shaw and Mozart.

Playlist: Alim Qasimov Ensemble and Kronos Quartet – Getme, Getme Bach – Cello Suite No 2: Prelude Mozart – Ah Chi Mi Dice Mai (Don Giovanni) Miles Davis / Gil Evans / George Gershwin – It Ain’t Necessarily So (Porgy and Bess) Kara Karayev- The Seven Beauties Suite (2nd mvt) Caroline Shaw – Is a Rose: No 1, The Edge Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor (4th mvt) Buena Vista Social Club – El cuarto de Tula

Jess Gillam with... Alexandra Whittingham Nov 07, 2020

Jess Gillam and guitarist Alexandra Whittingham share the music they love. With music including Goat Rodeo, Eric Whitacre, Celeste and Korngold.

Playlist: Goat Rodeo - Hill Justice Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110: II. Allegro Molto (Borodin Quartet) Celeste - Strange Malcolm Arnold: Guitar Concerto, Op.67: II. Lento (Julian Bream & Melos Ensemble) Glazunov - Chant du Menestrel (Rostropovich, Boston SO, Seiji Ozawa) The Impossible Gentlemen – Clockmaker Korngold - King’s Row Eric Whitacre - Sleep

Jess Gillam with... Cecilia De Maria Oct 31, 2020

Jess Gillam and harpist Cecilia De Maria share the music they love, with Terry Riley's A Rainbow in Curved Air, Grieg's Holberg suite, new jazz sounds from Polar Bear, Dorothy Ashby's Soul Vibrations from Afro-Harping and classic film theme by John Williams.

Playlist: Edvard Grieg - Holberg suite Op.40 vers. for string orchestra: Praeludium (Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi) Pierne - Impromptu Caprice (Marisa Robles - harp) Polar Bear - Peepers Wagner - Siegfried's Funeral March (Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer) Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air Dorothy Ashby - Soul Vibrations from Afro-Harping Allegri – Miserere (Tallis Scholars) John Williams - Jurassic Park theme

Jess Gillam with... Stephanie Wake-Edwards Oct 03, 2020

Jess Gillam talks to mezzo-soprano Stephanie Wake-Edwards about the music they love, including the overture to Mozart's Don Giovanni, Jessye Norman singing Mahler, Lianne La Havas singing Radiohead and Slim Gaillard singing about his Cement Mixer!

Jess Gillam with... Robert Reid Allan Sep 26, 2020

Jess Gillam and composer Robert Reid Allan share Glenn Gould playing Brahms, film music by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Sufjan Stevens, new music by composer Oliver Leith, and South African soprano Pumeza singing a Scottish song of diversity and inclusion.

Jess Gillam with... Caroline Pether Sep 05, 2020

Jess Gillam and violinist Caroline Pether share the music they love, including a moving meditation on life in lockdown by Brad Meldhau, Jacqueline du Pre’s stunning take on Dvorak, a musical sunrise from Alice Zawadzki. Caroline also attempts to convert Jess to the joys of Brahms.

Jess Gillam with...Tabea Debus Aug 22, 2020

Jess Gillam and recorder player Tabea Debus have a virtual lockdown listening party to share the music they love, including Take 6, Joby Talbot, and Johann Bernhard Bach.

Playlist: Johann Bernhard Bach - Ouverture from Suite in E Minor (L’Acheron, Francois Joubert-Caillet) Joby Talbot – Transit of Venus (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Christopher Austin) Michel Legrand -Windmills of your mind (Take 6) Johannes Brahms - Cello sonata no. 1 in E minor Op. 38: 1st mvt Allegor non troppo (Truls Mork , cello; Juhani Lagerspetz, piano) Ugis Praulins - The Nightingale: Tableau VII ‘The Artificial Bird’ (Danish National Vocal Ensemble; Michala Petri, recorder; Stephen Layton, director) Basement Jaxx – Where’s your head at Antonio Sartorio – Giulio Cesare in Egitto: Aria, Quando voglio (Anna Prohaska, soprano; Il Giardino Armonico; Giovanni Antonini, director) Maurice Ravel – Concerto in G Major, 1st mvt Allegramente (Martha Argerich, piano; Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana; Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor)

Jess Gillam with... Roberts Balanas Aug 12, 2020

Jess Gillam and Latvian violinist Roberts Balanas share the music love, including Anna Clyne, Kamasi Washington and Jessye Norman singing Poulenc.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Here's what we listened to today...

