Podcast appearances and mentions of oliver condy

This week on HIF player we embark on a classical music journey with musician and writer Oliver Condy recorded live at Berwins Salon North. Using his years of experience to prescribe remedies for all manner of ailments in the form of classical music and offer musical prescriptions that offer comfort, solace and strength in the face of dark times.

In this episode, BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy talks to the former Guardian editor and now principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, Alan Rusbridger.While the editor of a national paper during the Arab Spring, Wikileaks controversies, the newspaper hacking scandal, riots in the UK and more, Alan Rusbridger found time to learn and perform Chopin’s Ballade No. 1, a feat he describes in his book Play It Again: An Amateur Against the Impossible.Recordings featured:Chopin: Ballade No. 1Murray Perahia (piano)Sony Classical Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the OrchestraNew York Philharmonic/Leonard BernsteinSony Classical Bach arr. Busoni: Nun komm, der Heiden HeilandAlfred Brendel (piano)Decca Beethoven: String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131Takacs QuartetDecca Schubert: Variations on an Original ThemeAndreas Staier & Alexander Melnikov (piano)Harmonia Mundi See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Irish soprano Ailish Tynan talks to BBC Music Magazine's editor Oliver Condy about her musical experiences in lockdown, recent streamed performances at the Royal Opera house and at Wigmore Hall and at home with her family, as well as the music that has inspired her throughout the year.Recordings featured:Wolf: GanymedJohn McCormack (tenor), Edwin Schneider (piano)Symposium SYMPCD1164 Schubert: Die ForelleAilish Tynan (soprano), Iain Burnside (piano)Delphian DCD34165 Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Ablösung im SommerChristiane Karg (soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano)Harmonia Mundi HMM905338 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Organist, choirmaster and presenter Anna Lapwood talks about her role at Pembroke College as director music, her first recording with the choir there and her musical loves that ranges from Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky to the choral music of Caroline Shaw. Oliver Condy met her before the lockdown at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, just down the road from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where Anna had been presenting BBC Young Musicians for BBC Four.Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kOOe5tCIBMkgqi3e7ZzAl?si=Ri4uAFhtTyK75doNasckUAWebsite: Classical-music.com/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following his recital with recorder player Michaela Petri at the Bath Bachfest, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani strolled around the centre of the Georgian city with Oliver Condy and shared his favourite music, including a symphonic discovery and the single piece of music he couldn’t live without…Episode Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2v78HC0EKL7tiArRw4ApM7?si=qT5om-FHTFqiIzh3vCsMLQWebsite: Classical-music.com/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this month's podcast, we announce the winners of this year's BBC Music Magazine Awards and listen to a track from our Recording of the Year. Plus, we discuss the enduring relationship between two artistic forms: classical music and fashion.We also look back on the recent highlights of musicians innovating during the lockdown period while they're not able to work in the usual way. These include mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston's new cookbook: Notes from Musicians' Kitchens, and the English National Opera's plans for drive-in opera at Alexandra Palace. We also discuss the handful of orchestras and concert halls that are offering concert tickets to NHS workers following the lockdown.As usual, we've each brought along a recording we've been enjoying, including a violin arrangement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto and José Serebrier's Flute Concerto.THE MAGAZINEBBC Music Magazine Awards Recording of the Year:Purcell: King ArthurAnna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Rowan Pierce, Carolyn Sampson (sopranos), Jeremy Budd (high tenor), James Way (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreeshSignum SIGCD589Recording of the Month:Debussy & RameauVíkingur Ólafsson (piano)DG 4837701FIRST LISTENFreya's choice:José Serebrier: Flute ConcertoSharon Bezaly (flute), Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti BIS BIS2423Oliver's choice:Beethoven: Piano Concertos Part 2Inon Barnatan (piano), Academy of St Martin in the FieldsPentatone PTC5186824Michael's choice:Amours, toujours!Smoking JoséphineNaive V5469This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with reviews editor Michael Beek and editorial assistant Freya Parr. