This Classical Life

Jess Gillam and tenor Alessandro Fisher share the music they love.

Alessandro Fisher is a former member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme, and a Kathleen Ferrier award winner: a versatile performer equally at home in baroque and romantic opera, or song. His choices today include barbershop quartet, brass band music, and the voice of Fritz Wunderlich. Jess has chosen music by Coleman Hawkins and multi-BRIT Award winner Raye.

Playlist: Schubert: An die Musik, D 547 - Fritz Wunderlich (tenor), Hubert Gisen (piano) Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Love Song from ‘Apache’ Fucik: Florentiner March - Grimethorpe Colliery Band Schubert: Wandrer’s Nachtlied, D 768 - Kian Soltani (cello), Aaron Pilsan (piano) Crossroads Barbershop Quartet: That Lucky Old Sun (just rolls around heaven all day) Paul Mealor: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal - Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor) Alain Romans: Quel temps fait-il à Paris (M Hulot’s Holiday) Raye: Worth It

Jess Gillam swaps music with pianist James Baillieu, including works by Mozart, Bach, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Pianist James Baillieu has worked with musicians including Lise Davidsen, Timothy Ridout and Pretty Yende, and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Vienna Musikverein. He is also Senior Professor of Ensemble Piano and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He’s brought Martha Argerich playing Schumann and a classic Bob Dylan song, while Jess's choices include Mahler and Goldfrapp.

PLAYLIST: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – “Signori, di fuori” (Le nozze de Figaro: Act 2, Scene 9) [Lorenzo Regazzo (bass), Simon Keenlyside (baritone), Patrizia Ciofi (sop), Véronique Gens (sop), Concerto Köln, René Jacobs (cond)] JOHN ADAMS – Hallelujah Junction (1st mvt) [Nicolas Hodges (piano), Rolf Hind (piano)] BOB DYLAN – Blowin’ in the Wind GUSTAV MAHLER – Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt, Adagietto) [Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (cond)] JUAN TIZOL/DUKE ELLINGTON/IRVING MILLS – Caravan [Ella Fitzgerald (singer), Duke Ellington and his Orchestra] JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Cello Suite No 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 (4th mvt, Sarabande) [Yo-Yo Ma (cello)] ROBERT SCHUMANN - Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Kinderszenen, Op 15: No 1) [Martha Argerich (piano)] GOLDFRAPP – Lovely Head

Produced by Rachel Gill.

Jess Gillam and soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha share their favourite tracks.

South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha was the winner of the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2021 and is a current BBC New Generation Artist. She’s brought a track from iconic South African artist Miriam Makeba and Maria Callas singing a prayer from Verdi’s Otello, and Jess has picked a dance of death from Saint-Saens and jazz from Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker.

PLAYLIST: MAHALIA JACKSON– If I Can Help Somebody CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS – Danse macabre, Op 40 [Luben Yordandoff (violin), Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (cond)] GIUSEPPE VERDI – Ave Maria (Otello: Act 4) [Maria Callas (sop), Orchestre de la Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Nicola Rescigno (cond)] HENRY PURCELL – Music for a While (Oedipus, Z 583) [Martin Fröst (clarinet), Sebastien Dube (double bass)] MIRIAM MAKEBA – The Click Song JIMMY MCHUGH/DOROTHY FIELDS– Don’t Blame Me (Live) [Charlie Parker Quintet] DOMENICO CIMAROSA – Sonata No 42 in D minor, arr Ólafsson [Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)] VINCENZO BELLINI – Mira, O Norma (Norma) [Joan Sutherland (sop), Montserrat Caballé (sop), Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge]

Produced by Rachel Gill

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Keelan Carew, and between them they put together a boundary-pushing playlist with songs by Kurt Weill and Nat King Cole - pianistic fireworks by Busoni and Chopin, orchestral fireworks by Shostakovich and some classic Japanese jazz fusion by Casiopea.

Playlist: KURT WEILL: Der Abschiedsbrief [Teresa Stratus (sop), Kurt Weill (piano)] SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture [Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy (cond)] CASIOPEA: Swear [Album: Mint Jams] MAURIZIO CAZZATI: Ciaccona [L'Arpeggiata, Christina Pluhar] CHOPIN: Ballade no.1 in G minor, op 23 [Vladimir Horowitz (piano)] MEERNAA: Good Luck [Album: Strange Life] BUSONI: Piano Concerto in C major, op.39 – iv. All Italiana, Tarantella [Kirill Gerstein (piano), Boston Symphony Orchestra] NAT KING COLE: When I Fall in Love

Jess Gillam meets violist Jordan Bak to share some of their favourite music.

Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak is a proud new music advocate – he’s performed world premieres of works by composers including Kaija Saariaho and Augusta Read Thomas. His debut album IMPULSE was released in 2022 and he’s performed with orchestras including London Mozart Players. His musical picks include works by Florence Price, reggae singer Koffee, and Benjamin Britten, whilst Jess has chosen a classic Radiohead track and Stokowski’s take on Bach.

PLAYLIST:

FLORENCE PRICE – String Quartet No 2 in A minor (3rd mvt, Juba) [Catalyst Quartet] FANNY MENDELSSOHN - Schluss [Heather Schmidt (piano)] PALACE – Live Well JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH, ARR LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI – Passacaglia And Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor)] KOFFEE – Toast RADIOHEAD – House of Cards BENJAMIN BRITTEN – Night Piece “Notturno” [Stephen Hough (piano)]

Jess's guest this week is the composer Kate Whitley.

Kate is an award-winning composer and pianist, who also runs the Multi-Story Orchestra. The orchestra was born in a multi-story car park in Peckham, and perform in car parks around the country, as they wanted to take classical music out of formal concert halls. They also create hugely powerful musical projects like the RPS Award-winning The Endz that involve the local community and young people in their music making.

Kate and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love including a beautiful work by Caroline Shaw and Bjork, the biggest of brass by Mussorgsky, bluegrass courtesy of the Goat Rodeo and a contender for greatest ever cover version by the Pet Shop Boys.

Playlist:

CAROLINE SHAW – Partita for 8 Singers: 2. Sarabande [Roomful of Teeth] MUSSORGSKY – Night on Bald Mountain [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti (conductor)] BJORK: Pneumonia GOAT RODEO - Attaboy [Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo Yo Ma] VIVALDI – La Folia [Apollo’s Fire, Jeannette Sorell] SON LUX - This is a Life [Mitski, David Byrne] GABRIELE MIRABASSI – Girotondo [Gabriele Mirabassi [clarinet), Luciano Biondini (accordion)] PET SHOP BOYS: Always on My Mind

Jess Gillam meets Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene to swap some of their favourite music.

