This Classical Life

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.