City of London Sinfonia

British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad talks to Alexandra Wood about her new dramatic song cycle, 'Scenes from the Wild', set to lyrics by musician and librettist Amanda Holden. They talk about how many books Cheryl and Amanda went through before settling on Dara McAnulty's 'Diary of a Young Naturalist' and how Cheryl decided to become a composer over a cellist. 'Scenes from the Wild' premieres on Thursday 25 November 2021 at Southwark Cathedral, with a further two performances on Saturday 27 November. The piece will be premiered by City of London Sinfonia, Geoffrey Paterson (conductor) and William Morgan (tenor), with direction from Sarah Dowling. https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin3

Alexandra Wood talks to South Korean composer Donghoon Shin about his creative process and inspiration for his new work, My Shadow, co-commissioned by CLS and the Heidelberger Frühling. Donghoon also talks about his love for Mahler, Elgar, jazz bands and Led Zeppelin. The UK premiere of My Shadow will take place in our second Origin concert, Shifting sounds, at Southwark Cathedral on 4 November 2021. Origin: Shifting Sounds: https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin2

Alexandra Wood talks to composer Huw Watkins about his new piece, 'Five Duos', written in celebration of our 50th anniversary. 'Five Duos' will be premiered by Alexandra Wood (violin) and Katherine 'Waffy' Spencer (clarinet) in our 'Origin' series opener on 27 October at Southwark Cathedral. 'Origin: An authentic voice', 27 October 2021: https://bit.ly/clsat50Origin1

In her last #Lockdownchats of the year, Alexandra Wood celebrates our RPS Awards win with the mastermind of our participation programme, Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation). They discuss our award-winning Sound Young Minds project and what's next, the importance of supporting and developing the skills of our musicians, and making art accessible to everybody. RPS Impact Award: https://wp.me/p2PciD-20C Room to Room Music: https://wp.me/p2PciD-1Zu This conversation took place during the second lockdown in England, UK.

During lockdown two, Alexandra Wood caught up with our Principal Clarinet, Katherine Spencer, to see what she's been getting up to. Katherine ('Waffy') talks about the benefits of music and being part of our participation projects, working in care homes over the last few months, and our Restore and Revive programmes at Southwark Cathedral. And you'll want to stay tuned to hear what her ultimate costumes would be for different pieces of classical music!

In Lockdown Chats with Alexandra Wood, Gawain Hewitt talks about our Sound Young Minds project at Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School and our RPS Awards nomination, his joyous experiences at Headway East London, and the impact music has on mental health. Video version on YouTube: youtu.be/Amtui8AMPy0

Brett Dean chats to Alexandra Wood about his love for the live aspect of music, whether composing, conducting or performing viola; about getting into composing, directing from the viola seat and transitioning from a performing musician to composer and creative musician. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood chats to Ann Lovatt (Violin) about combining live music and mindfulness in our Mindful Music sessions, how she got into practising mindfulness and how it's helped her during lockdown. You can watch our Mindful Music sessions on Facebook (bit.ly/clsmindfulmusic) or on YouTube (bit.ly/clsMMytplay). Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood talks to recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey in the sixth of our 'Lockdown chats'. They chat about our 'Absolute Bird' collaboration in 2019, all things recorder, the process of commissioning new compositions and the importance of arts and culture during lockdown and beyond. Image: Genevieve Lacey by Heide Smith. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the fifth of our 'Lockdown chats', Ursula Leveaux (Principal Bassoon) chats to Alexandra Wood about making the most of the quiet Lake District during lockdown, how she got into playing the Baroque bassoon and her enjoyment of our project-based work. You can watch Ursula's 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episodes in our Facebook video playlist: http://bit.ly/clsccahfb Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood caught up with composer Dobrinka Tabakova in the fourth of her 'Lockdown chats', reminiscing on performing 'Centuries of Meditations' in our Cathedrals Tour last October. Dobrinka also gives a glimpse into the life of a composer and talks about how it's changed in lockdown. Featuring an excerpt of 'Centuries of Meditations' by Dobrinka Tabakova. http://www.dobrinka.com Performed by City of London Sinfonia and Truro Cathedral Choir, conducted by Christopher Gray. https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk Recorded live by BBC Radio 3 in 'The Fruit of Silence' at Truro Cathedral on 17 October 2019 (broadcast on 29 October). http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the third of her 'Lockdown chats', Alexandra Wood talks to Joely Koos (Co-Principal Cello) about what it's like preparing for her Comfortable Classical at Home episodes live on Facebook and being able to spend more time with her family during lockdown. You can watch Joely's Comfortable Classical at Home episodes on City of London Sinfonia's Facebook playlist: http://bit.ly/clsccahfb Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Alexandra Wood talks to Co-Principal Horn Mark Paine in the second of her 'Lockdown chats'. Mark would usually be performing in all the operas in the Opera Holland Park Season in May-August, so Alex caught up with him to see what he's missing about it during lockdown. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