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this month's podcast, we reflect on some of our favourite concerts that have been streamed online over the past few weeks, and suggest a few to look out for in the coming months. Plus, we discuss the new virtual festival of the arts 'Culture in Quarantine' on BBC Arts.Also this month, we discuss the fabulous virtuosity of violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov as he marks 40 years on stage, and Ravi Shankar, whose centenary we are celebrating in our May issue.As usual, we've each brought along a recording we've been enjoying, from an orchestral work inspired by the Canary Islands to a choral piece based on an Estonian folk hymn.THE MAGAZINEMaxim VengerovRavel: Violin SonataMaxim Vengerov, Roustem Saïtkoulov at Carnegie Hall in 2018 (available on Idagio)Cover CD:Bruckner: Symphony No. 8BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Donald RunniclesFIRST LISTENFreya's choice:Chigaday (La Gomera) - for OrchestraGustavo Díaz-Jerez: Maghek – Seven Symphonic Poems About The Canary IslandsRoyal Scottish National Orchestra/Eduardo PortalSignum Classics SIGCD612Oliver's choice:Whilst greater is our poverty, still greater is our blessingKreek: The Suspended Harp of BabelVox ClamantisECM 4819041Jeremy's choice:Mathias: Harp Sonata, Second Movement: Allegro VivoA Vision of Time and EternityMichelle Gott (harp)Naxos 8.574053This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with deputy editor Jeremy Pound and editorial assistant Freya Parr. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the April issue of the BBC Music Magazine Podcast, we discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on music festivals across the globe. We also look at the recently released list of PRS Women Changing Music, which features a number of film composers. Also this month, we flick through the latest issue of BBC Music Magazine, which features pianist Angela Hewitt on the cover. We reflect on the tragic story of her broken Fazioli piano, which hit headlines earlier this year. You’ll also get to hear an extract from our Recording of the Month: Federico Colli performing Domenico Scarlatti’s piano sonatas.As always, we’ve each brought along a new recording we’ve discovered this month, including works by Caroline Shaw, Bernard Hughes and Nikolai Tcherepnin. * PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago. Because of the fast-paced nature of the coronavirus outbreak, some of our references to its impact on the music scene may already be out of date.THE MAGAZINE:D Scarlatti: Sonata KK427 in G major D Scarlatti: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2Federico Colli (piano)Chandos CHAN20134FIRST LISTEN:Michael’s choice:Not Now, Bernard – Part 1Not Now, Bernard and other storiesAlexander Armstrong (narrator), Orchestra of the Swan/Tom HammondOrchid Classics ORC100115Oliver’s choice:Caroline Shaw: SchismaHealing ModesBrooklyn RiderIn A Circle Records IRC014Jeremy’s choice:Nikolai Tcherepnin: Narcisse et Echo, Op. 40Bamberger Symphoniker/Łukasz BorowiczCPO 555250-2This podcast was presented by BBC Music Magazine’s editor Oliver Condy, with deputy editor Jeremy Pound and reviews editor Michael Beek. The jingles were composed by Christopher Maxim and the episode was produced by Jack Bateman and Ben Youatt. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Oliver Condy recommends recordings of Grieg's Holberg Suite, Op. 40

In our February 2020 podcast, we discuss cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s entry into the Official UK Album Chart, the first cellist in history to do so. We also analyse the nominees for Best Original Score at this year’s Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes, and look at who from the classical music was named on the New Year’s Honours list this year.Also this episode, we listen to extracts from both our cover CD and our Recording of the Month, the latter of which is pianist Angela Hewitt performing Bach’s Partitas. Plus, we bring you the nominees for this year’s BBC Music Magazine Awards!As usual, we each bring along a recording we’ve discovered and have been enjoying this month, from piccolo music by Thea Musgrave to Spanish piano music by Granados.This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by editorial assistant Freya Parr and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman.News:Judith Bingham: The Drowned LoversMaria Forsström (mezzo-soprano), Swedish Chamber Choir/Simon PhippsChandos CHSA5255Elgar: Enigma Variations – NimrodSheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Ben Davies (cello), Hannah Roberts (cello), Josephine Knight (cello), Caroline Dearnley (cello), Ashok Khluda (cello)Decca 4850241The Magazine:Beethoven: Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brioBBC Philharmonic/Gianandrea NosedaJS Bach: Partita No. 1 in B flat: VI. GigueAngela Hewitt (piano)Hyperion CDA68271/2First Listen:Phantasm: Clavierubung IIIThe Well-Tempered ConsortPhantasmLinn CKD618Granados: Oriental (Danza Espanola)SaudadesRomain Nosbaum (piano)ARS Produktion ARS38287Thea Musgrave: Piccolo Play: IV. Les PapillonsMighty MetamorphosesPeter Verhoyen (piccolo), Stefan De Schepper (piano)Etcetera Records KTC1668 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have mince pies, sherry and crackers: it must be time for the Christmas podcast! Join us for an episode packed with Yuletide joy, beautiful new carols by Dobrinka Tabakova, Toby Young, Cecilia McDowall and Michael Finnissy, as well as our favourite festive musical jokes. Plus hear all about our Christmas isssue. Our cover feature takes a look at a masterpiece that has redefined