At 23 years old, Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene is already the winner of several awards, including the prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition in 2019, the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award in 2022, and a Swedish Grammy in 2023. His music choices include a squelchy bassline from Thundercat, a Swedish Eurovision classic, and a virtuosic violin concerto that’s close to his heart. Jess's choices include Bernstein conducting a favourite Mozart symphony, and music from the saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

PLAYLIST:

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Sonata for Violin and Piano No 8 in G major, Op 30 No 3 (3rd mvt) [Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich] BRANFORD MARSALIS – A Thousand Autumns [Branford Marsalis Quartet] TOMMY KÖRBERG - Stad i ljus (City in Light) WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Symphony No 40 in G minor, K 550 (1st mvt) [Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein] THUNDERCAT – Them Changes CARL NIELSEN – Violin Concerto Op 33 (IIb – Rondo: Allegretto Scherzando) [Arve Tellefsen, Yehudi Menuhin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] YEAH YEAH YEAHS FT. PERFUME GENIUS – Spitting Off the Edge of the World PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – The Nutcracker, Op 71: Miniature Overture [Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]

Jess Gillam and conductor Robert Ames share some of the tunes they love, with music by Philip Glass, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Makaya McCraven, Pauline Oliveros and J.S. Bach.

Playlist: Philip Glass – Aguas da Amazonia - Madeira River [Uakti] Abel Selaocoe – Voices of Bantu Hildur Guðnadóttir - For Petra [London Contemporary Orchestra, Robert Ames] Tchaikovsky – The Tempest, Op. 18; VI. Andante non tanto [BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan] Makaya McCraven – In These Times Camille Saint-Saens – Le lever de la lune Pauline Oliveros / Stuart Dempster / Panaiotis - Suiren J.S. Bach – Aria from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 "Air on a G String" (Arr. Leopold Stokowski) [BBC Philharmonic, Matthias Bamert]

Jess Gillam meets mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron to swap some of their favourite music.

Singaporean-British mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron sings everything from opera to chamber music, from the baroque to the contemporary. She is mentored by Barbara Hannigan and has performed with LSO, Czech Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. She joins Jess ahead of performing Freya Waley-Cohen's Spell Book with Manchester Collective in London. Her music choices include a contralto version of Schubert's Winterreise, a traditional Uyghur folk song, and a toe-tapping melody from the musical Kiss Me, Kate. Jess brings along 'stadium jazz' from saxophonist Donny McCaslin, elegant incidental music from Purcell, and a joyful explosion of sound from indie band Villagers.

PLAYLIST: HENRY PURCELL – Abdelazer Z 570 (2nd mvt, Rondeau) [Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner] COLE PORTER - Too Darn Hot (Kiss Me, Kate) [2019 Broadway Cast Recording] OLIVIER MESSIAEN – La mort du nombre [Sholto Kynoch (piano), Kaoru Yamada (violin), Rhona McKail (soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor)] TRADITIONAL UYGHUR – Derdi Tolidur Yarning (Such Pain My Love) [Sanubar Tursun (vocals and dutar)] WILLIAM WALTON – Symphony No 1 in B flat minor (4th mvt) [London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis] DONNY MCCASLIN – Stadium Jazz FRANZ SCHUBERT – Gute Nacht (Winterreise, D 911) [Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), Inger Södergren (piano)] VILLAGERS – The First Day

Jess Gillam shares music with composer Laura Cannell, including a sublime Biber Requiem, new music by Kenya Grace, traditional Norwegian fiddle music and a Memphis Soul Stew!

Playlist: Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1; first movement [Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel] Kenya Grace - Strangers John Mackey – Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble [ Timothy McAllister, ASU Wind Ensemble] Sven Nyhus – Fanitullen (The Devil's Dance) Domenico Scarlatti – Sonata in F minor, K. 466 [Vladimir Horowitz] Tarquinio Merula - Ciaccona [His Majesty’s Sackbuts and Cornetts] King Curtis – Memphis Soul Stew Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Requiem in F minor - Dies Irae [Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh]

Jess Gillam is joined by Norwegian soprano and Last Night of the Proms star Lise Davidsen for a very Christmassy edition of This Classical Life. They share their favourite Christmas music and chat about what gives them that festive feeling!

Lise Davidsen has been described as “the greatest soprano in the world right now”, with a “one-in-a-million voice”. Her performance at the Last Night of the Proms 2023 received rave reviews, and she has sung at iconic venues including the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House, and Teatro alla Scala, Milan. And she’s just released a whole album of seasonal favourites and Nordic delights via Decca, called Christmas From Norway.

Lise brings along a haunting Scandinavian carol, a sugary-sweet soundtrack from a cult Christmas film, and a modern classic from Coldplay. Jess's choices include a traditional English wassail song, a rock'n'roll Rudolph from Chuck Berry, and a Christmas jig from Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster.

PLAYLIST:

ADOLPHE ADAM – O helga natt (Adams julsång) [Jussi Björling] NATALIE MACMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster] CHUCK BERRY – Run Rudolph Run KAREL SVOBODA – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Wishes for Cinderella): Motiv - Einleitung TRAD. ENGLISH – Wassail Song [John Kirkpatrick and friends] SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – The Forest of Wild Thyme Op 74: Christmas Overture (arr. Sydney Baynes for orchestra) TRAD. SCANDINAVIAN – Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart Forever Dwells) [arr. O. Matre for chorus] COLDPLAY – Christmas Lights

Jess Gillam and bassoonist Guylaine Eckersley share their favourite tracks, with music by Abel Selaocoe, Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Laura Misch and a guilty pleasure from Frozen 2.

Playlist: Abel Selaocoe - Ka Bohaleng / On the Sharp Side Pergolesi - Stabat Mater [Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor), Julia Lezhneva (soprano), I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis] Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez - Into the Unknown [from Frozen 2] Rachmaninov - Symphony no 3 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet Seguin] Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in A minor, rv498 [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon), L’Onda Armonica] Laura Misch - Glass Shards Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra [Amadeus Chamber Orchestra] Vaughan Williams - Silent Noon (from the House of Life) [Roderick Williams (baritone) , Iain Burnside (piano)]

Jess Gillam and flautist Daniel Shao play each other their current favourite music. Daniel is a versatile musician, at home in the classical repertory with a number of leading orchestras, or performing contemporary music and exploring his Chinese heritage with the group Tangram. Daniel's choices include Britten, Whitney Houston, and music for the flute by Ibert.

Today's choices:

Britten - Dawn from 4 Sea Interludes (BBC Philharmonic, Edward Gardner) Gluck - Dance of the Furies from Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-On Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren Ibert - Flute concerto, 2nd mvt (Clara Andrada, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Jaime Martín) Hildegard of Bingen - Ancient Suite (Martin Fröst, The Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir) Whitney Houston - Didn't we almost have it all Cleo Sol - 23

Jess Gillam meets jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant to swap some of their favourite music. Cécile is a 3 time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and her music shows off her passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque and folkloric music. She spoke to Jess ahead of her show at London Jazz Festival 2023 and picked some of her favourite voices from Maria Callas singing Puccini to flamenco star Camarón de la Isla and an air de cour by Gabriel Bataille.