Hindemith – Ludus Tonalis (Alena Cherny) Elton John – Bennie and the Jets Anna Clyne – Night Ferry (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ricardo Muti) Poulenc- Les Chemins de l’amour FP 106 (Jessye Norman, Dalton Balwdwin) Paganini – 24 Caprices Op.1 No. 2 in B minor (Itzhak Perlman) Shostakovich – String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110: Allegro molto (Borodin Quartet ) JS Bach – Prelude and Fugue in A Major BWV 864 from the Well-Tempered Clavier (Trevor Pinnock) Kamasi Washington – Final Thought

Jess Gillam with... Owain Park Aug 01, 2020

Jess Gillam meets composer Owain Park for a virtual lockdown listening party, with music including Prokofiev, Sam Cooke, Kabantu and JS Bach.

Playlist: Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet Suite - Montagues and the Capulets (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Muti) Judith Bingham - The Drowned Lovers (Tenebrae, Martha McLorinan, Nigel Short) Sam Cooke - A Change is gonna come Copland: Appalachian Spring (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) Rebecca Clarke - Lullaby (Helen Callus - viola, Robert McDonald - piano) Kabantu – Ulidzile! Samuel Coleridge Taylor - Petite suite de concert; III. Un sonnet d’amour (Chicago Sinfonietta, Paul Freeman) JS Bach - St John Passion; Chorus: "Herr, Unser Herrscher" (Polyphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton)

Jess Gillam with... Sergio Serra Jul 25, 2020

Jess Gillam and cellist Sergio Serra share the music they love, including Estrella Morente, Pekka Kuusisto, Stan Getz and CPE Bach.

Playlist:

Merula - Ciacconna and harpsichord improvisation (Il Giardino Armonico) Kurt Weill arr. Richard Rodney Bennett - It Was Never You (Barbara Thompson, The Medici Quartet) Dinosaur - Set Free Sibelius - 5 pieces; no. 1 (Pekka Kuusisto, Heini Karkkainen) Estrella Morente - La Gazpacha, La Repompa, La Tia Concha Eddie Sauter - Pan (Stan Getz) C.P.E. Bach - Cello Concerto in A Major, Wq. 172: II. Largo maestoso (Jean-Guihen Queyras, Ensemble Resonanz, Riccardo Minasi) Tchaikovsky - Symphony no. 5 (Op. 64) in E minor, 4th mvt; Finale (Andante maestoso) (Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Evgeny Mravinsky)

Jess Gillam with... Lotte Betts-Dean Jul 11, 2020

Jess Gillam meets with London based Australian mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean for virtual lockdown listening party, in which they are raving to Rachmaninov, marvelling over the voices of Cape Verde’s barefoot diva and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, whilst also enjoying the other worldly dream pop of Cocteau Twins and Mahler’s humongous ‘Symphony of a Thousand’.

Playlist: Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Nikolai Lugansky, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo) Cesária Évora – Sodade Louis Andriessen - M is for Man, Music, Mozart: Einstein song Schubert – String Quintet in C Major, D.956; I. Allegro ma non toppo (Alban Berg Quartett, Heinrich Schiff) Thom Yorke - Suspirium Tobias Hume (d.1645) - The Earle of Salisbury's Favoret ‘Sweet Musicke’ (Jordi Savall, Hespérion XXI) Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll Mahler – Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major – ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ Part 1 (Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado)

Jess Gillam with... Ben Goldscheider Jun 27, 2020

Jess Gillam and horn player Ben Goldscheider share the music they love. Today we have some big, bold and brassy music, in the form of Janacek’s Sinfonietta and Haydn’s ‘Hornsignal’ symphony, the calm and space of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s ‘Good morning Midnight’, and then we are taken up to space by Elton John then to the bottom of the Sea by Elgar.