the sound of Christmas, Handel's Messiah; we also explore the parish church choir scene, and find out what concert-hall horrors cause musicians to see red. And, of course, we've brought along a batch of the latest Christmas CDs we've been enjoying. Merry Christmas!This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by deputy editor Jeremy Pound, managing editor Rebecca Franks, editorial assisstant Freya Parr and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman.Recordings:Dobrinka Tabakova Good-will to men, and peace on EarthChoir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen ReesBBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CDToby Young The OwlChoir of Queen's College, Oxford/Owen ReesBBC Music Magazine Christmas 2020 Cover CDExtracts from Handel's MessiahTaverner Choir and Players/Andrew ParrottVirgin Veritas 562 0042Peter Warlock Bethlehem DownChristmas at St George's WindsorChoir of St George's Windsor/James VivianHyperion CDA 68281First Listen Choices:Christmas at St George's WindsorChoir of St George's Windsor/James VivianHyperion CDA 68281Advent Carols from King's College, LondonChoir of King's College, London/Joseph FortDelphian DCD34226Tchaikovsky The NutcrackerState Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov'/Vladimir JurowskiPentatone PTC5186761 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In our October 2019 podcast, we discuss the news that Jules Buckley has been taken on the role of creative artist in association at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the family of a girl chorister has sued Berlin Cathedral Choir after it rejected her application for an audition. Plus, we introduce our October issue, in which we talk to husband-and-wife team mezzo Magdalena Kožená and maestro Simon Rattle about their recording of works for voice and piano. We also try out the BBC Philharmonic’s new in-concert app, and, as usual, we each bring along a new recording we’ve been enjoying this month. This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by deputy editor Jeremy Pound and reviews editor Michael Beek. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman.Recordings:Brahms String Sextet No. 1 in B flatRaphael EnsembleHyperion CDA66276‘Il volo cosí fido al doce’ from Handel’s Riccardo PrimoHandel’s QueensLucy Crowe, Mary Bevan, London Early Opera/Bridget CunninghamSignum SIGCD579Olly’s choice: Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon OvertureMalmö Symphony Orchestra/Darrell AngNaxos 8573859Jeremy’s choice: Lassen Violin ConcertoLinus Roth, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Antony HermusHyperion CDA68268 Michael’s choice: ‘The Duel’ from John Williams’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the UnicornAcross the StarsAnne-Sophie Mutter, The Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles/John WilliamsDeutsche Grammophon 4797553Stories:Bagpiper receives noise complaints for practising in back garden: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/4601608/alan-jamieson-wishaw-bagpipes-sunderland-hate-mail/Berlin choir accused of gender discrimination by girl chorister: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/09/berlin-choir-accused-of-gender-discrimination-by-nine-year-old-girlJules Buckley announced as creative artist in association: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/26/stormzy-collaborator-jules-buckley-bbc-symphony-orchestra See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In our September 2019 podcast, we bring you news of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's new conductor, the Royal Philharmonic Society's new membership offer, and a choir that hopes to bring the message of environmentalism to its audience. Plus we introduce our September issue, in which Julian Lloyd Webber delves into the world of Elgar's Cello Concerto, one hundred years after its premiere. He's also the soloist on your free cover CD. And, as ever, we bring along the new recordings that we've been enjoying this month.This episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, who is joined by editorial assistant Freya Parr and managing editor Rebecca Franks. It was produced by Ben Youatt and Jack Bateman.Recordings:A Scots Tune (From the Rowallan Manuscript) from SoftLoudSean Shibe (guitar)Delphian DCD34213Leopold Mozart Missa SolemnisDas Vokalprojekt, Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie/Alessandro De MarchiAparté AP205Rebecca's choice: 'Allegro Moderato Leggiero (Four to the Floor)' from Gabriel Prokofiev's Bass Drum ConcertoBranford Marsalis, Joby Burgess, Ural Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexei BogoradSignum Classics SIGCD584Freya's choice: Hildegard von Bingen O vos felices radices from Supersize Polyphony Armonico Consort, Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge/Geoffrey Webber, Christopher MonksSignum Classics SIGCD560Olly's choice: First movement from Bryce Dessner's Concerto for Two PianosMarielle and Katia Labèque (piano); Orchestre de Paris/Matthias PintscherDeutsche Grammophon 4818075Stories:Our September issue is on sale now: http://www.classical-music.com/issue/september-2019Subscribe to the magazine today: http://www.classical-music.com/subscribe/bbc-music-magazine/worldwide Edward Gardner appointed to the London Philharmonic Orchestra: http://www.classical-music.com/news/edward-gardner-announced-next-principal-conductor-london-philharmonic-orchestraRoyal Philharmonic Society: https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/royal-philharmonic-society-announces-new-membership-offer/Nature's Voice: https://www.templemusic.org/shop/thesoundofnature/?yr=2019&month=6&dy=&cid=mini See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Oliver Condy recommends recordings of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 'Italian'.