Jess brought along a string quartet by Caroline Shaw, a Hollywood inflected Concerto by Korngold and the most beautiful of songs by Aretha Franklin

PLAYLIST:

GABRIEL BATAILLE: Sortés soupirs témoins de mon mártire [Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Annie Dufresne (soprano)] CAROLINE SHAW: Plan & Elevation – v. The Beech Tree [Attacca Quartet] WANDA JACKSON: Funnel of Love KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto, op.35 – 1st mvt [James Ehnes (violin), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey (cond)] ARETHA FRANKLIN: Ain’t No Way PUCCINI: La bohème, Act 4 “Sono andati” [Maria Callas (soprano), Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor), La Scala Milan Chorus & Orchestra, Antonino Votto (cond)] POULENC: Stabat Mater – i. Stabat Mater dolorosa [Cappella Amsterdam, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National SO, Daniel Reuss (cond)] CAMARON DE LA ISLA: Yo vivo enamorao (Tangos) [Camaron De La Isla (singer), Paco De Lucía (guitar)]

Jess Gillam and cellist Matthew Barley sit down to listen together to the music they love.

Matthew's career as a cellist has seen him straddle any number of different genres and continents. He's just as at home in front of an orchestra as he is improvising in a nightclub, playing chamber music with his wife – the violinist Viktoria Mullova - or going solo and combining his cello with electronics.

Their playlist today is suitably eclectic - Matthew brings a taste of Brazil from the singer Elza Soares and legendary songwriter Jobim, a lament on the duduk and reminisces his first childhood experience of classical music via the music of Beethoven. Jess has Tchaikovsky ballet music bursting with tunes, some sunshine by Marianna Martines and mandolin player Avi Avital and a beautiful piece of Junk by Paul McCartney.

Playlist: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM: Agua de Beber [Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano)] TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake – Act 4 finale [London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn (conductor)] ELZA SOARES: Flores Horizontais MANUEL DE FALLA: No. 4 Jota from Canciones populares españolas [Avi Avital (mandolin)] DJIVAN GASPARYAN: 7 December 1988 [Djivan Gasparyan (duduk/voice)] MARIANNA MARTINES: Overture in C major – 1st mvt [La Floridiana] PAUL MCARTNEY: Junk BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 6 (Pastoral) – 1st mvt “Erwachen heiterer…” [Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)]

Jess Gillam and mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska share the music they love, including a traditional Macedonian folk song, Janelle Monáe’s sci-fi concept album The Arch Android, a sublime Bach partita in the hands of guitarist Sean Shibe and the beautiful voices of Mara Carlyle and Odetta.

Playlist: Janacek - Prelude to The Cunning Little Vixen [Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras] Odetta - Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Tose Proeski - Zajdi, Zajdi Telemann - Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G2; I. Andante [Andrius Puskunigis, St Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Donatas Katkus] Janelle Monáe - Neon Valley Street Bartok - Divertimento for Strings; III. Allegro assai [Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe] Mara Carlyle – Pianni J.S Bach - Partita in C minor, BWV 997; III. Sarabande [Sean Shibe]

Jess Gillam meets with the conductor Nicholas Collon to share some of the music they love. Today their musical journey takes in the harmonic genius of Jacob Collier, glorious choral music by Poulenc, a youthful Octet by Mendelssohn, a dreamy song from Sibelius, Britten’s iconic Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, some grooves from Pino Palladino and Taylor Swift visits The Lakes.

Playlist: Felix Mendelssohn – Octet in E flat major, IV. Presto [Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble] Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – Ekute Francis Poulenc – Figure humaine, VIII. Liberte [Tenebrae, Nigel Short] Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra [London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten] Taylor Swift – The Lakes Sibelius - Lieder No. 4 Op 37 - Was it a Dream [Kari Lövaas, Berliner Symphoniker, Eduardo Marturet] Jacob Collier / Henry Mancini – Moon River Carl Nielsen - Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (FS76) 'The Inextinguishable'; 1. Allegro [Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi]

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam and violinist Sumina Studer swap some of their favourite music. As well as picking up prizes for her playing in the Berliner International Music Competition and the Verbier Festival amongst others, and performing with various orchestras across the world, Sumina still finds the time to make hugely popular videos for social media where she demystifies the violin to try and bring classical music to the biggest possible audience.

She brought along to the studio the incredible voice of Millie Jackson, one of Ravel's most beautiful pieces for piano and something nostalgic from the soundtrack to the anime Kiki's Delivery Service. Meanwhile Jess chose some banjo virtuosity by Bela Fleck, a homage to Piazzolla by violinist Gidon Kremer and an elegy by Yoshimatsu.

Playlist:

JOE HISAISHI: A Town with an Ocean View PIAZZOLLA: Soledad [Gidon Kremer (violin)] RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G – 2nd mvt Adagio [Martha Argerich (piano), Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado (conductor)] MILLIE JACKSON: If You’re Not Back in Love by Monday BELA FLECK/EDGAR MEYER: The B Tune [Béla Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (table), Edgar Meyer (double bass)] TAKASHI YOSHIMATSU: And Birds are Still…. Op.72 [Manchester Camerata, Sachio Fujioka (conductor)] COPLAND: Symphony No. 3 – 4th mvt [San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)]

Jess Gillam and trumpeter Lucy Humphris share their favourite music. Their musical adventure today includes scary Prokofiev, dreamy Debussy, wide open space from Edmund Finnis and Schoenberg, birdsong with Lady Maisery and some 8-bit chiptune from the computer game FEZ by Disasterpeace.

Playlist:

Cinderella-Suite Nr. 1, Op. 107, VIII. Midnight Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar

Edmund Finnis - Preludes I and II for Solo Cello Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

Disasterpeace - Adventure from FEZ

Debussy – Reverie Jean Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Lady Maisery – Birdsong

Colin Stetson - Nature is Timeless

Arnold Schoenberg - Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4: I. Sehr langsam Juilliard String Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma

Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 17: III. Andante Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Pablo Ferrandez (cello), Lambert Orkis (piano)

Jess Gillam and pianist Karim Kamar share some of their favourite music. Karim has an amazing musical story - after loving playing as a kid but never studying properly, at 25 he decided to quit his job and learn the piano seriously to become a professional musician. He spent years painstakingly learning how to play - and has since released 6 albums and performed at some of the most iconic music venues from Ronnie Scott’s to the Royal Albert Hall. He’s also a bit of a star on social media with millions of fans who follow his adventures of him playing the many street pianos you find around the country.

His music picks are all based around the piano - from the pure romance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, to the video game imagination of Ryuichi Sakamoto and the latin funk of Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile Jess finds a new inspiration in Sibelius's Third Symphony, one of her teenage soundtracks in Massive Attack and an uneasy waltz by Shostakovich.