Playlist: Janacek - Sinfonietta, first movement (Simon Rattle, Philharmonia Orchestra) Pink Floyd - The Great gig in the Sky Beethoven - Violin Concerto, 2nd movement (Isabelle Faust (violin) Prague Philharmonia) Miles Davis - Generique Haydn - Symphony no. 31 in D Major, first movement (Academy of Ancient Music) Jóhann Jóhannsson - Good Morning Midnight (Air Lyndhurst String Orchestra, Anthony Weeden, Jóhann Jóhannsson) Elton John – Rocket Man Elgar – Sea Pictures, Op. 37 IV. Where Corals Lie (Janet Baker)

Jess Gillam with... Sam Becker 2 (The Return of Becker) Jun 13, 2020

Jess Gillam welcomes back bassist and flatmate Sam Becker to share some more of the music they love whist in lockdown. This time they choose Britten’s vivid Sea interludes, Pablo Casals’s Song of the Birds and Sam gets all weepy over Mary Poppins feeding the birds!

Playlist: Benjamin Britten - 4 sea interludes – Dawn (Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi) The Platters - Smoke gets in your eyes Pablo Casals - El Cant Dels Ocells (Song of the Birds) (Pablo Casals (cello), Prades Festival Orchestra) Everything Everything - Fever Dream Gavin Bryars - Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet Rimsky Korsakov - Trombone Concerto (Christian Lindberg, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vanska) Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins Ravel - Pavane pour une infant (Bertrand Chamayou - paino)

Jess Gillam with... Elsa Bradley Jun 02, 2020

Jess Gillam and percussionist Elsa Bradley chat about the music they love. Featuring the drama of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, Eugen Cicero injecting some caffeine into CPE Bach's Solfeggio, Arnold Bax’s majestic symphonic poem Tintagel. Plus Elsa goes wild in a field, or maybe just her kitchen, to the Warsaw Village Band, and we have a miniature moment of calm from Isobel Waller-Bridge.

Playlist:

Mozart - Requiem in D minor K.626; Kyrie + Dies irae (English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner) Steve Reich – Tehillim: I. Psalm 19:2-5 (Alarm Will Sound) Eugen Cicero - Solfeggio in C minor by C.P.E. Bach (Wq 117 No. 2, H220) La Boheme; Act 1 ‘Si Mi chiamano Mimi’ (Renata Tebaldi, Orchestra Of The Accademia Di Santa Cecilia) Isobel Waller-Bridge - September Warsaw Village Band - Musicians Are a Playin Louis Armstrong - We have all the time in the world Bax – Tintagel (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Osmo Vanska)

Jess Gillam with... Ella Taylor May 16, 2020

Jess Gillam and soprano Ella Taylor have a ‘virtual’ listening party, with music from Prokofiev, Ella Fitzgerald, Bach and Ella’s favourite track by their favourite band tUnE-yArDs.

Playlist: Prokofiev - Symphony no. 1 (Op.25) in D major "Classical", 4th movement; Molto vivace London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev

tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain

Gordon, Lang and Wolfe - Shelter: Before I Enter Caroline Shaw (vocals), Martha Cluver (vocals), Mellissa Hughes (vocals), Ensemble Signal, Brad Lubman

Ella Fitzgerald - Misty

George Benjamin - Written on Skin - Part one, scene 6 Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, George Benjamin

Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin and John

Bach - Double Violin concerto in D minor - 3. Allegro Isabelle Faust, Akademie fur Alte Musik

Beethoven - Last string quartet, version for String orchestra; III. Lento assai - cantante e tranquillo Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic

Jess Gillam with... Matilda Lloyd May 04, 2020

Jess Gillam and trumpeter Matilda Lloyd chat about the music they love. With works by Tchaikovsky, Charles Ives, Salsa Celtica and Sting!

