Best Nelson Pierce Podcasts (2025)

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Exploring Beethoven 1:08:16

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39m ago1:08:16

1:08:16

In this week's Gramophone Podcast, the last of 2025, we explore the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Editor Emeritus James Jolly talks to Richard Wigmore – a long-standing contributor to our pages, and an expert on the music of the classical and early romantic periods – about this musical Titan. They discuss Beethoven's transform…

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Critics Choice 2025 24:53

6d ago24:53

24:53

As another year of preparing and publishing many hundreds of reviews draws to a close, the three team members most involved - Reviews Editor Gavin Dixon, Deputy Editor Tim Parry, and Editor and Publisher Martin Cullingford - take time out to discuss what lies behind the process, and how we decide which albums are named Gramophone Editor's Choices. …

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Remembering Alfred Brendel, with his son Adrian Brendel 51:12

12d ago51:12

51:12

In this week's Gramophone Podcast we remember Alfred Brendel, one of the most significant and much-loved musical figures of age, in the company of his son, the cellist Adrian Brendel, who takes Editor Martin Cullingford around the pianist's library and studio and reflects on what his books, art and belongings tell us about him. He also talks about …

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Christophe Rousset on Charpentier's Christmas music 23:59

20d ago23:59

23:59

In this week's edition of of the Gramophone Podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by the conductor and harpsichordist Christophe Rousset to talk about his new album of Christmas music by the 17th century composer Charpentier - called a Baroque Christmas - recorded with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, and released on the en…

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Thomas Adès and the Ruisi Quartet on their new recording, Növények 36:21

27d ago36:21

36:21

We're joined for this week's Gramophone Podcast by composer Thomas Adès and two members of the Ruisi Quartet, violinist Alessandro Ruisi and viola player Luba Tunnicliffe, to talk about their recording of Növények, Adès's setting of seven Hungarian poems for mezzo-soprano and piano sextet. They explore this fascinating work with Gramophone Editor M…

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Pierce County is in Peril 52:49

1M ago52:49

52:49

Mike welcomes Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild President, Shaun Darby and Community Advocate Annie Jolie to discuss the impending implosion of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and their desperate struggle to recruit and retain deputies.By Mike Solan

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Samantha Ege and Leah Broad on Avril Coleridge-Taylor 33:16

1M ago33:16

33:16

Hattie Butterworth is joined by pianist and historian Samantha Ege and author Leah Broad to discuss the life and music of composer Avril Coleridge-Taylor as the first recording of her orchestral music and piano concerto is released on Resonus

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Conductor Klaus Mäkelä on performing Mahler's Eighth at the 2025 Mahler Festival 19:54

2M ago19:54

19:54

In May this year, the Concertgebouw – Amsterdam's legendary concert hall – played host to the 2025 Mahler Festival. Originally scheduled for 2000, the centenary of the first such event, but moved back by five years due to the pandemic, the Mahler Festival saw all of Mahler's symphonies performed chronologically over two weeks, and performed by a ha…

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Pianist Mao Fujita on concluding his preludes project 23:30

2M ago23:30

23:30

Mao Fujita, who took second prize in the Piano category at the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition, released an album on Sony Classical of 72 preludes back in the autumn of 2024 – the three sets of 24 by Chopin, Scriabin and Akio Yashiro. Now as a pendant to that project he has recorded another six, by Ravel, Rachmaninov, Mompou, Franck, Busoni and Alkan.…

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Composer and author Robin Holloway on celebrating 900 years of classical music 37:00

2M ago37:00

37:00

The composer, academic and writer Robin Holloway has just published a new book, Music's Odyssey, An Invitation to Western Classical Music (Allen Lane). He's Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge, where James Jolly went to visit him a couple of weeks ago to talk about the book's genesis and aims. The podcast features an excerpt …

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Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky on his new album 'Gelosia!' 34:19

2M ago34:19

34:19

The French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky has just released a new Erato album of cantatas da camera by Alessandro Scarlatti, Porpora, Galuppi, Handel and Vivaldi, 'Gelosia!'. On it he also conducts his ensemble Artaserse, which he founded in 2002, and with which he increasingly appears solely as conductor rather than as singer. Gramophone's James …

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Why Portland is a Dumpster Fire 1:12:47

2M ago1:12:47

1:12:47

In this episode, Mike sits down with Aaron Schmautz, President of The Portland Police Association to discuss Portland’s long running affair with ANTIFA. How recent high profile events have impacted Portland cops, how ANTIFA’s violence affects public safety, and why they target independent journalists like @MrAndyNgo, @KatieDaviscourt, @nicksortor, …

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The Hermes Experiment on their new album, Tree 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