Playlist:

MILES DAVIS: Nardis [Bill Evans Trio] SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suite no.2 – Waltz no 2 [Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (conductor)] RUYICHI SAKAMOTO: Seven Samurai: Ending Theme RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto no 2 – 2nd mvt Adagio sostenuto [Khatia Buniatishvilli (piano), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)] MASSIVE ATTACK: Hymn of the Big Wheel CHOPIN: Waltz op.64 no.2 in C sharp minor [Arthur Rubinstein (piano)] SIBELIUS: Symphony no.3 – 2nd mvt Andantino [BBC Philharmonic /John Storgards (conductor)] STEVIE WONDER: Another Star

Jess Gillam is joined by percussionist Delia Stevens to share the music they love and make some new discoveries, including tracks by Tessa Lark, Avner Dorman, Fabiano do Nascimento and Jack Hylton and His Orchestra.

Playlist: Debussy: Danse profane for harp & orchestra Tessa Lark: Jig and Pop Cyrille Aimée: It’s a Good Day Vega Trails: Love Your Grace Avner Dorman: Frozen in Time (Indoafrica & Eurasia) Julius Klengel: Hymnus Fabiano do Nascimento: Forro Brasil Jack Hylton & His Orchestra: Life is just a bowl of cherries

Jess Gillam and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason swap some of their favourite tracks and chat about their lives in music. Braimah comes armed with a classic Beethoven recording by violinist Itzhak Perlman, a feel good tune by The Melodians and a Haydn quartet. Meanwhile Jess spins Rachmaninov at his most romantic, Monteverdi by the ensemble l'Arpeggiata and a soaring performance by Etta James.

Playlist:

HAYDN – String Quartet, op.33 no 2 ‘The Joke’ 1st mvt Allegro Moderato [London Haydn Players] ETTA JAMES – At Last RACHMANINOV – Symphony no 2 – 3rd mvt ‘Adagio’ [London Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle (cond)] JOSEPH ACHRON – Hebrew Melody, op.33 [Josef Hassid (violin), Gerald Moore (piano)] MONTEVERDI, arr. Pluhar – Zefiro Torna, SV251 [Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Nuria Rial (soprano), l’Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar (director)] THE MELODIANS: Rivers of Babylon TRAD: Ku-Isa Tama Laug [David Darling (cello), The Wulu Bunun] BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D, op.61 – 3rd mvt [Itzhak Perlman (violin), Berlin Philharmonic/Daniel Barenboim (conductor)]

(revised repeat)

Jess Gillam and baritone James Newby swap some of their favourite tracks and chat about their lives in music. James - who was one of Radio 3's New Generation Artists - is one of the country's most exciting young baritones and performs all around Europe in everything from contemporary opera to intimate song recitals. His music picks include a choral piece by Howells that changed the direction of his life and catapulted him into a music career and the stunning voices of Celeste and Bryn Terfel. Meanwhile Jess picks a stunner of a voice of her own in Sarah Vaughan, alongside the energy of John Adams and a tender ballad for violin and piano by Donald Grant.

Playlist:

MOZART: Marriage of Figaro – Overture [Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nezet Seguin (conductor)] DONALD GRANT: Bha lá eile ann [Elena Urioste (violin), Tom Poster (piano)] HERBERT HOWELLS: Nunc Dimittis (from Collegium Regale) [Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury] CELESTE: Strange JOHN ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine [City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)] DILYS ELWYN EDWARDS: The Cloths of Heaven (Gwiseg Nefoedd) [Bryn Terfel (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)] CORELLI: Follia [Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall] SARAH VAUGHAN: Be My Love

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter

Anne Sofie is one of classical music's most celebrated singers with a huge back catalogue of recordings, and she's also known for her huge versatility and musical curiosity working with artists from conductors Claudio Abbado and Giuseppe Sinopoli to Elvis Costello, Brad Mehldau and Rufus Wainwright.

Today though she's listening to other people's recordings, as she and Jess sat down together to listen to a Janacek fanfare and a headphone blasting piece of Verdi. Jess picks a Nina Simone track that left them both speechless, while Anne Sofie brought along a ravishing piece by Rameau and (quite literally) turned up the volume on a barnstorming Beyoncé track.

Playlist:

JANACEK: Sinfonietta, 1st mvt 'Sokol Fanfare' [Vienna Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras (conductor)] JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON: Good Night, Day [Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello), Air Lyndhurst String Orchestra, Anthony Weeden (conductor)] BEYONCÉ: Countdown RAMEAU: Les Boréades, Act 4 Entrée de Polymie [Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski (cond)] VERDI: Requiem, Dies Irae (into Tuba Mirum) [Coro y Orchestra dell’Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia, Antonio Pappano (conductor)] NINA SIMONE: Little Girl Blue BENGAN JANSON: I’ve Found a New Baby

Jess Gillam and violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux share their favourite music with each other, including the sublime voices of Dhafer Youssef and the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, an intimate transcription of Gluck, joy and happiness from Boccherini and the Maccabees plus the unmistakable vibrato of Sidney Bechet.

Jess Gillam is joined by the Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer Pekka Kuusisto. They share thoughts on some favourite music, from a jazz arrangement of a Monteverdi madrigal to piano music by Ligeti, and from Bernstein's Wonderful Town to the Swedish singer Katarina Barruk.

Jess Gillam and percussionist Sehyogue Aulakh share some of the music that they love, from Aretha Franklin to Dmitri Shostakovich, JS Bach and Seckou Keita.

Sehyogue's Playlist:

SHOSTAKOVICH – Symphony No. 5 in D Minor Op. 47: I. Moderato (Royal Concertegabouw Orchestra, Bernard Haiktink) MOBY – Porcelain COUPERIN arr. Ades – Les Baricades misterieuses (Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon) ARETHA FRANKLN – (You make me feel like a) Natural Woman SECKOU KEITA - Sakiliba COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – Ballade in A Minor Op. 33: I. Allegro energetico, ma non troppo presto (Chineke! Orchestra, Kalena Bovell SIMON MOULLIER - Acceptance (Simon Moullier - Vibraphone, Balafon, Percussions, Synths; Dayna Stephens - Saxophone ; Simon Chivallon – Piano; Luca Alemanno – Bass; Jongkuk Kim - Drums)

Jess Gillam meets violinist Tessa Lark to swap some of their favourite music. Tessa is an in-demand classical concert violinist but growing up in Kentucky, she’s equally inspired by bluegrass music and American folk styles and so blends the two influences in a lot of her work. Traditional music features prominently in her music choices as the Martin Hayes Quartet and Swedish duo Vasen rub shoulders with a Beethoven Symphony. Meanwhile Jess brings along an orchestral tearjerker by Pietro Mascagni, a track by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and some retro soul vibes by Saun and Starr.

Playlist:

VASEN: Silverschottis GIOVANNI SOLIMA: Il bell’Antonio – tema II [Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)] MICHAEL THURBER & THE HUNTERTONES: Gigantic Energy SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR: Violin Concerto in G minor, op.80 – 2nd mvt [Elena Urioste (violin), Chineke! Orchestra, Kevin John Edusei (conductor)] MARTIN HAYES QUARTET: The Boy In the Gap JEAN LENOIR: Parlez moi d’amour [Lucienne Boyer (singer)] BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 2 in D major, op.36 4th mvt ‘Allegro molto’ [Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (conductor) SAUN & STARR: In the Night

Jess Gillam is joined by composer, pianist and technologist Zubin Kanga, with music from Gesualdo to Ravel via Laurie Spiegel and Jaco Pastorius.