In the first of her 'Lockdown chats', Leader and Creative Director Alexandra Wood talks to singer and composer Roderick Williams OBE about what he's missing and filling his time with during lockdown. Credit excerpts: 'The Lark Ascending' (Vaughan Williams), performed by Alexandra Wood in 'Comfortable Classical at Home' episode three on Facebook.

Ruth Padel talks to Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir (Marketing Assistant) and Elaine Baines (Chief Operating Officer) about her original poem, based on the frame story of 'One Thousand and One Nights', written specially for 'Scheherazade: A retelling for our times' at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on 1 December 2019. Hosted by Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir. Recorded and edited in November 2019.

Hanan al-Shaykh talks to Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir (Marketing Assistant) and Elaine Baines (Chief Operating Officer) about her relationship with the stories of 'One Thousand and One Nights' and her role in 'Scheherazade: A retelling for our times' at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on 1 December 2019. Hosted by Arna Margrét Jónsdóttir. Recorded and edited in November 2019.

On Friday 3 May 2019, international recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey performs with City of London Sinfonia in ‘Absolute Bird: Sounds of the Outback’ at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Here’s what she had to say ahead of our performance. #AbsoluteBird: bit.ly/absolutebird

CEO Matthew Swann talks about all things birdsong and nature, and how composers from all periods have been fascinated by it, including Hollis Taylor—whose music our Absolute Bird series is named after. View Absolute Bird series: http://bit.ly/absolutebird > 3 May, Sounds of the Outback > 15 May, Flocks of Europe > 24 May, Translating Nature Image: Pied butcherbird by Hollis Taylor

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

Our participation team chats about our spring projects and how we're using the repertoire and themes of our Absolute Bird series (London, May 2019) to create shared musical experiences in wellbeing and education settings. Featuring Fiona Lambert (Director of Participation), Fiona Johnstone (Participation Projects Manager) and Natasha Allery (Marketing and Audiences Officer). Recorded on 11 March 2019 at the CLS Office.

These audio programme notes accompany our Bach and the Cosmos concert finale on Saturday 20 October 2018, 7.30pm at Southwark Cathedral. Concert details: bit.ly/clsbachbmmsc | Series blog: bit.ly/clsblogbach Audio programme notes: 1) 0.01-2.42: CEO Matthew Swann - The music in Bach's Mass in B Minor - Why did Bach write the B Minor Mass? 2) 2.43-7.30: Professor James Sparks - Relationships between maths and music - How was Bach a mathematical composer? - Mathematical structures and patterns in the B Minor Mass 3) 7.31-10.18: CEO Matthew Swann - Tonight's performers - Bach and the Cosmos in other settings

In the fifth and final episode of our ‘Views from the pit’ mini-series, conductor Brad Cohen (Ariadne auf Naxos) explains the rehearsal process, challenges of moving Ariadne from Glasgow to London, and why opera is unique. Presented by Tasha Allery and Gabriele Neuditschko. Featuring rehearsal footage from Ariadne auf Naxos at Opera Holland Park.

In episode 4 of our ‘Views from the pit’ podcast mini-series, we catch up with Principal Clarinet Katherine 'Waffy' Spencer and Principal Oboe Dan Bates after a six-hour rehearsal of Ariadne auf Naxos. Presented by Tasha Allery and Gabriele Neuditschko. Featuring rehearsal footage from Ariadne auf Naxos at Opera Holland Park.

Joining us in episode 3 of 'Views from the Pit', during the interval of La traviata, are two of the Orchestra’s longest-standing members: French horn Mark Paine and Tuba Stephen Wick. Presented by Tasha Allery and Gabriele Neuditschko. Rehearsal footage from the OHP 2017 and 2018 seasons.

In episode 2 of our 2018 ‘Views from the Pit’ mini-series, some of our team talk to violinists Charlotte Reid and Gabrielle Painter and viola player Matthew Maguire, during their interval teatime at Così fan tutte. Presented by Tasha Allery and Gabriele Neuditschko. Rehearsal footage from Così fan tutte, Opera Holland Park 2018 Season.

