Philharmonia Orchestra Audio Podcast

Conductor Rafael Payare and classical music writer Jessica Duchen in conversation ahead of the Philharmonia's concert on Thursday 9th March, which included Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op. 19 featuring violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, Op.45.   

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and Tom Service discuss Stravinsky, Ligeti and Ravel ahead of the Philharmonia's recent concert on Sunday 19th February. The Salonen/Aimard Inspirations series continues this Thursday 23rd Feb at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, with a programme including Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto, 'Emperor', and the London première of Tansy Davies's 'Forest', a concerto for four horns. www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/1390…and_beethoven

Violist Lawrence Power, conductor John Wilson and Principal Bassoon Robin O'Neill in conversation ahead of the Philharmonia's latest concert on Thursday 12th February, which featured Walton's Viola Concerto. If you're interested in seeing more of Power performing live, his next concert with the Philharmonia is on 1st June 2017 at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall - http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/1622/london/royal_festival_hall/1_june_2017/mahler_symphony_no_1

Legendary pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy took some time with us to discuss his relationship with Rachmaninov's music, which he has been exploring with the Philharmonia Orchestra for over a year. As the series comes to a close, Maestro Ashkenazy takes us back in time to his youth in Russia where we hear about his first musical experiences and early encounters with Rachmaninov's music. He is joined by his wife, Thorunn "Dody" Ashkenazy, in this extended interview. 

This week's Backstage Pass podcast is all about the oldest music festival in the world, the Three Choirs Festival. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the event. As the resident orchestra at the festival we were keen to mark this special event by bringing the behind-the-scenes experience of the Three Choirs to your ears. Tune in to hear more from this unique event with interviews from the festival's artistic director, Geraint Bowen, the Philharmonia roadies and our players.

Our latest podcast is a special extended edition of Backstage Pass, recorded live at Henley Festival. On the 10 July 2015 the Philharmonia Orchestra performed with Gregory Porter, Alison Balsom, Laura Mvula, Shona McGarty, Ballet Black and Ji Liu in a celebration of George Gershwin's music, led by Troy Miller and Fabio D'Andrea. Follow the musicians backstage in this episode for a glimpse of this spectacular event. The podcast features interviews with Alison Balsom, Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula and dancers from Ballet Black as well as a host of other special guests. 

This week's Backstage Pass is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the orchestra's latest education project. We follow 300 young singers and instrumentalists as they rehearse a work inspired by the discovery of Richard III in a Leicester car park. Composed by John Webb with creative input from the students, the musicians go on to complete a fantastic world premiere performance side by side with members of the Philharmonia. Share the experience of the group as they find their feet with this ambitious composition, The Last Plantagenet.

Earlier this year the Philharmonia Orchestra recorded tracks for Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron soundtrack from Abbey Road Studios, London. For this special edition of Backstage Pass we are happy to feature an extended interview with the film's composer Brian Tyler. Welcome to the musical world of Tony Stark, The Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, and many more epic Marvel superheros.

Talking bats, humanlike cats and tall hats - welcome to the world of Ravel and his opera l'Enfant et les Sortilèges. This episode we talk to world renowned soprano Barbara Hannigan about her role as the Princess, Esa-Pekka Salonen on the magic of Ravel and director Irina Brown from backstage at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. If that isn't enough of a glimpse backstage, you'll hear from the costume designer, assistant conductor, Philharmonia Voices and Parisian soloists.

Step beyond the stage to the edge of the ocean with a special edition of Backstage Pass. This episode takes you behind the scenes of The Blue Planet in Concert.  From David Attenborough to the Royal Festival Hall stage, discover the magic of George Fenton's music and listen to audience reactions on the night.

Jump into the present day as we focus on contemporary music in the latest episode of Backstage Pass. Leave Mozart and Beethoven aside for fifteen minutes, it’s all about the composers bringing their work to life today. Listen out for dancing clarinetists, jazzy riffs and unexpected collaborations. This podcast features interviews with Unsuk Chin, Anders Hillborg and Kevin John Edusei.

Backstage Pass is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s first uniquely audio podcast. We already bring you video podcasts but this time it’s all about the audio. We'll take you behind the scenes of the Orchestra, giving you exclusive access to the players and a glimpse of the hard work that goes on before each and every concert. This week the podcast is dedicated to our new season launch, kicking off with Berlioz’ brilliant work – La Grande Messe des Morts. There’ll be laughter and unexpected discoveries along the way as well as an interview with Maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen. Sit back and listen to a different side of the Philharmonia.  

In this audio podcast, Michael Fuller introduces his instrument - the double bass.

The composers Antonín Dvořák and his favourite pupil and son-in-law, Josef Suk, were both influenced by place and close relationships with loved ones. Travel to Prague with conductor Jakub Hrůša, a Prague resident, to uncover the stories behind Dvořák's Cello Concerto and Suk's rarely performed work, the Asrael Symphony. Part of the Bohemian Legends concert series in April & May 2014, at Royal Festival Hall and beyond, conducted by Jakub Hrůša: http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/bohemian

re-rite is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s digital installation based on The Rite of Spring. Through this combination of immersive video and interactive design visitors can experience what it's like to play with a live orchestra. From conducting with Esa-Pekka Salonen to following the score note by note with each instrument - re-rite takes you inside the orchestra.

In this Listening Guide, pianist Nikolai Lugansky guides us through Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto. Dubbed 'Emperor' by its English publisher, this was Beethoven's last piano concerto. Find out more in this film about what makes this hugely popular work special and forward-looking, complete with illustrative extracts from the work performed by Lugansky. For more information on the Philharmonia's upcoming performance of the work with Nikolai Lugansky, please visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/464/london/royal_festival_hall/9_march_2014/lugansky_performs_emperor_piano_concerto

Season's Greetings from the Philharmonia Orchestra. We celebrate this year with a brass quintet of Philharmonia players, playing an arrangement of Gustav Holst's carol 'In the Bleak Midwinter', arranged by Toby Street. Why not send the Philharmonia Christmas Card to your friends? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/christmas to find out more.

In this feature-length biopic, Series Advisor Steven Stucky and Principal Conductor and Philharmonia Orchestra Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen travel to Poland to the explore the life and works of Polish composer Witold Lutosławski, from his early life, his struggle for survival in Warsaw during the Second World War, the Stalinist period, and finally into his latter and most mature works. This film was released as part of the Philharmonia Orchestra's series Woven Words - "Music begins where words end". Explore the series’ digital resources at philharmonia.co.uk/lutoslawski.

In this film, Philharmonia members past and present tell the story of how a last-minute decision by the Orchestra's management 30 years ago ignited what would go on to be a long-lasting relationship between Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia, firstly as Principal Guest Conductor, and, since 2008, as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

In this film, Jennifer McLaren introduces her instrument - the e flat clarinet. To learn more about the e flat clarinet visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/explore/instruments/e_flat_clarinet. Why not download our iPad app The Orchestra to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.