This week we listened to...

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) - Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev James MacMillan: O Radiant Dawn - The Sixteen Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question - Orchestra of St. Luke's, John Adams Salsa Celtica: El Agua de la Vida Beethoven: Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor, Op 27 No 2, ‘Moonlight’; I. Adagio sostenuto - Arthur Rubinstein (piano) Tobias Broström: Dream Variations: III. Déjà vu - Håkan Hardenberger and Colin Currie Sting - Englishman in New York Shostakovich: Piano Concerto in C Minor, Op 35: II. Lento - Largo (live) - Martha Argerich (piano), Sergei Nakariakov (trumpet), Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Alexander Verdernikov

Jess Gillam with... Anne Denholm Apr 18, 2020

Jess Gillam talks to harpist Anne Denholm about the music they love. With epic Finnish grandeur from Sibelius and Rautavaara, a genre-blurring concerto by Gabriel Prokofiev and the simple beauty of Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend.

Music we listened to today...

Sibelius - Finlandia (CBSO, Sakari Oramo) Morten Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium (ORA Singers, Suzi Digby) Karl Jenkins - Over The Stone: Double Harp Concerto (Catrin Finch) Carole King - You’ve Got a Friend Einojuhani Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus Op.61; 3rd mvt; Swans migrating (Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vanska) Afro Celt Sound System - Whirl-y-Reel #2 Ravel - Ma mere l’oye, cinq pieces enfantines V. Le Jardin feerique (Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin)

Jess Gillam with... Alex Baranowski Mar 30, 2020

Jess Gillam and composer Alex Baranowski swap tracks and share the music they love, with Philip Glass Koyaanisqatsi, Yevgeny Kissin playing Schubert, Goldfrapp and Mazzy Star.

Tracks we listened to today...

Philip Glass – Koyaanisqatsi The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, Michael Riesman

Antonio Vivaldi - Nisi Dominus (mvt 1 nisi dominus) Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi

Goldfrapp - Lovely Head

Franz Schubert - Fantasy in C major D.760 (Wandererfantasie) for piano Yevgeny Kissin (piano)

Ravel - Melodies Hebraiques, No1 Kaddisch Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Raphael Wallfisch (conductor) BBC NOW

Mazzy Star - Fade into you

Duke Ellington - Nutcracker Suite; Overture

Francis Poulenc - Concerto for piano and orchestra; 1st movement; Allegretto Alexandre Tharaud (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Jess Gillam with... Rob Luft Mar 21, 2020

Jess Gillam is joined by jazz guitarist Rob Luft to swap tracks and share the music they love, with music from Bach, James Blake and Billie Holiday.

Jess Gillam with... Dani Howard Mar 14, 2020

Saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by composer Dani Howard, and between them they swap music by Thomas Adès, Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Fats Waller.

Track we played today...

Thomas Ades - In Seven Days: iv. Stars - Sun - Moon Nicolas Hodges (piano) London Sinfonietta, Thomas Ades

Toshio Hosokawa - Japanese folksongs: no.2; Itsuki no komori uta (Lullaby of Itsuki) Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Christian Rivet (guitar)

Steve Reich – Variations for Vibes, Pianos and Strings: I. Fast London Sinfonietta, Alan Pierson

Anna Thorvaldsdottir - In The Light of Air (Existence) International Contemporary Ensemble

Robert Schumann - Fantasiestücke, Op. 73; III. Rasch und mit Feuer Sol Gabetta (cello) Hélène Grimaud (piano)

Fats Waller – Two Sleepy People

Rae Morris - Do it (Acoustic Version)

Satie - 3 Gymnopedies for piano, no.1 in D major; Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Jess Gillam with... Grace-Evangeline Mason Mar 07, 2020

Saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by composer Grace-Evangeline Mason to share music by Mica Levi, Kaija Saariaho and Joni Mitchell.