Jess Gillam is joined by sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun to share and talk about the music that they both love, with tracks from Philip Glass, Monteverdi, Nishat Khan and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Along the way they discover some of the links between western and Indian classical music, and find out more about Jasdeep's childhood in Leeds, and his experiences in the world of classical composition.

Playlist: Rachmaninov: Elégie (Morceaux de Fantasie, Op 3 No 1) Nishat Khan: Raga Gaoti Nick Cave / Nicholas Lens: Litany of Gathering Up Monteverdi: Ahi, caso acerbo! (L'Orfeo) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: This Land is Your Land Philip Glass: Violin concerto Nadia Boulanger: Cantique Abi Sampa & Rushil: Man Kunto Maula (Orchestral Qawwali)

Jess Gillam's guest is pianist and composer Missy Mazzoli. They share some of the music that they love, including Ellen Reid, JS Bach, Julian Lage and Sudanese singer Aamina Camaari.

Jess's meets folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Hazel Askew to swap some of their favourite music. Hazel is a fixture in the UK folk music scene known for her bands Lady Maisery and the Askew Sisters, as well as numerous collaborative projects across different musical genres.

Today they sit down to listen to a full-blooded folk waltz by Warsaw Village Band, a symphony with all the tunes by Dvorak, Stevie Wishart channelling Hildegard of Bingen and a surprisingly emotional David Bowie cover by M Ward.

Playlist: WARSAW VILLAGE BAND – At My Mother’s ERIK SATIE – Gnossienne No.1 [Alexandre Tharaud (piano)] LEONARD BERNSTEIN – Chichester Psalms 1st mvt. Psalm 108 vs 2, Psalm 100 [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor)] M WARD – Let’s Dance ANTONIN DVORAK – Symphony no 9 – 4th mvt [Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor)] STEVIE WISHART – Azeruz ELIZA CARTHY & MARTIN GREEN – Fen LITTLE SIMZ & MICHAEL KIWANUKA – Flowers

Jess Gillam's guest this week is conductor Gabriella Teychenné. Her musical life bounces between conducting brand new music, collaborating with symphony orchestras and she's the founder of Sinfonia Humanitas, a new ensemble whose concert programmes fuse early and contemporary music.

Gabriella and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a slice of Italian sunshine from Mendelssohn, a collaboration between folk artist Sam Lee and singer Elizabeth Fraser, a Schumann romance and a classic by Nick Drake.

Playlist:

LUTOSLAWSKI – Variations on a Theme by Paganini [BBC SO/Edward Gardner (conductor)] TRAD – The Moon Shines Bright [Sam Lee, Elizabeth Fraser] SCHUMANN – Symphony no 4 – 2nd mvt Romanza [London Symphony Orchestra/John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)] NICHOLAS BRITELL - Agape MENDELSSOHN – Symphony no 4 ‘Italian’ – 1st mvt [Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor)] JAMES BLAKE – Life Round Here RESPIGHI – Ancient Dances and Airs – Siciliana [Filarmonica della Scala/ Riccardo Chailly (conductor)] NICK DRAKE – River Man

Jess Gillam is joined by a fellow saxophonist the Award-winning composer, poet, MC and producer Soweto Kinch to chat and share the music they love.

Playlist: Debussy - Dances for Harp and Orchestra, L.103:2. Danse profane [Lavinia Meijer, Amsterdam Sinfonietta] Ben Webster - When I Fall in Love Steve Reich - Different Trains: America Before the War [Kronos Quartet] Amy Beach - 4 Sketches - Dreaming [Ambache Chamber Ensemble] Scott Joplin - Treemonisha: Act 3: A Real Slow Drag [Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers] Blanck Mass - Chernobyl Abel Selaocoe - Qhawe/Hero Beethoven - Symphony No 7 - 2nd movement [Berlin Philharmonic, Kirill Petrenko]

Jess Gillam is joined by acclaimed Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth to chat and share the music they love.

Playlist: Stravinsky - Rite of Spring - XIV Pt2 le sacrifice: danse sacrale l’Elue [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti] Mozart – Die Zauberflote, K.620; Act 2, no.17; Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden [Mari Eriksmoen, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend] Massive Attack – Teardrop Ibrahim Maalouf - Una Rosa Blanca Wilhelm Friedemann Bach– Duet for 2 Flutes in E minor, F. 54 [Patrick Gallois (flute), Kazunori Seo (flute)] Tchaikovsky – Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, TH 5: Lensky’s Aria [Janine Jansen (violin), Antonio Pappano (piano)] Sigrid – Mirror Janacek - In The Mists; I. Andante [Leif Ove Andsnes]

Jess Gillam chats to conductor Jack Bazalgette, co-founder of ‘through the noise’ which aims to innovate and revolutionise live classical music. Their musical journey takes them to Zimbabwe with the music of mbira player Chiwoniso, a forest in Sweden with the Danish String Quartet plus we have the sounds of Barbara Moore, Mahler and Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders.

Playlist: Franz Ignaz Beck - Symphony in C major, Op. 1, No 6, I. Allegro [New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong] Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders – Movement 1 (Promises) Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen - Waltz After Lasse in Lyby [The Danish String Quartet] Debussy - String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10, CD 91, L. 85: III. Andantino. Doucement expressif [Ebene Quartet] Barbara Moore - Steam Heat Domenico Scarlatti - Sonata in F Minor, K466 [Vladimir Horowitz] Chiwoniso - Zvichapera Mahler - Symphony No.4: I. Bedächtig, nicht eilen [Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado]

Jess is joined by the cellist Laura van der Heijden to share some of their favourite musical discoveries, including JS Bach interpreted by the Lodestar Trio, music from Philip Glass’s Book of Longing, a track from the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and Elena Urioste playing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Cellist and composer Peter Gregson joins Jess from LA. They share some of their favourite tracks and new discoveries, including Steve Reich's Different Trains, a special recording of Schubert's String Quintet, Bach's Mass in B minor, and songs by Eva Cassidy and Bon Iver.

Jess Gillam and fellow saxophonist Laura Misch share the music they love, including tracks by Bjork, Hildegard von Bingen and Bob Marley.

Playlist: Sibelius - Impromptu V (Leif Ove Andnes) Bendik Giske - Cruising Sarah Vaughan - Just One of Those Things Hildegard von Bingen - O vis eternitatis (Sequentia) Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (Sheku, Jeneba, and Isata Kanneh-Mason) Strozzi - Che si puo fare? (Simone Kermes, Enrico Casazza) Bjork - The Anchor Song

Jess Gillam is joined by the Mumbai-born pianist Shivank Menon to talk about the records that they love. Their playlist includes Rostropovich playing Bach, Sviatoslav Richter playing Chopin, songs by Ravel, Fanny Mendelssohn and Donny Hathaway, and a recording of Bill Evans duetting with himself.