The Hermes Experiment - an ever-innovative, exploratory and imaginative ensemble - have released their new album, Tree, a meditation on nature, memory and change embracing contemporary composers and reimagined music from the past. Two members of the group, soprano Héloïse Werner and clarinetist Oliver Pashley - who also both have compositions on th…

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Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2025: The Winners 56:50

2M ago56:50

56:50

In this special edition of the Gramophone Podcast, we explore the full list of winners from this year's Gramophone Classical Music Awards. Editor Emeritus James Jolly, Editor Martin Cullingford, Deputy Editor Tim Parry and Editor of Opera Now and Choir & Organ Hattie Butterworth talk through the Category Winners, the Special Awards, and of course t…

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Maxim Emelyanychev on Mozart's symphonies 26:20

3M ago26:20

26:20

For this week's Gramophone Podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford travelled to Padua to talk to Maxim Emelyanychev, Chief Conductor of Il Pomo d'Oro, about recording Mozart symphonies - and specially their latest release of Symphonies Nos 35 and 36, and Violin Concerto No 3 - on period instruments for the Aparté label.…

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Tine Thing Helseth on Echoes, her new album of trumpet concertos 31:17

3M ago31:17

31:17

This week's guest on the Gramophone Podcast is trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, who talks to Editor Martin Cullingford about her new recording on the Lawo label. Called 'Echoes', it features works by Arutiunian, Penderecki and Weinberg - she talks about the album, as well as her wider work championing her instrument and its repertoire.…

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Ian Page on the music of Gluck 41:39

3M ago41:39

41:39

In this week's Gramophone Podcast, the conductor Ian Page joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about the music of the 18th-century composer Gluck, setting him in the context of musical developments of his time. The conversation marks the release of the new album from his ensemble The Mozartists - a recording of arias from Gluck operas, sung by A…

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Anastasia Kobekina on Bach's Cello Suites | Gramophone Podcast 38:25

3M ago38:25

38:25

In this week's Gramophone Podcast, cellist Anastasia Kobekina talks about her new recording of one of the most revered series of works for her instrument - Bach's Solo Cello Suites. While the album isn't released by Sony Classical until next Friday (September 26), three movements are already available as singles, and in this side ranging conversati…

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Composer John Rutter: a birthday conversation 56:00

4M ago56:00

56:00

One of the most-performed composers of our time, Sir John Rutter, celebrates his 80th birthday on September 24. To mark the occasion Harmonia Mundi has released an album of his choral music sung by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, directed by Graham Ross – 'John Rutter: A Clare College Celebration'. And next week Decca releases an all-orchest…

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The Consent Decree is Terminated 1:04:21

4M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

In this episode, Mike welcomes back Bob Scales from Police Strategies to discuss the termination of the Seattle Police Department’s Federal Consent Decree. They dive deep into the grift of consent decrees and the efforts being taken to reform the process. Links: Hardpressed: https://www.hardpressed-info.com/federal-judge-ends-seattle-pd-oversight-n…

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Rowan Pierce on recording Bach, Handel and Vivaldi | Gramophone Podcast 28:44

4M ago28:44

28:44

Soprano Rowan Pierce joins Jonathan Whiting to reflect on the intimacy of making chamber-scale Baroque music without a conductor, the challenges of Bach's expansive recitatives, and the almost operatic drama of Handel's 'Tra le fiamme'. She also speaks about her long collaboration with Ashley Solomon, the ensemble's director, and about finding new …

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Composer Jake Heggie on 25 years of writing operas 33:28

4M ago33:28

33:28

Composer jake Heggie joins Hattie Butterworth to speak about the recording release of 'Intelligence', an opera premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 2023 and out now on the LSO Live label. They also look back on 25 years since Heggie's first opera 'Dead Man Walking' was premiered and ahead to a new production of the work at English National Opera in …

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Cellist Alisa Weilerstein on recording new concertos by Gabriela Ortiz and Richard Blackford 23:58

4M ago23:58

23:58

During the 2024-25 season, Alisa Weilerstein premiered three new cello concertos – Richard Blackford's The Recovery of Paradise (which she has recorded for Pentatone with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Tomáš Netopil), Gabriela Ortiz's Dzonot (recorded for Platoon with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel) and Thomas Larcher's Retur…

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The Truth Behind Trump's D.C. Takeover 36:38

4M ago36:38

36:38

In this episode, Mike sits down with D.C. Police Union Chairman, Gregg Pemberton to discuss the TRUTH behind Trump’s federal takeover of Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan police department. What were the causes and what it means for public safety across the nation.By Mike Solan

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The Dover Quartet on recording Woodland Songs | Gramophone Podcast 36:06