Today we listened to...

Bach - Cello suite no 1 BWV 1007 - Yo-yo Ma Hans Abrahamsen - Let Me Tell You, Pt.III: I Will Go Out Now - Barbara Hannigan, Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Andris Nelsons The Beatles - A day in the life Clément Janequin - Toutes les nuictz Mica Levi – Love (from Under the Skin) Kaija Saariaho - Cloud Trio: I. Calmo, Meditato Joni Mitchell - A Case of You Rimsky-Korsakov - Sheherazade: The Sea and Sinbad's Barque: Largo and Maestoso

Jess Gillam with... Flora Curzon Feb 29, 2020

Saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Flora Curzon. They share music by Vivaldi, film music by Jonny Greenwood and Shostakovich and a traditional Romanian doina and hora.

Jess Gillam with... Timothy Ridout Feb 15, 2020

Saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by viola player Timothy Ridout to share music from Bach to The Beatles via Michael Kiwanuka, Haydn and Bartok.

Tracks we played today...

David Popper - Dance of the Elves, Op. 39 - Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Alexander Dedyukhin (piano) Joseph Haydn – String Quartet in C major Op 20 No 2; 2nd Movement Capriccio - The London Haydn Quartet Max Richter - On The Nature Of Daylight The Beatles - In My Life Bela Bartok - 3 Hungarian folksongs from the Csik district - Tom Poster (piano) Stéphane Grappelli – How High The Moon Michael Kiwanuka - Hard to Say Goodbye Johann Sebastian Bach - Matthauspassion (BWV.244), Part 1; no.1; Kommt, ihr Tochter [chorus] - Monteverdi Choir, London Oratory Junior Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner

Jess Gillam with... Elisabeth Brauss Feb 08, 2020

Jess Gillam is joined by pianist Elisabeth Brauss to swap tracks and share the music they love. With music from Benjamin Britten to Oscar Peterson.

Tracks we played today...

Johann Strauss II – Die Fledermaus; Overture (Carlos Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic) John Cage - Dream Britten/Pears - Down by the Salley Gardens Julia Wolfe - Fire in My mouth: ii. Factory Jacob Collier - Fascinating Rhythm Mieczyslaw Karlowicz - Violin Concerto in A Major Op. 8; Finale: Vivace assai Molly Drake - I Remember Oscar Peterson – The Bach Suite: Allegro (live)

Jess Gillam with... Leif Kaner-Lidstrom Jan 31, 2020

Jess Gillam is joined by pianist Leif Kaner-Lidstrom to swap tracks and share the music they love. With music from Richard Strauss to The Comet Is Coming.

Tracks we played today... Richard Strauss - Ein Heldenleben, op.40 The Comet is Coming – The Universe Wakes Up Antonio Bazzini – La ronde des lutins (Scherzo fantastique), Op. 25 Ilse Weber – Wiegala Judd Greenstein – Clearing, Dawn , Dance Schubert – Minuet in C-Sharp Minor, D. 600 Otis Redding - Cigarettes and Coffee Walton – Then Sing Aloud to God, pt. 2

Jess Gillam with... Rakhi Singh Jan 18, 2020

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Rakhi Singh to swap tracks and share the music they love, with music from Bach to Portishead, and we squeeze bees with Ivor Cutler.

Jess Gillam with... Charlotte Harding Jan 04, 2020

Jess Gillam is joined by Ivor Novello award winning composer and fellow saxophonist Charlotte Harding to swap tracks, including two saxophone greats - Branford Marsalis and Ivy Benson, other worldly textures from John Luther Adams and Anders Hillborg, and two generations of Prokofievs.

Tracks we played today...