In the first episode of our podcast mini-series, James Clutton and Matthew Swann talk about what's special about City of London Sinfonia’s 15th Season as orchestra in residence; how Opera Holland Park has evolved over the years, and of course about the incredible operas in the OHP 2018 Season. Warning: features spoilers of opera endings. Presented by Tasha Allery and Gabriele Neuditschko. Rehearsal footage from Cosi fan tutte and Ariadne auf Naxos, Opera Holland Park 2018 Season.

"Music-making is a shared experience." In this podcast, Fiona and Zak (members of the CLS team) discuss their experiences of music-making with CLS musicians in wellbeing settings, as well as the impact our projects in hospitals, hospital schools and care homes have on participants and our musicians. We're also joined by Sound Artist Gawain Hewitt who talks about our three-year residency at Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School and our recent creative music-making with music technology at Headway East London. Join us in our 2018-19 Season (from September) to celebrate our Participation programme's 30th year.

In April, some of our team caught up with composer/viola player Brett Dean to talk about our Hero Worship concert at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Tue 8 May 2018. Tickets: bit.ly/clscshw

This episode is full of the wonders of spring, as we delve into our Spring Season of concerts in London. We’ll catch up with CEO Matthew Swann about our first outing at the newly refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall (bit.ly/clscshw), and our new series of chamber miniatures, CLS Minis (bit.ly/clsminis). We’ll also hear from our Leader and Creative Director, Alexandra Wood, and from Ann Lovatt (referred to as Ann Morfee), one of our First Violins, who will give you an introduction to mindful meditation.

Welcome to our first podcast of 2018! In this episode, you’ll hear from Creative Director and Leader Alexandra Wood, who recaps on last year’s Modern Mystics series in London and chats about what’s coming up this year. You’ll also hear from some of our team about what they’re looking forward to in 2018, and excerpts from some of our recent projects and performances. This podcast features Alexandra Wood, musicians and members of the CLS team, live footage from our Modern Mystics trilogy, and beautiful new sounds created with people from Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School. We're looking forward to lots of fantastic music-making in the year ahead! What are you looking forward to?

Our King of Ghosts podcast features excerpts from King of Ghosts, recorded at Shakespeare’s Globe with Soumik Datta in September, and released exclusively on Globe Music on 17 November 2017. You can also hear the full conversation between Chief Executive Matthew Swann and Bill Barclay that you will have heard an extract for in our Summer Holidays podcast. Order your copy at Globe Music: po.st/GlobeMusic

Our Modern Mystics podcast brings you details of our Autumn 2017 concert series, featuring Chief Executive Matthew Swann, Creative Director and Leader Alexandra Wood, and conductor Jessica Cottis in live footage from our Modern Mystics Season Launch at West London Synagogue on 5 October 2017. Our Modern Mystics series is generously supported by Arts Council England, the Kirby Laing Foundation, the Leche Trust, the Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation, M&G Investments, Cockayne Grants for the Arts, and the London Community Foundation. Full concert details and tickets: http://bit.ly/modernmystics

In our Summer Holidays podcast, Chief Executive Matthew Swann brings you all the details of our summer activities, including King of Ghosts at Shakespeare’s Globe, our Grand Organ Gala and Masses at St Paul’s Cathedral, Opera Holland Park’s 2017 Season, and our Reformation Day performance at the BBC Proms.

In part two of Views From The Pit, we bring you more stories from the Opera Holland Park orchestra pit by some of our musicians; insight into Opera Holland Park’s 2017 Season with Sian Edwards (conductor of Kat’a Kabanova) and Alex Regan (City of London Sinfonia’s Performances Manager and Librarian), and the all-important tea-break talk with Charlotte Reid and Matt Maguire. Featuring CLS musicians Stephen Wick, Mark Paine, Charlotte Reid and Matt Maguire; Sian Edwards and Alex Regan in conversation with Natasha Allery; and footage from Kat’a Kabanova and Zaza rehearsals at Opera Holland Park.

In part one of Views from the Pit, we bring you stories from the Opera Holland Park orchestra pit by some of our musicians, and insight into Opera Holland Park’s 2017 Season and the Grenfell Tower memorial performance with James Clutton (Director of Opera at Opera Holland Park) in conversation with Matthew Swann. Featuring CLS musicians Katherine Spencer and Matt Maguire in conversation with Alex Regan; James Clutton in conversation with Matthew Swann, and footage from La rondine rehearsals at Opera Holland Park.