4M ago36:06

36:06

Joel and Camden from the Dover Quartet meet Hattie Butterworth in Philadelphia to discuss their latest album, Woodland Songs, which places the music of Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate and Pura Fé alongside the Dvorak 'American' String Quartet in F Major. Though vastly different works in style, expression, and historical context, they share the common …

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Mandolinist Avi Avital on his new album 'Song of the Birds' | Gramophone Classical Music Podcast 31:03

5M ago31:03

31:03

The mandolin player Avi Avital, with his ensemble Between Worlds, has just released a new DG album 'Song of the Birds' which crosses boundaries to explore the musics of three geographical regions – Iberia, southern Italy (Puglia) and the Black Sea – with vivid results. For this week's Gramophone Podcast, James Jolly caught up Avi Avital while he wa…

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Live from 2025 Three Choirs Festival 36:33

5M ago36:33

36:33

Join Hattie at the 2025 Three Choirs Festival in Hereford as she speaks to performers, composers, clergy and audience members to discover what makes the festival such a place of pilgrimage 300 years since its foundation

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Cellist Guy Johnston on the Bliss Cello Concerto | Gramophone Classical Music Podcast 29:26

5M ago29:26

29:26

Guy Johnston joins Hattie Butterworth to discuss his latest recording of the Arthur Bliss Cello Concerto with Andrew Manze and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. A technical mine field, the concerto was written for the great cellist Rostropovich and premiered with Benjamin Britten conducting at the 1970 Aldeburgh Festival. Guy also speaks …

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2025 BBC Proms: Our Top Picks | Gramophone Classical Music Podcast 27:35

5M ago27:35

27:35

As the 2025 BBC Proms season gets underway, Martin Cullingford is joined by Tim Parry and Hattie Butterworth select their top picks. From Rachmaninov with Yunchan Lim and the UK premiere of Anna Thorvaldsdottir's Cello Concerto to a late-night tribute to Arvo Pärt and a rare performance of Delius's A Mass of Life, the team reflects on the Proms's c…

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Julian Bream: an archive interview from 2013 with the great guitarist 19:23

6M ago19:23

19:23

We're today continuing the theme set by last week's edition, in which we marked the 500th episode of the Gramophone Classical Music podcast by looking back over some of our most memorable interviews and episodes. The interview Editor Martin Cullingford chose to reflect on was a conversation he had with the guitarist Julian Bream all the way back in…

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Music and conversation: 500 episodes of the Gramophone Podcast 38:20

6M ago38:20

38:20

Earlier this year the Gramophone Podcast passed 1 million downloads. Now we've reached another milestone: our 500th episode. Launched before podcasting's current popularity, the series steadily built a following, which grew substantially once we adopted a weekly schedule and set formats. Those formats include: interviews with major artists on new a…

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Orchestra of the Year 2025: exploring this year's nominees 33:19

6M ago33:19

33:19

Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford speaks to James Jolly about the 2025 Orchestra of the Year nominated orchestras, discussing the impact each of them has made to recordings and the wider musical landscape To vote for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2025, head to gramophone.co.uk/vote25

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Conductor John Andrews on recording The Seal Woman 42:10

6M ago42:10

42:10

Conductor John Andrews joins Hattie Butterworth to speak about the debut recording of Sir Granville Bantock and Marjory Kennedy-Fraser's folk opera, The Seal Woman. They explore the folk song collecting of Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, as well as Andrews's commitment to uncovering lesser-known repertoire

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Cam Higby: ANTIFA’s War on the Media 1:04:49

6M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

In this episode Mike welcomes independent journalist @CamHigby to discuss his recent assault and ANTIFA’s war on the media and what that means for public safety. Links: https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-lawmakers-introduce-legislation-ban-law-enforcement-wearing/story?id=122900904 https://x.com/scott_wiener/status/1934619315078418895?s=43 https:…

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ANTIFA Season: Here We Go Again! 29:24

7M ago29:24

29:24

In this episode Mike breaks down the looming threat of “ANTIFA Season”, comments on SPD Police Chief Shon Barnes' virtue signaling statement to the city council and what that means for officer morale and public safety. LINKS: Chief Barnes' public statement: https://x.com/SeattlePD/status/1932575405439135763 SPOG post about ANTIFA's actions: https:/…

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Mezzo Kitty Whately on unknown French song 28:52

7M ago28:52

28:52

Kitty Whately joins Hattie Butterworth to discuss her new album on Chandos with pianist Edwige Herchenroder titled Horizons: French Melodies. They also explore the historic erasure of women composers, as well as Kitty's ongoing advocacy and research

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20 Years of VOCES8 with co-founders Paul & Barnaby Smith and soprano Andrea Haines 39:56

7M ago39:56

39:56

The vocal ensemble VOCES8 are marking their 20th anniversay with a new release – out today – celebrating the full breadth of their creativity, and an exciting season of concerts. Editor Martin Cullingford sat down with three of the key figures behind this most innovative of ensembles – the co-founders Barnaby Smith, Artistic Director, and Paul Smit…