Gabriel Prokofiev – Saxophone Concerto: IV. Allegro Mechanico Nadia Boulanger - 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano, no.1: Modere Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite John Luther Adams - The Wind in High Places: II. Maclaren Summit Ivy Benson - Lover Anders Hillborg - Sirens Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh - What, What, What Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No.1, 3rd movement

Jess Gillam with... Evelyn, George and Emma Dec 28, 2019

In a special edition of the show with BBC Ten Pieces, Jess is joined in the studio by young musicians Evelyn, George and Emma to listen to music by Brahms, Grieg, Clean Bandit and a number from the hit musical Hamilton.

Jess Gillam with... Miloš Karadaglić Dec 21, 2019

Jess and guitarist Miloš Karadaglić share some of their favourite tracks, from Albeniz to Bjork, with a little bit of David Bowie narrating Prokofiev for good measure.

Today we listened to...

Isaac Albeniz – Suite espanola, Op. 47; No. 5 Asturias (played by John Williams) Bjork – Vokuro Nicola Porpora – Polifemo, Act 3: Alto Giove (sung by Philippe Jaroussky) Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 (narrated by David Bowie) Vincente Amigo - Callejón de la luna (played by Zsófia Boros) Sibelius - Impromptu in B minor, Op. 5 No.5 (played by Leif Ove Andsnes) Melody Gardot – Your Heart is as Black as Night Camille Saint-Saens - Danse macabre

Jess Gillam with... Bartosz Glowacki Dec 07, 2019

Jess is joined by accordionist Bartosz Glowacki to share their favourite tracks of the moment, including music by Piazzolla, June Tabor, a Chopin ballade and Sofia Gubaidulina's experimental concerto for orchestra and jazz band.

Jess Gillam with... Soraya Mafi Nov 30, 2019

Jess and the soprano Soraya Mafi share some of their favourite tracks, from Verdi to Jeff Buckley.

Tracks we listened to today:

Verdi - La Traviata, Act 1: 'Sempre libera' (Maria Callas) Philip Glass - Etude no. 2 for piano (Vikingur Olafsson - piano) Jeff Buckley - Lilac wine Schubert - Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello Op. 99; II. Andante un poco moso Handel - Scipione: ‘Scoglio d’immota fronte’ (Sandrine Piau) Nina Simone – Stars (Live at Montreux) Clara Schumann - Liebst du um Schonheit Rachmaninov - Symphony No.2, Adagio

Jess Gillam with... Simon Höfele Nov 23, 2019

Jess Gillam swaps tracks with the trumpeter Simon Höfele, from the epic symphonies of Mahler and Shostakovich to reflective Beethoven and the repetitive rhythms of Meredith Monk. Here's the music we played today...

Ades - Overture from Powder Her Face, suite for orchestra Mahler - Symphony No.2 "Resurrection", final movement Meredith Monk - Ellis Island Zimmermann - Concerto for Trumpet “Nobody knows de trouble I see“ Parcels - Lightenup Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5, 4th movement Beethoven - Piano Sonata No.1, 2nd movement Anna Meredith - Heal You

Jess Gillam with... Kaapo Ijas Nov 16, 2019

Finnish conductor Kaapo Ijas's tracks include Sibelius, the Sibelius Academy Big Band and Radiohead.

Here's the music we played today...

Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances, 1st movement Kurt Weill - The Ballad of Mack the Knife (Threepenny Opera) Sibelius - Symphony No.4, 3rd movement Jutta Rahmel/Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band - Levoton sydän Anders Hillborg - Violin Concerto No.2 Falla - 7 Canciones populares españolas (arr. Mischa Maisky) Radiohead - Everything in its right place Nico Muhly - Motion

Jess Gillam with... Andrey Lebedev Nov 09, 2019

Jess and classical guitarist Andrey Lebedev swap music from Brahms to Mason Bates, and Jimmie Rowles featuring Stan Getz.

Jess Gillam with... Abel Selaocoe Nov 02, 2019

Jess is joined by the cellist Abel Selaocoe, a member of the Manchester Collective whose performances take in everything from chamber music to beatboxing. He and share tracks including a radical interpretation of Biber's Battalia and another war-themed piece in Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, symphonies by Mozart and Penderecki, plus music by John Adams and the Youngblood Brass Band.