Playlist:

MORELENBAUM2 & RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: Sabia J S BACH ARR. KODALY: Vater unser im Himmelrich, BWV 762 (Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Herbert Tachezi, organ) CHOPIN: Polonaise No 7 in A flat, Op 61 (Sviatoslav Richter, piano) ROBERT DE VISÉE: Sarabande from Suite No 7 in D minor (Thomas Dunford, archlute; Jean Rondeau, harpsichord) FANNY MENDELSSOHN: Schwanenlied, Op 1 No 1 (Dorothea Craxton, soprano & Babette Dorn, piano + Benjamin Appl, baritone & James Baillieu, piano) RAVEL: Soupir from 3 Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano) DONNY HATHAWAY: A Song for You BILL EVANS: Emily

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with singer, rock sitarist and composer Bishi. Together they journey through evocations of space from Meredith Monk, Holst and Roger Webb back home to different shades of the human voice in music - from sacred vocal music from the 15th century, via a Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass collaboration, the unique voice of Beverly Glenn-Copeland and singer Cosmo Sheldrake's wake-up call from the cuckoo.

Playlist:

RAVI SHANKAR/PHILIP GLASS: Prashanti TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA: O Magnum Mysterium [Voces8] STRAVINSKY – Petrushka – Tableau 1 Fete Populaire de la semaine grasse [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (cond)] ROGER WEBB: Moonbird (Heaven and Hell) MEREDITH MONK: Atlas Part 3 – Invisible Light: Earth Seen from Above HOLST: The Planets – Mars [London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski (cond)] BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND: La Vita COSMO SHELDRAKE: Cuckoo Song

Jess is joined by violinist Ionel Manciu to chat about some of their favourite records and share their lives in music. Including a revelation of Ionel's past life as a Moldovan pop star, John Adams conjuring raindrops from the piano, a classic by Amy Winehouse and a piece by Arno Babadjanian that stopped Jess in her tracks.

Playlist: GEORGY SVIRIDOV: The Bells of Dawn [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), The Grand Choir ‘Masters of Choral Singing’/Lev Kontorovich (cond)] AMY WINEHOUSE: Love is a Losing Game ARNO BABADJANIAN: Piano Trio in F sharp – 2nd mvt ‘Allegro’ [David Oïstrakh (violin), Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello) Arno Babadjanian (piano)] JOHN ADAMS: China Gates [Bruce Brubaker (piano)] ASTOR PIAZZOLLA: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires – Invierno Porteño “Winter” [Lara St John (violin), Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela/Eduardo Marturet] ANOMALIE: Métropole RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op.45 - no.2 Tempo di Valse [Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle (cond)] DINICU: The Skylark (Ciocarlia) [Gheorghe Zamfir (pan flute)]

Jess is joined this week by the Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer. They're in the studio to share some of their favourite tracks with each other, and some new musical discoveries - including a joyful piano concerto by Haydn, terrifying music by Bartok, a mesmerising song by Caroline Shaw and classic Bob Dylan.

Playlist: Joseph Haydn - Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11 (Alexandre Tharaud, Violons du Roy) David Bowie & Gail Ann Dorsey - Under Pressure (from the album A Reality Tour) Ibrahim Maalouf - Will Soon be a Woman Bela Bartok - The Miraculous Mandarin: Introduction (Philharmonia Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen) Caroline Shaw - And So (Caroline Shaw with the Attacca Quartet) Jocelyn Pook - Oppenheimer (from the album Flood) Johann Paul von Westhoff - Sonata No.3 in D minor (David Plantier violin, Les plaisirs du Parnasse) Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall

Jess Gillam and Scottish composer C Duncan share the tracks they love, with music by Charles Ives, Broadcast, Lili Boulanger Messiaen and Mahler.

Playlist: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Symphony in E-flat Major Wq. 179 - 1. Prestissimo [Akademie für Alte Ausik Berlin] Broadcast - Colour Me In Lili Boulanger - D’Un Jardin Clair [Émile Naoumoff - piano] Charles Ives - 3 Places in New England - The Housatonic at Stockbridge [Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon] Harry Nilsson - Everybody’s Talkin Olivier Messiaen - O Sacrum Comvivium [Choir of New College, Oxford, Edward Higginbottom] Matt Maltese - As the World Caves In Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection”; V. Mit Aufschung… [Sir Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic, Kate Royal, Magdalena Kozena]

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Ellie Consta to share some of the music they love the most. Ellie is the founder of Her Ensemble which champions the work of female composers and strives to present classical music in new diverse ways, and her music choices reflect that - from Florence Price's dreamy Clouds to Little Simz Mercury-winning homage to women everywhere, Woman.

Jess brings along the majesty of Mozart's Requiem, some lunar insanity on the theremin and a cracker of a song by Bettye Swann.

Playlist: FLORENCE PRICE: Clouds [Lara Downes (piano)] HARRY REVEL: Lunar Rhapsody (from Music Out of the Moon) [Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman (theremin), Vocal Group and Orchestra/Les Baxter (bandleader)] TIGRAN HAMASYAN: The Dream Voyager MOZART: Requiem in D minor – Sequentia…Lachrimosa [Swedish Radio Choir, Berlin Phil/Claudio Abbado] LILI BOULANGER: Nocturne [Janine Jansen (violin), Itamar Golan (piano)] BETTYE SWANN: Tell it Like it Is GEORGE ANTHEIL: Over the Plains [BBC Philharmonic/John Storgards] LITTLE SIMZ: Woman

Jess brings out the fizz and party poppers for a New Year's Eve listening party with the organist and conductor Anna Lapwood, as they introduce each other to their favourite music for this time of year. Their choices take them through the night, from classic Ella Fitzgerald, to pumping base from Vivaldi and Bonobo, reflective choral music by Silvestrov, mysterious organ sounds for the early hours from Saint-Saens, and a New Year message from Otis Redding.

Playlist: Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in D major, RV211, 3rd movement (Nicola Benedetti, Benedetti Baroque Orchestra) Supertramp – The Logical Song Bonobo / O’Flynn – Otomo (from album Fragments) Silvestrov – Christmas Lullabies, No.2: Quiet Night (Latvian Radio Choir) Glenn Miller – Moonlight Serenade (Barbara Hannigan, LUDWIG) Saint-Saens – Danse macabre, Op. 40 (arr. Lemare) (Olivier Latry, organ of Paris Philharmonie) Otis Reading – Try a Little Tenderness

Jess meets up with Love Ssega to swap some of their favourite music. A founding songwriter and vocalist of Clean Bandit, Love Ssega is hugely in demand for his collaborative work across genres from pop to visual art. He is currently the Philharmonia's artist in residence.

