The Classical Corner

In this episode, Davina is joined by the internationally acclaimed, award winning mezzo-soprano, Katie Bray. 

 

They discuss her career as an opera singer with the world's finest companies, the importance of telling a story whilst encompassing a dramatic role and also Katie's love for baroque music, lieder and Judy Garland.

 

Davina and Katie cover a range of repertoire including Mozart's 'Non so più cosa son' from the Marriage of Figaro, 'Where Shall I Fly' from Handel's Hercules as well as Benjamin Britten's 'Funeral Blues'.

 

This episode contains live recordings from Katie's performances from the Final of 'BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition'. The full version of these videos can be found on Katie's YouTube Channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk66Z-DjvKNTVCnoknrZMaQ

 

Additional recordings from Episode 7 can be found in the Spotify Playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FC51bqDgxPvFcVEv0PxPp?si=tLulvS4nRnqG286d6b_vsw

 

Katie Bray and Thomas Herford's 'Tales with a Twist' can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4axXYdo6b0hLFREMceo-fQ

In this episode, host Davina Clarke is joined by one of the world's leading violists, Antoine Tamestit. They discuss his illustrious career as a soloist and chamber musician around the globe, his beautiful Stradivari instrument and his love for Bach, Debussy, Berlioz and Miles Davis.

 

The recordings from Episode 6 can be found in the Spotify Playlist here:

 

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7cyt6zNGmt82sXSX3CRNSB?si=-0DtrAl-QMqe2ao-Ay8U1w

 

 

In this episode, host Davina Clarke takes a look at how nature and specifically birdsong has been an influence to composers throughout the ages- from the symbolism of the nightingale in Virgil and Homer's writing, to the cuckoo's musical immitative call used by so many composers. 

She discusses the transmission of birdsong in the folk and classical traditions, from its first use in the fourteenth century, right through to today's much loved twentieth century masterpieces

The music covered includes works by Handel, Biber and Beethoven, which can all be found in the Spotify Playlist link below:

spotify:playlist:4SfgJ6BU6iRNmumjKnu83U

 

Musical performances in the episode are:

Orlando Gibbons: The Silver Swan from The Sixteen's Album 'An Immortal Legacy'

Saint Saëns: The Swan from 'The Carnival of the Animals' performed by Davina Clarke and Valeria Kurbatova

 

 

In this episode, host Davina Clarke is joined by bass, Jonathan Howard. They discuss his career with The King's Singers, touring life and the joy of performing around the world. 

 

Davina and Johnny cover a range of repertoire, including works from his Grammy nominated album 'Gold', as well as a range of choral works and their love for Messiaen's 'Theme and Variations' for violin and piano.

 

The recordings from Episode 4 can be found in the Spotify playlist here:

spotify:playlist:08NIZsjb1XQs1bQH7JNMoq

In this episode, Davina is joined by her first guest- internationally acclaimed keyboard player, Kristian Bezuidenhout. They discuss his career, the challenges of touring life, recording and his role as Artistic Director of The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor The English Concert.

 

Davina and Kristian cover a range of repertoire including Bach's Obligato Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, Mozart's Piano Concerto in F major, and Brahm's Geistliches Lied.

 

The recordings from Episode 3 can be found in the Spotify Playlist here:

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4fieBxIWnqhdutveNiFyJl?si=1aM_qNdDRLCWw6sLNbZ0Jw

 

 

In this second episode, host Davina Clarke takes us on a journey through the classical and romantic periods. She discusses the evolution of the orchestra and its instruments, the development of classical opera and also touches on Shostakovich and his early life as a film composer in Russia.

Musical performances include:

Gluck, 'Dance of the Blessed Spirits'

Massenet, 'Meditation' from Thais

Shostakovich, 'Romance' from The Gadfly

In this first episode, The Classical Corner host Davina Clarke introduces herself and the concept behind this series. She discusses the baroque era, the development of the violin and this episode also features her recording of Bach's well loved work, Air on a G String from his Orchestral Suite Number 3.