Welcome to the Christmas episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy along with reviews editor Michael Beek and editorial assistant Freya Parr. This month, we discuss the winners of Young Chorister of the Year 2018, the bank-breaking Pavarotti art case and the research that shows that classical music recordings are getting significantly faster by the year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For the March 2018 episode, editor Oliver Condy, deputy editor Jeremy Pound, reviews editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Freya Parr chat about the ambitious centennial season in 2018-2019 from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the retirement of music director Stephen Cleobury from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, how music venues and churches will now have better protection from local residents and the launch of Irish National Opera See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ann Hallenberg's wonderful exploration of the Venice Carnival in 1729 is our September Recording of the Month. The Swedish mezzo joins Il Pomo d'Oro and Stefano Montanari for a programme of Albinoni, Giacomelli, Leo, Vinci and others on this Pentatone Recording. Find out more and hear extracts from the disc in this podcast presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first instalment of Alexander Melnikov's Prokofiev piano sonata cycle is our February 2017 Recording of the Month. The Russian pianist begins with Sonatas Nos 2, 6 and 8; the recording is out now on Harmonia Mundi. Find out more about this wonderful performance in this episode of the BBC Music Magazine podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Beethoven symphonies remain a true test for any orchestra, and here the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic and its conductor Sir Simon Rattle record them together for the first time. This lavish set is our July Recording of the Month. Hear clips from the recordings and discussion about the music here, in this podcast presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sean talks to pianists Lucy Parham and Oliver Condy ahead of the Cheltenham Festival

Our June issue Recording of the Month features Martinu's piano trios, wonderful but still underrated chamber works by one of the great 20th-century Czech composers. They are brilliantly performed here by the Smetana Trio, on a recording for the Supraphon label. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks to find out more about the music and this recording, and hear clips from the CD. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Handel's famous Water Music is given a vibrant, fresh performance by the Akademie für Alte Musik on a new Harmonia Mundi recording. It's our April Recording of the Month. In this podcast hear clips from the recording as well as discussion about the music with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and conductor Teodor Currentzis join forces for their first recording together, with the orchestra MusicAeterna. The programme brings together Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Stravinsky's ballet Les noces, and it's Recording of the Month in the March 2016 issue. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks to find out more about these two Russian works and hear clips from the recording. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Beatrice Rana's impressive concerto debut on Warner Classics is our March 2016 Recording of the Month. The Italian pianist, who won second place at the Van Cliburn competition three years ago, has chosen Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto and Prokofiev's Second for this recording. She performs with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Sir Antonio Pappano. You can hear clips from both of these great Russian concertos in this podcast, presented by BBC Music Magazine's editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Oliver Condy recommends a version of Poulenc's Organ Concerto

Two musical giants of the Romantic era, Brahms and Bruckner were often seen as being aesthetically and ideologically opposed. So it's fascinating to compare their choral works on a beautifully sung new disc from Tenebrae and its conductor Nigel Short. Hear clips from the recording and find out more about the music with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks in this podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alina Ibragimova's solo Bach was one of the standout events of the 2015 BBC Proms. Here she turns to the composer's violin concertos, with equally captivating results. In this podcast, you can hear clips from her recording with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen for Hyperion, as well as discussion of the disc by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Strauss's