Ssega came with some truly epic Elgar played by Sheku Kanneh Mason, a serious ear worm of an opera chorus by Verdi, and introduced Jess to the incredible voice of Alice Smith (she's been listening to her on loop since). Meanwhile Jess played Ssega Vivaldi arranged by Max Richter, some 12th century vocal music by Hildegard von Bingen, and an elegy to the environment by Marvin Gaye.

PLAYLIST:

MAX RICHTER/VIVALDI: Spring 1 – from the Four Seasons Recomposed [Daniel Hope (violin), Zurich Chamber Orchestra] VERDI: Va pensiero – Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco) [Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera House, London, Bernard Haitink (cond)] MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) ELGAR – Cello Concerto in E minor, op.85 – 1st mvt [Sheku Kanneh Mason (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (cond)] PETER GABRIEL: The Book of Love WILLIAM MATHIAS: Zodiac Trio, op.70 – 1st mvt ‘Pisces’ [Dallas Triptych Players] HILDEGARD von BINGEN: Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans [Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks (dir) ALICE SMITH: Wednesday’s Child

Jess Gillam dons her Christmas jumper to throw a This Classical Life Christmas Party. She's joined by The King's Singers, a fairy light bedecked studio, several packets of party rings and plenty of good tidings as they all share their favourite Christmas music and talk about their festive traditions.

From Nick's love of the 'Daniel Craig of the choral classics' Bach's Christmas Oratorio, to Pat's championing of the backing group in an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas tune. Jess, of course, manages to find a David Bowie track even at Christmas and Johnny shares a Beach Boys hit that encapsulates the Christmases of touring musicians.

Playlist:

ELLA FITZGERALD: Santa Claus is Coming to Town MORTEN LAURIDSEN: O Magnum mysterium [Chamber Choir of Europe/ Nicol Matt] YAZOO: Only You PROKOFIEV: Lietenant Kijé Suite, op.60 – Troika [Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado] WIZZARD: I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday TRAD IRISH: The Wexford Carol [Susannah Vango (sop) Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore] DAVID BOWIE/BING CROSBY Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy JS BACH: "Herr, wenn die stolzen feinde schnauben" from Christmas Oratorio [Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor/René Jacobs] THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows

Jess Gillam and composer Caroline Shaw share their favourite music, with tracks by wordsmith Kae Tempest, a concert waltz by Scott Joplin, the incredible voice of Sarah Vaughan and an unfinished piece by Schubert (but not the one you're thinking!).

Playlist: Clara Schumann: 3 Romances Op. 22 No. 3 [Elena Urioste - violin, Isata Kanneh-Mason - piano] Mark Guiliana - a path to bliss Scott Joplin - Bethena [Randy Kerber - piano] Sarah Vaughan - Tenderly Josquin des Prez - Mille regretz [Hilliard Ensemble] Stanley Myers - Saxophone Concerto [John Harle, Argo Symphony Orchestra, James Judd] Kae Tempest - People's Faces Schubert - Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor, D.571 (Fragment) [Andras Schiff - piano]

Jess meets percussionist Vivi Vassileva to swap some of their favourite music...

Vivi is sharing the crazy time signatures of young jazz piano wizard Jesus Molina, traditional Bulgarian music and a Tchaikovsky waltz in 5/4! Jess is offering up the raw emotion of Anna Clyne, Alison Russell and Vikingur Olaffson playing Kaldalóns's Ave Maria on an upright piano.

Playlist: Anna Clyne – Shorthand [The Knights] Eva Quartet - Kalina Moma Sigvaldi Kaldalóns - Ave Maria (arr. Olaffson) [Vikingur Olaffson - piano] Jesus Molina - Night in Tunisia CPE Bach - Symphony in D Major [The English Concert, Andrew Manze] Alison Russell - Nightflyer Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique); II. Allegro con grazia [Kirill Petrenko, Berlin Philharmonic]

Jess Gillam is joined in the studio by countertenor Hugh Cutting to share the music they can't get enough of. Hugh's choices include the voices of Barbra Streisand, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and Glen Campbell. Jess brings soundscapes by Anders Hillborg and Dictaphone, and a reimagining of Benjamin Britten's 'Concord' by cellist Matthew Barley.

Playlist: Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in E Minor, RV 484: III. Allegro [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) Ensemble L’aura Soave Cremona] Michel Legrand – A Piece of Sky (from Yentl) [Barbra Streisand] Anders Hillborg – Violin Concerto No.1 [Anna Lindal (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen] Vaughan Williams – On Wenlock Edge: Bredon Hill [Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Graham Johnson (piano), Duke Quartet] Dictaphone – Nr. 12 Bernstein – Candide Overture [Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic] Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman Britten – Concord [Matthew Barley]

Jess Gillam and composer Daniel Elms swap the tracks they love. Daniel's choices include a string quartet by Thomas Adès, a song by My Bloody Valentine, and the crazy cabaret of HK Gruber; Jess brings lush orchestral scores by Prokofiev and Sibelius, and a souful song from Lorraine Ellison.

Playlist:

DANIEL ELMS: Consolations in travel [BBC Concert Orchestra/Robert Ames] THOMAS ADES: Arcadiana - VI: "O Albion" [Endellion String Quartet] PROKOFIEV: Romeo & Juliet: Act 3, XLVII: Juliet alone [Oslo Philharmonic/Vassily Petrenko] MY BLOODY VALENTINE: Sometimes DONNY McASLIN: Body blow HK GRUBER: Frankenstein!! - Rat song and Crusoe song [BBC Philharmonic/HK Gruber] SIBELIUS: The Bard [Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Jarvi] KITAMURA MASASHI & PHONOGENIX: 'Variation III' LORRAINE ELLISON: Stay with me, baby

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. Today her guest is the violinist Geneva Lewis, who is rapidly becoming known as one of the most classy young players around today. She has recently joined Radio 3's New Generation Artists and is hugely in demand as both a soloist and chamber musicians.

Jess and Geneva sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most, including tracks by Britten, Brahms and Billie Eilish.

Jess Gillam is joined in the TCL studio by the violinist and composer Daniel Pioro, to share an eclectic mix of some of their favourite music. Jess' choices today include a violin concerto by Vivaldi, music for saxophone by Gavin Bryars and a track by James Blake. Daniel brings along one of Biber's Rosary Sonatas, music by Claire M Singer and a tribute to the American saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who died recently.

Jess Gillam is joined by composer and multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Sheldrake for a listening party. Music includes Gil Evans and Miles Davis's take on Concierto de Aranjuez, and Thomas Tallis's Spem in Alium.

Playlist: Rodrigo arr. Gil Evans - Concierto de Aranjuez [Miles Davis] JS Bach arr. Siloti - Prelude (BWV.855a), transc. for piano in B minor (orig. in E minor, '48' no.10) [Vikingur Olafsson] Mariah - Shinzo No Tobira Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 - III Allegro molto [Sakari Oramo, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra] Britten - Friday afternoons Op.7 for children's voices and piano: Cuckoo! [Choir of Downside School, Purley, Viola Tunnard] Bremer/McCoy - Drommer Tallis - Spem in alium for 40 voices [Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips] Courtney Pine - Haiti

Jess is joined by Egyptian soprano, and former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Fatma Said, for a listening party of the music they love the most, including Dhafer Youssef, Elliott Smith, Jane Morgan, Massenet and Haydn.