Jess Gillam with... Alexia Sloane Oct 12, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by composer and poet Alexia Sloane to swap music including John Luther Adams immersive Become Ocean, the sublime vocal harmonies of Kraja, Steve Reich's Music for 18 musicians, Smetana and a soul classic by Aretha Franklin.

Here's the music we played today...

Bedrich Smetana - Ma vlast, Vltava [Moldau] Kraja- Polska Till Rut Francis Poulenc - Sonata for Oboe FP, 185; 1. Allegro John Luther Adams - Become Ocean Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer Hildegard Von Bingen - Digiti Viriditas Dei Steve Reich - Music for 18 musicians John Tavener - The Protecting Veil

Jess Gillam with... Ian Arber Oct 05, 2019

Jess is joined by film composer Ian Arber, who wrote the theme tune for the TV coverage of BBC Proms 2019. They swap tracks including music by Penderecki, Terence Blanchard, Bach and Rachmaninov.

Today we listened to...

Krzysztof Penderecki: Sinfonietta No. 1 - Vivace Sergei Rachmaninoff – Prelude in C-Sharp Minor (No. 2), Op. 3. Frederic Rzewski - Attica John Barry - The Knack… and How to Get it. Benjamin Britten - Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: Cuckoo! Terence Blanchard - Leeves Gustavo Santaolalla - De Usuahia a la Quiaca JS Bach - Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV1067

Jess Gillam with... Freya Waley-Cohen Sep 28, 2019

Jess Gillam and composer Freya Waley-Cohen swap Messiaen's frenetic Joy of the Blood of the Stars from Turangalîla, a Procol Harum classic performed by King Curtis, Ravel, Janacek and Shostakovich.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Here's what we listened to today...

Olivier Messiaen - Turangalîla-Symphonie; V. Joie Du Sang Des Étoiles Vif, Passionné Avec Joie William Byrd - Miserere Mei, Deus arr. Nico Muhly Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul - Steaph’s Red Shoes Maurice Ravel - Piano concerto in G major - Adagio Assai Gabriella Smith - Carrot Revolution King Curtis - A Whiter Shade of Pale Leoš Janáček - Violin Sonata, JW VII/7: 2nd mvt: Ballada con moto Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony no. 11, 4th movement “Alarm”

Jess Gillam with... Fiachra Garvey Sep 21, 2019

Jess and pianist Fiachra Garvey swap the music they love, including Bernstein that makes them both want to dance, Holst's joyful Jupiter from The Planets and Fiachra embraces his Irish roots with Thin Lizzy's Whiskey in the Jar.

Here's what we played this episode...

Leonard Bernstein - Mambo from West Side Story Johannes Brahms - Piano Quintet in F minor (Scherzo) Nils Frahm - Ambre from Wintermusik Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar Gustav Holst - The Planets - suite Op.32: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity Fryderyk Chopin - Polonaise op 53 "Heroic" Kate Bush – This Woman’s Work Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No 7 (last movement)

Jess Gillam with... Segun Akinola Sep 21, 2019

Doctor Who composer Segun Akinola is in the hot seat, kicking off with the track that awoke his lifelong passion for music. Also in this ep: Jess and Segun talk “dad music”, breaking down barriers in genre and why Live and Let Die is the funnest Bond theme song of all time.

This Classical Life is a show and podcast from BBC Radio 3. Every episode, saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by a special guest to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles and genres.

