You might have noticed things have been a little quiet on the Barbican Classical Music podcast...We will soon be retiring this podcast and invite you to subscribe to the new and improved weekly Barbican podcast, Nothing Concrete, where you'll b

Composer Focus – Episode 5: Jean Sibelius with Sakari Oramo

Nov 30th, 2018 25m 27s

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In the final episode, host Edward Seckerson is joined by BBC Symphony Orchestra conductor Sakari Oramo to discuss his fellow count

Composer Focus – Episode 4: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with Richard Tognetti

Nov 23rd, 2018 24m 11s

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode four, host Edward Seckerson is joined by violinist, composer, and Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director Richar

Composer Focus – Episode 3: Gustav Mahler with Sir Antonio Pappano

Nov 16th, 2018 24m 2s

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode three, host Edward Seckerson is joined by conductor and pianist Sir Antonio Pappano to discuss Gustav Mahler, whose ext

Composer Focus – Episode 2: Benjamin Britten with Roderick Williams

Nov 9th, 2018 17m 49s

In this five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode two, host Edward Seckerson is joined by baritone and composer Roderick Williams to discuss Benjamin Britten, a complex

Composer Focus – Episode 1: George Frideric Handel with Iestyn Davies

Nov 2nd, 2018 22m 36s

In a five-part mini-series we explore the life, times and work of some of classical music’s greatest composers.In episode one, host Edward Seckerson is joined by countertenor Iestyn Davies to discuss George Frideric Handel, the German-born comp

In conversation with Jeremy Denk

Sep 15th, 2017 22m 1s

Jeremy Denk talks to Edward Seckerson about the arts of practicing, programme-building, recording, writing and performing, as we find out what makes the innovative pianist tick. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/priv

Edward Seckerson muses on the great Leonard Bernstein

Aug 28th, 2017 21m 43s

Edward Seckerson would happily describe himself as a Bernstein fanatic, conducting one of the last major interviews with his idol before his death in October 1990. Here he shares why the American icon remains a never-ending source of fascinat

Peter Sellars on Ligeti’s Le grand macabre

Dec 9th, 2016 14m 14s

'This music is buzzing with intergalactic messages and surrealism…’ We speak to the inimitable director about the apocalyptic anti-anti-opera ahead of his production at the Barbican with the LSO and Sir Simon Rattle For information regardin

Leila Josefowicz on John Adams

Nov 22nd, 2016 16m 48s

‘The whole piece is about me being put to the test…’ The violinist Leila Josefowicz talks about Scheherazade.2 – the piece written for her by John Adams – and her life as a musician, ahead of her performance of ‘S.2’ with the LSO next month.

John Adams at 70

Nov 4th, 2016 26m 48s

'Music is above and beyond all else... It's about feeling.' As the pioneering American composer celebrates his 70th birthday, we spoke about his life, music and varying influences. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.

Gerald Barry / Alice’s Adventures Under Ground

Oct 7th, 2016 26m 3s

We go on a trip down the rabbit hole looking at Gerald Barry’s latest bonkers opera – talking to the composer, Barbara Hannigan – who plays Alice in the premiere – and conductor Thomas Adès. For information regarding your data privacy, visit

James MacMillan - Choral Music

Sep 23rd, 2016 19m 54s

We speak to James MacMillan, the Scottish composer and conductor, whose Stabat Mater is premiered at the Barbican as part of a day celebrating his urgently communicative choral music. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.c

Jonathan Biss talks the late music of Beethoven, Brahms and more

Jul 18th, 2016 28m 16s

'There is something about mortality or the knowledge that time is not infinite that tends to focus artists' energy in a particular way'. We talk to Jonathan Biss, the American pianist and writer, about the late music of the great Romantic compo

American Soundscapes with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Mar 7th, 2016 22m 11s

We talk to composer Andrew Norman and video artist Deborah O'Grady about how the American landscape influences classical and contemporary music, and how to make a visual statement from these works.Both Andrew and Deborah feature Gustavo Dudame

The Dark Mirror: Zender's Winterreise with Ian Bostridge & Netia Jones

Mar 7th, 2016 27m 31s

‘Hans Zender has taken Schubert's Winterreise and exploded it, he's made a work of art about a work of art.’ As we prepare to transform our Theatre into the winter's landscape of Winterreise, we talk to director Netia Jones, tenor Ian Bostridge

Benjamin at the Barbican: George Benjamin and Iestyn Davies

Mar 7th, 2016 34m 39s

We caught up with contemporary composer George Benjamin about his career, his love of teaching, and the challenges of composing for opera. We also spoke to Iestyn Davies who will be singing the UK Premiere of Benjamin's new song-cycle Dream of

Ian Bostridge talks Winterreise

Jul 8th, 2015 15m 39s

Ian Bostridge talks to the Guardian’s Tom Service about his special relationship with Schubert’s song-cycle and the demands it places on the performer, following his recital at the Barbican Centre in January 2015. For information regarding you

Iestyn Davies on Nico Muhly's Sentences

May 28th, 2015 20m 11s

When computer pioneer and war-hero Alan Turing received a posthumous pardon in 2013, New York composer Nico Muhly had questions...Sentences is the result of those questions, and premieres at the Barbican on 6th June. In this classical podcast w

Boulez at 90

Mar 17th, 2015 32m 14s

Ahead of the Boulez at 90 series at the Barbican, this podcast explores the life and music of the great musical provocateur, Pierre Boulez, with interviews from those who knew and worked with him. Featuring interviews with composer Nico Muhly,

Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland

Feb 4th, 2015 31m 54s

Journey down the rabbit hole in this Barbican classical podcast exploring Unsuk Chin's operatic adaptation of Lewis Caroll's beloved stories, ahead of its UK Premiere at the Barbican on Sunday 8 March. Includes interviews with composer Unsuk Ch

February 2015 - Fabio Biondi: Vivaldi Detective

Feb 4th, 2015 20m 27s

In this exclusive Barbican classical podcast, writer and broadcaster Catherine Bott interviews Fabio Biondi, director and founder of Italian period instrument ensemble Europa Galante, shedding light on the detective work that brought Vivaldi’s

Mariinsky Opera Residency podcasts – interview with Valery Gergiev (part 2)

Oct 20th, 2014 18m 51s

In anticipation of the acclaimed Mariinsky’s Opera’s London Residency at the Barbican in November 2015, we sit down with esteemed conductor Valery Gergiev to discuss Boris Godunov and the UK premiere of Levsha – both cornerstones of this histor

Mariinsky Opera Residency podcasts – interview with Valery Gergiev (part 1)

Oct 20th, 2014 29m 36s

Birtwistle at 80 – The man behind the music

May 20th, 2014 36m 18s

We talk to Harrison Birtwistle’s closest friends and collaborators to find out more about the man behind the music of one of our greatest living composers. Audio clips used by kind permission from Universal Edition. For information regarding y