Symphonia Domestica isn't heard that often in concert but Die Tageszeiten is even more of a rarity. Yet it's a wonderful piece of music, as this recording by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Marek Janowski proves. Find out more about in this podcast with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Elizabeth Watts is the soloist on this uplifting and engaging disc of Mozart opera arias and overtures with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and conductor Christian Baldini. Hear clips from the disc and discussion about the music on this podcast with editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choral works by Barber, Copland, Bernstein and Thompson all feature on the August issue's Recording of the Month, a superb new disc from Polyphony and Stephen Layton. Hear clips from music by all four in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

András Schiff's new Schubert disc is BBC Music Magazine's July issue Recording of the Month. It's not the first time the Hungarian pianist has recorded this music, but it's given a completely different character thanks to the instrument he has chosen to play – a fortepiano from 1820. Hear extracts from the recording in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our June Recording of the Month is a fantastic new disc of Tchaikovsky from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and conductor Andris Nelsons, featuring the Manfred Symphony and Marche Slave. Join editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks for a discussion of the music, and to hear extracts of this superb recording, out now on Orfeo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pianist Nelson Goerner turns to Schumann for his latest disc – with magical results. It’s our Recording of the Month for the March issue and you can find out more about it in this podcast, presented by editor Oliver Condy and reviews editor Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the magical world of the Tallis Fantasia to the elusive and haunting Pastoral Symphony, this new recording from the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder gets to the heart of Vaughan Williams’s music. In this podcast Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks discuss the pieces and play clips from the disc. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts an overwhelming performance of Elgar’s masterly oratorio, with Stuart Skelton, Sarah Connolly and David Soar as soloists. Find out more about the piece and hear clips from the recording in this podcast, presented by Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two symphonies by Shostakovich, written 30 years apart, feature on our bleak but brilliant Recording of the Month, played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Hear clips from the recording and find out more about the music in this month’s podcast, presented by Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The United Kingdom is blessed with any number of top-flight orchestras – the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, umpteen BBC orchestras, and specialist groups like Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. But among connoisseurs, there's one group that has often batted above its league: The Ulster Orchestra. Considered one of the jewels in Northern Ireland's cultural crown, it was founded in 1966 and has since released nearly 100 recordings and worked under many respected conductors, including JoAnn Falletta, Sergiu Commissiona and Yan Pascal Tortelier. Now comes word that the Ulster Orchestra faces bankruptcy and possible shutdown by the end of the year due to a funding crisis. For some perspective on this, host Naomi Lewin speaks with Oliver Condy, the editor of BBC Music Magazine. "It beggars belief," said Condy. "I can't quite understand how an orchestra can go from operating at full tilt to being told it's going to be offered 28 percent cut in its public funding." Condy describes how the Ulster Orchestra has been the ultimate "show-must-go-on ensemble," having played for years against a backdrop of social unrest in Northern Ireland. "This is an orchestra that played every single concert during the Troubles of the 1970s and '80s when all of Northern Ireland was threatened with bombings either from the IRA or loyalist groups," said Condy. "The Ulster Orchestra's offices were threatened daily with bombings and they never cancelled any of their concerts." The Ulster Orchestra has also championed many lesser-known composers including the works of the Classical Czech Jan Ladislav Dussek (WQXR's Album of the Week), and a number of British composers like Arthur Bliss, Frank Bridge and Arnold Bax. Condy notes that the ensemble recently began an "exciting new chapter" under a new music director, Venezuelan Rafael Payare. But perhaps what's most surprising is why there hasn't been more outcry among the Ulster public. To find out why, listen to the full segment at the top of this page.

Claudio Abbado's final concert with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra included Bruckner's Symphony No. 9. It's a profoundly moving performance. Oliver Condy and Rebecca Franks discuss the piece and play clips from the recording in this podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.