Full episode here: https://anchor.fm/talking-classical-podcast/episodes/Ep--2-Elizabeth-Walker-e107g1p.

Ep. 2 Preview - Elizabeth Walker

Full episode: https://anchor.fm/talking-classical-podcast/episodes/Ep--3-Dr-Marius-Carboni-e107g2h.

Ep. 3 Preview - Dr Marius Carboni

Ep. 1 - Dr Mark Berry

13-19 May 2019 is Mental Health Awareness Week, a week organised by UK charity the Mental Health Foundation that aims to get the nation talking about mental health. Mental health has been particularly prevalent in discussions within the classical music sector and I felt that it was very important to reflect on these for Mental Health Awareness Week. I met with Lucy Thraves, Editor of Classical Music Magazine, to talk about the magazine's year-long strategy to address mental health, through its campaign Harmony in Mind. Visit www.harmonyinmind.co.uk to read about the campaign. 

Mental Health Awareness Week: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

#HarmonyinMind #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #BeBodyKind

Originally published on 16 May 2019. Interview recorded at the Royal Opera House on 10 May 2019.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast, please contact the following helplines: 

Mind 
Infoline open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
0300 123 3393
info@mind.org.uk
Text: 86463

Samaritans
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 
Call 116 123 anytime for free.
jo@samaritans.org - Response time of 24 hours

Papyrus UK, Suicide Prevention Charity
Opening hours: 10am–10pm weekdays, 2pm–10pm weekends, 2pm–10pm bank holidays. 
Hopeline UK: 0800 068 4141
pat@papyrus-uk.org
Text: 07786209697 

CALM
Open 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year
Nationwide helpline: 0800 58 58 58
London helpline: 0808 802 58 58
Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/

Subscribe to the Talking Classical Podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify.
Facebook - @talkingclassicalpodcast
Twitter - @tc_podcasts
YouTube - bit.ly/2WF4duy
Blog - talkingclassicalpodcast.wordpress.com

Ep. 11: Mental Health Awareness Week: Lucy Thraves (Classical Music)

It was wonderful to record a podcast with Toby Spence, one of the world's most sought-after tenors, on his fiftieth birthday. 

In this special interview, we discuss: his early musical training and influences, his formative years at English National Opera, starring as Captain Vere in Deborah Warner's recent production of Britten's opera Billy Budd at the Royal Opera House, the challenges of being a performer, identity as a singer, and his desert island items. 

Special thanks to: Natasha Worsley for very kindly arranging this interview and Toby for coming especially to meet me and record on his birthday!

Originally published on 28 May 2019. Interview recorded on 22 May 2019 at Askonas Holt, London.

An honours graduate and choral scholar from New College, Oxford, Toby Spence studied at the Opera School of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was the winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society 2011 Singer of the Year award. 

In concert Toby has sung with the Cleveland Orchestra under von Dohnanyi, Berliner Philharmoniker and the Wiener Philharmoniker under Rattle; San Francisco Symphony under Tilson Thomas; the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Pappano; Rotterdam Philharmonic under Gergiev; LSO under Davis; London Philharmonic Orchestra under Nézet-Séguin; Los Angeles Philharmonic under Dudamel; Bayerischer Rundfunk under Gardiner and at the Osterfestspiele Salzburg and Edinburgh International Festival under Norrington and Mackerras. Recent appearances include The Seasons with the Philharmonie de Paris, Bruckner F minor Mass with the Sinfonieorchester Basel; The Creation with the Houston Symphony Orchestra; Messiah, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Haydn’s Nelson Mass with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Mumbai and Missa Solemnis with the LSO under Tilson Thomas. 

Recent opera engagements include Ghandi Satyagraha at English National Opera; Captain Vere Billy Budd for Teatro Real and Opera di Roma; Anatol Vanessa for Frankfurt Opera; Don Ottavio at the Liceu Barcelona; Eisenstein Die Fledermaus and Antonio The Tempest for the Metropolitan Opera; Don Ottavio and Tito for the Wiener Staatsoper; Essex Gloriana and Tamino Die Zauberflöte for the Royal Opera House, where his previous roles have also included Ferdinand The Tempest, David Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Count Almaviva Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ramiro and Tom Rakewell; Tamino, Candide, Paris La Belle Hélène, Lensky and Faust for English National Opera; Madwoman Curlew River for the Edinburgh Festival; Tito, Tamino and Henry Morosus Die Schweigsame Frau for the Bayerische Staatsoper; and Tom Rakewell and David Die Meistersinger at Opéra de Paris.  

Engagements in the 2018-19 season include Dvorak Stabat Mater with Houston Symphony Orchestra; Britten War Requiem with Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Szymanowski’s 3rd Symphony for the Gulbenkian Foundation and Orff’s Carmina Burana in Shanghai and Beijing with Long Yu and Aida Garifullina for Deutsche Grammophon’s 120’s anniversary. Opera engagements include Captain Vere Billy Budd for the Royal Opera House and a staged version of Britten Les Illuminations for Teatro Real Madrid.

Ep. 12: 50th Birthday Interview with Toby Spence

In this podcast, we'll be "zooming in" with Sir Simon Keenlyside, one of the most distinguished baritones, maintaining a top-level career in the major opera houses and concert halls around the world.
 
We start off by talking about what Simon and his family have been doing during this lockdown period. We then share some thoughts about the importance of supporting and financing the arts during this current pandemic (in this podcast, we're talking about the present situation in Great Britain). Alongside his intense passion for music and opera, Simon talks about his deep love of nature and some of his other interests including art and poetry.

We also find about his journey into music (and experience as an ex-runner), which leads to an interesting discussion on some of the challenges of being a top-level performer. For him, this includes the difference between being a singer and an artist. He reflects on the highs and lows of an elite performing musician, and offers some invaluable advice on navigating these. 

Additionally, Simon shares some of his thoughts on attention and personality among performers; that some artists enjoy the limelight but someone like him wants to be focused on the work. However, he recognises that he can be extremely different on stage and this is not the person he is in real life. The facets of a person that can be moulded over time contribute to who performers are. He feels that being left-handed has influenced his artistry and creativity (a distinct characteristic of left-handed people)but he tries not to read too much into this!
 
Finally, I ask that question...what it was like getting the knighthood?

Many thanks to Simon for taking the time to talk especially for this podcast and his team at Askonas Holt (Joel Thomas, Sophie Dand and Imogen Taylor) for helping to arrange this recording! 

Podcast published 31 July 2020; interview recorded 27 July 2020. 

Simon's bio: https://www.askonasholt.com/artists/simon-keenlyside

Music by audionautix.com.
"Alla What (parody)," Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com.
Used in full and edited forms for the podcast.

*Amended - The marmots can be found in the Whipsnade Downs at Whipsnade Zoo, which is near Dunstable.*

Ep. 35: Sir Simon Keenlyside

*TALKING CLASSICAL PODCAST HAS NOW BEEN REDIRECTED TO ANCHOR!* NEW URL: ANCHOR.FM/TALKING-CLASSICAL-PODCAST.

Talking about the lives, experiences and stories of people in classical music and more with artists, creatives and industry practitioners. 

If you've wondered what it’s like being a professional musician or you're simply intrigued to find out more about the industry and this art form, then the Talking Classical Podcast is the show to listen to! From leading artists to amazing people working behind the scenes, each podcast features a special guest (or two!) who will share their perspectives of classical music. 

Facebook - @talkingclassicalpodcast
Twitter - @tc_podcasts
YouTube - https://bit.ly/2WF4duy
Blog - talkingclassicalpodcast.wordpress.com

Talking Classical Podcast

Popular tracks