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The Cal Anderson Park Disaster 26:28

7M ago26:28

26:28

Mike breaks down the decisions that led to the recent Cal Anderson Park disaster.By Mike Solan

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Conductor Andris Nelsons on the influence of Shostakovich 36:25

7M ago36:25

36:25

This week's Gramophone podcast is a special focus on one of the most significant of 20th century composers, Dimitri Shostakovich, the 50th anniversary of whose death we mark this year. As our guide to his music we're privileged to have conductor Andris Nelsons, who, together with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has just reached the end of a journey …

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Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau at 100: Richard Wigmore discusses the great baritone's Winterreise recordings 49:44

7M ago49:44

49:44

The German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's 100th birthday falls on May 28. One of the most versatile singers of the last century – his operatic repertoire alone ranged from Gluck, Handel and Mozart via Verdi, Wagner and Richard Strauss to Berg, Busoni and Reimann – it's his devotion to song that remains his lasting legacy. To mark the anniversa…

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Masaaki and Masato Suzuki on Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem 27:38

7M ago27:38

27:38

In this week's episode, Editor Martin Cullingford met with the founder and Music Director of Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki Suzuki, along with the group's Principal Conductor Masato Suzuki, to talk about their new recording of Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem, available now on BIS – as well as discussing Bach's St John Passion, which they had performed…

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Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin on returning to Scriabin's music 26:35

8M ago26:35

26:35

In 2007, Yevgeny Sudbin released an album of music by Alexander Scriabin. Reviewing it in Gramophone, Bryce Morrison described it as a 'disc in a million'. Now, Sudbin has returned to the composer for his 25th recording for BIS, and offers a wide-ranging survey of music that includes two more of the piano sonatas. James Jolly caught up with Yevgeny…

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Kahchun Wong on The Hallé and Bruckner's Ninth 38:43

8M ago38:43

38:43

In this week's episode of the Gramophone Classical Music Podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by the Principal Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, Kahchun Wong, to talk about the orchestra's relationship with its home city, Manchester, and their new recording of Bruckner's Symphony No 9.

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Cellist Zlatomir Fung on his debut recording of opera fantasies 25:16

8M ago25:16

25:16

Zlatomir Fung won the Cello category of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition, and also has an enviable collection of other cello awards and prizes to his name. He was a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Winner in 2022 and was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2020. His debut recording, 'Fantasies', is just out from Signum and on it …

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Conductor Alan Gilbert on Brahms and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra 28:21

8M ago28:21

28:21

Alan Gilbert is Chief Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, as well as Music Director of the Royal Swedish Opera. Gramophone's James Jolly caught up with him during a run of Wagner's Die Walküre in Stockholm, where he lives. They talked about his Hamburg-based orchestra, the role today of a radio orchestra and also about the work orchestr…

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This is Seattle: Danny Westnut Edition 23:05

9M ago23:05

23:05

In this episode Mike reacts to Seattle Times reporter Danny Westnut’s hit piece on SPOG’s “This is Seattle” social media campaign. Mike also discusses Council Member Saka’s resolution that officially kills the “Defund the Police” movement, and exposes the anti-cop narrative of C.A.R.E.S. chief Amy Barden. Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com…

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Leif Ove Andsnes on Liszt's Via Crucis 37:38

9M ago37:38

37:38

In this episode, Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford talks to pianist Leif Ove Andsnes about his new recording on Sony Classical of the extraordinary work Via Crucis by Franz Liszt, the composer's deeply spiritual meditations on the Stations of the Cross, released just before the start of Holy Week. This week's podcast is produced in association…

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Jessica Duchen on the life of pianist Myra Hess 30:20

9M ago30:20

30:20

This week journalist and author Jessica Duchen joins Holly Baker to talk about her new book Myra Hess - National Treasure, which is out now on Kahn & Averill. Extracts of music on the podcast come from the album 'Myra Hess - The complete solo and concerto studio recordings' on APR Records

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James Ehnes on Bach's complete violin concertos 32:42

9M ago32:42

32:42

This week violinist James Ehnes joins the Gramophone Podcast to talk about his new recording of Bach's complete violin concertos, recorded with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra, and released on the Analeketa label.

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Attacca Quartet on Ravel and relationships 40:33

9M ago40:33

40:33

The two-time Grammy Award-winning Attacca Quartet has seen stratospheric success in recent years across new and popular music collaborations. Hattie Butterworth meets the group as their debut album with Platoon of Ravel's String Quartet is released. Music clips: Ravel String Quartet – Platoon PLAT26294 Entr'acte by Caroline Shaw from Orange – Nones…