Wigmore Hall Podcasts

Women composers at Wigmore Hall - Part 1

Katy Hamilton and Emily Woolf explore the history of women composers at Wigmore Hall.

From the very beginning, works by women have been an integral part of concert programming at Wigmore Hall, and though trends and styles have shifted and changed through the years, there has never been a time when the creative voice of women was not given room on our stage.

Musician, writer and presenter Katy Hamilton and the Hall’s Archivist Emily Woolf provide a fascinating overview of women composers at Wigmore Hall, tracing the story of their works in performance here throughout the 20th century and up to the present day. 

This podcast is an original recording of an Archive Event held for Friends of Wigmore Hall earlier this year. As such, there are a series of images that are referred to throughout the talk, which are available for viewing in the slideshow below.

Women composers at Wigmore Hall - Part 2

Katy Hamilton and Emily Woolf explore the history of women composers at Wigmore Hall.

From the very beginning, works by women have been an integral part of concert programming at Wigmore Hall, and though trends and styles have shifted and changed through the years, there has never been a time when the creative voice of women was not given room on our stage.

Musician, writer and presenter Katy Hamilton and the Hall’s Archivist Emily Woolf provide a fascinating overview of women composers at Wigmore Hall, tracing the story of their works in performance here throughout the 20th century and up to the present day. 

This podcast is an original recording of an Archive Event held for Friends of Wigmore Hall earlier this year. As such, there are a series of images that are referred to throughout the talk, which are available for viewing in the slideshow below.

Jessica Duchen interviews Alexander Melnikov about his Wigmore Hall Residency

The Russian pianist has been an Artist in Residence at Wigmore Hall for the 2018/19 Season.

Novelist and classical music writer Jessica Duchen discusses with Alexander Melnikov the varied and demanding programming behind his residency and adapting his style between fortepiano and modern piano. They take a look back at Melnikov's education, his musical influences and collaborations, including that with fellow pianist Andreas Staier, and some more unusual interests in his life… did you know he has a pilot's licence?

In conversation with Jane Glover ‘Handel in London’

Chief Executive of the Royal Philharmonic Society, James Murphy talks to Jane Glover about her latest book ‘Handel in London’

Aged 25, Handel arrived in London in 1710 and transformed the musical scene. Whilst London has changed drastically from then, much has remarkably stayed very similar, conductor Jane Glover discusses this in her acclaimed new book ‘Handel in London’. In this special event, co-presented by Wigmore Hall and the Royal Philharmonic Society, James Murphy talks to Jane about the iconic composer, his lasting impact in Britain, and how she draws upon the exploration of his extraordinary life to shape how she performs his music today.

Written in elegant prose that wears its author's scrupulous scholarship lightly ... Glover deftly weaves musical analysis into her biographical flow. Her greatest achievement, however, is to give life and music a political and social context. - Richard Morrison, The Times

Christian Zacharias Lecture-Recital: Why does Schubert sound like Schubert?

‘A pianist of ideas’, as The New Yorker has called him, leading Schubert interpreter Christian Zacharias delves into the great composer’s unique melodic, harmonic and thematic flourishes. Through close examination of these musical hallmarks and idiosyncrasies, he takes us on a journey to the very essence of Schubert’s style.

Gerald Finley in conversation with Sara Mohr-Pietsch

Ahead of his concert with Julius Drake on 15 June, the Canadian baritone Gerald Finley talks about programming, Schubert and Wigmore Hall with music broadcaster Sara Mohr-Pietsch

Together the pair discuss the motivation and inspiration behind programming a song recital and Gerald's nearly decade-long relationship with pianist Julius Drake. Gerald explores his changing perceptions of the Schubert Lied, the difference between his approach to a song recital and an opera, and the "sweet spot" of the Wigmore Hall stage.

Exploring Elliott Carter’s quartets with the JACK Quartet and Tom Service

In April 2019, the JACK Quartet performed a two-concert cycle of the complete string quartets by Elliott Carter, in a lunchtime and evening recital they have been looking forward to with anticipation.

Journalist Tom Service breaks down the music particularly of Carter’s 2nd and 3rd quartets, which form part of the evening concert programme, and 1st quartet which the JACK played at lunchtime. The JACK Quartet joins Tom with instruments in hand, to give live musical examples and bring to life the exuberant and exciting characters under discussion.

Stéphane Degout in conversation with Richard Stokes

French baritone Stéphane Degout discusses French song, oratorio, opera and gastronomy with Richard Stokes.

 

Introduction to the String Quartet (Part 4)

The string quartet, a combination of two upper voices, one middle and one lower, gives the composer the minimum requirement for fourpart harmony. This idea of a bare minimum has entranced composers from Haydn – who started it all – right through to the present day, and the attention that so many great composers have given the genre has created an almost unrivalled succession of masterful works; Beethoven’s seventeen quartets acting almost as benchmarks, with Schubert, Brahms, Bartók and Shostakovich pitching in too.

In this four-part podcast, Roy Stratford to explores how the string quartet has adapted to changing musical styles and become arguably the most significant and fertile chamber music combination.

Introduction to the String Quartet (Part 3)

The string quartet, a combination of two upper voices, one middle and one lower, gives the composer the minimum requirement for fourpart harmony. This idea of a bare minimum has entranced composers from Haydn – who started it all – right through to the present day, and the attention that so many great composers have given the genre has created an almost unrivalled succession of masterful works; Beethoven’s seventeen quartets acting almost as benchmarks, with Schubert, Brahms, Bartók and Shostakovich pitching in too.

In this four-part podcast, Roy Stratford to explores how the string quartet has adapted to changing musical styles and become arguably the most significant and fertile chamber music combination.