Tracklist: Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets Spiritualized: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major (2nd mvt) Snarky Puppy: Shofukan Cristóbal de Morales/The Hilliard Ensemble/Jan Garbarek: Parce mihi Domine John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine Wings: Live And Let Die Igor Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (finale)

Jess Gillam with... Cecilia Bignall Sep 07, 2019

Jess and Cecilia swap some of their favourite music, including the epic Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem, fight scenes from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, folk tunes by Sulkhan Tsintsadze, and tracks by Mica Levi and Nino Rota.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Callum Smart Aug 31, 2019

Violinist Callum Smart plays Jess some classic Michael Brecker, and Jess introduces Callum to piano music by Missy Mazzoli, plus Punch Brothers playing Bach and vintage Jascha Heifetz playing Richard Strauss.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Martin James Bartlett Jul 13, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by the pianist Martin James Bartlett, a former winner of BBC Young Musician who has just released his debut album 'Love and Death'. They share music from the explosive overture to Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila to contemplative Peter Gabriel, a classic recording of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony and Max Richter.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s Bafta awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Lauren Fagan Jul 06, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by the soprano Lauren Fagan, a recent graduate of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. They chat about the music they love, from Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, to Queen and John Adams, and Barbara Bonney singing Schubert

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s Baftas, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast from BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Heloise Werner Jun 29, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by the singer and composer Heloise Werner, a member of the young new music ensemble, The Hermes Experiment. Their music includes Shostakovich's Festive Oveture and Strauss' epic tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra, plus tracks by Meredith Monk and Graham Fitkin.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Lucy Armstrong Jun 22, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Lucy Armstrong, whose commissions have included from the Psappha Ensemble and Bergen National Opera. She and Jess chat about the music they love, from Smetana to Sondheim via Tansy Davis and Ute Lemper singing Kurt Weill.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s Bafta awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Martynas Levickis Jun 08, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by the Lithuanian accordionist Martynas Levickis, known for his exciting arrangements of everything from Bach to Daft Punk. Together they have chosen Teodor Currentzis conducting Mozart, the Adagietto from Mahler's 5th Symphony, Bjork and some electro swing from Parov Stelar.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Stephanie Childress Jun 01, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by the conductor and violinist Stephanie Childress, who has been described as a 'seriously exciting (and unnervingly young) talent'. Their musical choices take us from Poulenc to Rachmaninov via the Beach Boys and a Doris Day classic.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Lloyd Coleman May 25, 2019

Jess Gillam is joined by Lloyd Coleman, composer, clarinettist and associate music director of the British Paraorchestra. Their musical choices include a sabre dance, sounds of the sea from Debussy, a 'modern classic' by Anna Meredith, the glorious finale of Sibelius's Fifth Symphony and Kraftwerk.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s Bafta awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Amy Harman May 11, 2019

Jess Gillam presents her new show, with the bassoonist Amy Harman, principal bassoon with Aurora Orchestra and English National Opera. Their music ranges from Bernstein's Candide Overture to music by Handel and Vivaldi, some classic Miles Davis and new music by Caroline Shaw.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Isata Kanneh-Mason Apr 27, 2019

Jess Gillam presents her new show, with pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, and their musical choices include a Brahms intermezzo, film music by Michael Nyman, symphonies by Beethoven and Walton, and tracks by Beyoncé and Radiohead.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Sam Becker Apr 20, 2019

Jess Gillam presents her new show, with the double and electric bass player Sam Becker, who co-presented the BBC Young Musician podcast with Jess in 2018. The tracks they share with each other range from Debussy's Sarabande to David Bowie's Heroes, and from Dowland's Flow my teares to serpentwithfeet's take on Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Belle Chen Apr 13, 2019

Jess Gillam presents her new show, with the former BBC Introducing pianist and sound artist Belle Chen, and their 30-minute musical journey includes Korngold's Violin Concerto, music for prepared piano by John Cage and Aphex Twin, Sibelius' 7th Symphony and Herbie Hancock playing Ravel.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam with... Ollie Howell Apr 06, 2019

Saxophonist Jess Gillam meets the dynamic young drummer and television composer Ollie Howell, and their eclectic choices include Dvorak’s New World Symphony, a film score by Quincy Jones, a mesmerising piano miniature by Nadia Boulanger, and some classic Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Welcome to This Classical Life Apr 01, 2019

Jess Gillam and friends share tracks for a new generation of music lovers.

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