Our guest this week is pianist and writer Susan Tomes, one of the world's finest chamber musicians; member of the Florestan Trio, Domus Ensemble and solo recitalist as well as a brilliant writer on music. Susan's latest book, "The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces" is published in July. Susan chooses her Top 5 Trios - all of them classics in the repertoire - and the team adds theirs. From Mozart to Judith Bingham and all points between, it's the usual Classical Top 5 mix! With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
It is said that 99% of all music written is never performed! But it's certainly true that some composers and pieces deserve a better hearing and, for often a myriad of reasons, never quite get into the standard repertoire. Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner pick the works (and composers) that they think are unjustly neglected or have simply fallen out of fashion. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, Tommy, Richard and Charlotte are joined by actor, writer, broadcaster and critic Jeremy Nicholas who chooses his Top 5 recordings of classical music. With such a vast number to choose from, Jeremy and the team select the ones that mean the most to them for a variety of reasons, personal and professional. Can they ever shake off the allure of that first recording they heard of a piece? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, the team is joined by conductor and host of the "A Mic on the Podium' podcast, Michael Seal who chooses 5 moments in music that have shocked him; ranging from the personal - on the podium - to major issues facing the industry. A wide-ranging discussion on shocking musical moments, events and, er, bassoons. With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner are joined by a violinist who spent much of his time playing in one of the UK's most popular ensembles - the Brodskys - before becoming an in-demand orchestral leader: Andrew Haveron, currently concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Australia. Andrew chooses his Top 5 (and then some!) Quintets. They can come in many forms and a myriad of different instrumentations and composers have often saved their best music for a 5-musician line-up. But which ones will be the favourites of Andrew and the panel? Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
Our guest this week is superstar composer and presenter Howard Goodall who chooses his Top 5 (and more!) works for unaccompanied choir. A chorister throughout his childhood, Howard went on to write some of the most performed choral works of recent years (as well as themes to hit TV shows like Blackadder, Red Dwarf, QI and The Vicar of Dibley). But which pieces mean the most to him? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner choose their Top 5 Classical Earworms - those pesky tunes that get stuck in your head and are impossible to shift, whether you like them or not! From Handel to Karl Jenkins, you are bound to find at least one of their choices will stay with you long after the podcast. You have been warned! Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, the team is joined by US conductor, lecturer and teacher Christopher Russell who has made it his special mission across his career to feature works by American composers old and new. Chris chooses both classics and lesser known repertoire in his Top 5, alongside the team's own. With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, the team is joined by Emmy, Tony, Grammy Award-winning and 7-time Oscar nominated composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mary Poppins Returns, Sleepless in Seattle, Sister Act, A Few Good Men, South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut) who chooses the musicals that mean the most to him. Marc reveals a wide variety of choices and regularly turns to the piano to illustrate them! With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week, Tommy, Richard and Charlotte are joined by conductor Barry Wordsworth who chooses his Top 5 Ballets. As Music Director and now Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Ballet and Music Director Laureate of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Barry has conducted a huge range of ballets in his long career. So which ones will he choose? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
This week the team tackles a very big subject - Overtures. There are a LOT of them! Helping them whittle it down to 5 each is special guest Paul Daniel, who has conducted countless overtures in his time, especially in the opera house where he has been music director of Opera North and English National Opera, among others. Will your favourite overture make the final list? Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
We're back! A new year and a new series as Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner continue their survey of the greatest works, performers and composers in classical music. This week we select our Top 5 Solo Instrumental Works - pieces with no accompaniment (and excluding piano, which will get its own show!). Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
Join Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby, Charlotte Gardner and special guest Fiona Maddocks (from our original line-up!) for a look back at this extraordinary year as well as favourite guests, discoveries and surprises from the series so far. And listen out for our competition to win an exclusive Classical Top 5 face mask! Email your answer to classicaltop5@gmail.com Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue in 2021 by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
Our guest this week is one of the world's greatest singers, baritone Sir Thomas Allen. Sir Tom chooses the 5 male voices that he loves hearing the most, including some he's worked alongside. And the team offer their choices too, from bass all the way up to countertenor. Who will make the grade? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue in 2021 by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you! For all latest info: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theclassicaltop5 On Twitter: twitter.com/classicaltop5
Our special guest this week is the actor, writer and director Simon Callow. Simon chooses 5 Song Cycles that have meant the most to him in a lifetime of loving classical music and working within it as opera director, narrator and actor (he played Mozart in the original production of Amadeus). With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. If you have enjoyed our podcasts this year, please help us continue in 2021 by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Anything big or small will contribute to production and marketing costs and ensure Classical Top 5 continues to grow! Thank you. Producer: Simon Funnell
This week the team selects the great solos played by instruments from within the orchestra; another huge subject with so many brilliant examples. French horn solos seem a favourite with listeners; but what about the cor anglais, cello or even snare drum? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell
Our guest this week is star cellist Steven Isserlis who chooses his favourite cello concertos. There's a huge repertoire to choose from, including some unarguable classics; so which ones will Steven go for? With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell
In this special edition of the podcast, Tommy Pearson talks to the former King's Singer, conductor and much-loved broadcaster Brian Kay about his career and his memoir, "Music, My Life: A Gallimaufrey of Musical Memories" which has just been published. Producer: Simon Funnell
A slightly different show this week, as we invite special guest Gareth Davies, principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, to pick those key moments that had the biggest impact on his musical life and career, including the first time he played with the LSO and playing at the London 2012 Olympics. Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner chip in with their memories too. Producer: Simon Funnell
This week the team is joined by broadcaster, parish priest and former pop star, Rev Richard Coles. As England enters its second national lockdown, Richard chooses music that he turns to at times like this, that give him both a joyous escape from the everyday and moments of reflection. With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner. Producer: Simon Funnell
Christine Wright
A music podcast with no music! Very disappointing. There are no excerpts to illustrate what they are talking about, so a listener who isn't already familiar with the piece under discussion is none the wiser, with no chance to learn.