Playlist: Ravel – Daphnis et Chloe, M. 57; Introduction [New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez] Ángel Gregorio Villoldos - Ad Ay Sa’ab (El Choclo) [Fatma Said, Quinteto Ángel] Elliott Smith - Between the Bars Massenet – Manon, Act 5: Ah des Grieux ! O Manon ! [Angela Gheorghiu (Manon), Roberto Alagna (Des Grieux), Orchestre Symphonique et Choeurs de la Monnaie, Antonio Pappano] Haydn - Symphony No. 44 in E minor, Hob.I.44 ‘Mourning’- IV. Finale (presto) [The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock] Jane Morgan – If Only I Could Live My Live Again Dhafer Youssef - Birds Canticum - "Birds Requiem" Suite Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54; I. Allegro affettuoso [Martha Argerich (piano), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky]

Jess Gillam meets the trumpeter Aaron Akugbo and they share some of their favourite music, including tracks by Jacob Collier, Errolyn Wallen, Mahler and Beyonce.

Edinburgh-born Aaron trained at the Royal Academy of Music, and cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical influence. An ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he now combines playing in some of the UK’s top orchestras with a career as a chamber and solo player, which has included a solo recital debut at this year's Lucerne Festival.

Playlist:

Mahler – Symphony No.5, 1st movement (Vienna Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez) Poulenc – Les chemins de l’amour (Sabine Devieilhe and Alexandre Tharaud) Jacob Collier ft. Daniel Caesar – Time Alone With You Goat Rodeo Sessions (Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile) – Quarter Chicken Dark Prokofiev – Toccata Op.11 (Freddy Kempf) Beyoncé – Love On Top Errollyn Wallen – Concerto Grosso, 1st movement (Chineke!) Leif Vollebekk – Elegy

Jess's guest this week is composer Isobel Waller-Bridge. Best known for her work in TV and film, Isobel has scored The Split, Fleabag, Emma, Vita & Virginia and many more, but she's also a prolific composer for the theatre and is known for her evocative contemporary classical and electronic music for the concert hall.

Jess and Isobel sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most - Isobel offers some stunning moments of calm by Hinako Omori and a tuba jam by Sons of Kemet, while Jess interrupts the peace with an intimate song by Noah Yorke and possibly the funkiest string quartet ever written by Ravel.

Playlist:

HINAKO OMORI: Yearning RAVEL: String Quartet - 2nd mvt 'Assez vif' [Quator Ebène] SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS: Open Your Eyes CHOPIN: Nocturne no.8 in D flat major, op.27 no.2 [Maurizio Pollini (piano)] NOAH YORKE: Trying too Hard (Lullaby) SONS OF KEMET: To Never Forget the Source

Jess's guest this week is folk artist Sam Amidon. His songs reimagine and breathe new life into old songs and ballads, but his musical life also encompasses any number of collaborations with classical composers, experimental producers as well as the jazz world which he finds so inspiring.

Sam and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including Ornette Coleman and friends having a street party, Ennio Morricone in full blown cinematic mode, Sam shares a revelatory recording by the Georgian voices in The Rustavi Choir and Jess continues her bid to be reincarnated in the 1960s with a Dusty Springfield classic.

Playlist:

TRAD GEORGIAN: Shen Khar venakhi – Kartli Kakhetia (The Rustavi Choir) MORRICONE: Cinema Paradiso – Theme ORNETTE COLEMAN: Friends and Neighbours (Vocal version) [Live] PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet – Dance of the Knights (Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel (conductor)) SAILEOG NÍ CHEANNABHÁIN: Bean a’ Leanna EDMUND ANDERSON/TED GROUYA: Flamingo (Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (piano)) JANACEK: Kreutzer Sonata arr. for Strings – 1st mvt Adagio (Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (violin/director)) DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Anyone Who Had a Heart

Jess's guest this week is the guitarist and composer Laura Snowden. They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party which revels in the beauty of John Tavener's choral music; unwraps a piece for guitar by the Australian composer and synesthete Phillip Houghton during which explores the range of sounds possible to obtain from the instrument; pauses in the sound world of Laurie Anderson, and follows Berlioz's musical journey into psychedelia.

Playlist: John Tavener: The Lamb (Tenebrae, Nigel Short, conductor) Burt Bacharach/Hal David: I say a little prayer (Aretha Franklin) Lauryn Hill: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill) Buxton/Ratcliffe/Kekaula: Good Luck (Basement Jaxx, Lisa Kekaula) Laurie Anderson: O Superman (Laurie Anderson) Trad (Bulgarian): Bučimiš (Avi Avital, mandolin, Itamar Doari, percussion) Phillip Houghton: Wave Radiance (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 - V Dream of a witches' Sabbath (Orchestre de Paris, Charles Munch, conductor)

Jess's guest this week is the French-born British pianist and composer Riopy. They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party including Debussy's Clair de Lune, a new concerto by Marius Neset for saxophone, the Gotan Project's driving anthem to Buenos Aires, and epic organ music by Bach.

Playlist: Müller/Makaroff/Solal: Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (Gotan Project) Marius Neset: Manmade - Saxophone Concerto: Mvt II Edison (Marius Neset, saxophone, Bergen Phliharmonic, Edward Gardner, conductor) Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune (Khatia Buniatishvili, piano) Arvo Pärt (arr. Eduard Wesly) : Summa for reed quintet (Calefax Reed Quintet) Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Souvenirs d'Andalousie - Op.22 (Alan Marks, piano) Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543:1 – Prelude (Karl Richter, organ) Josh Tillman: Chloë (Father John Misty) Andrew John Hozier-Byrne: Nina Cried Power (Hozier ft. Mavis Staples)

Jess's guest this week is the cellist Max Ruisi, artistic director of the 12 Ensemble, a "revolutionary string orchestra". They meet in the TCL studio for a listening party including a beautiful lament by Monteverdi, a bird-themed string quartet by Haydn, mesmerising music for solo oboe by Britten, and tracks from Cosmo Sheldrake and Herbie Hancock.

Playlist: Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3; 1st mvt (Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado) Monteverdi - Lamento della Ninfa (Anna Prohaska, Arcangelo) Bartok - 6 Romanian Dances (Avi Avital, Pottsdam Chamber Academy) Elena Tonra (arr. Josephine Stephenson) - The Dazzler (Ex:Re, Josephine Stephenson, 12 Ensemble) Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op.33 No.3 “The Bird”; 3rd mvt (London Haydn Quartet) Cosmo Sheldrake - Come Along (from The Much Much How How and I) Britten - 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid (Francois Leleux, oboe) Herbie Hancock - Dolphin Dance (from Dedication)

Harpist Lavinia Meijer has worked with an impressive list of people, including Philip Glass, Iggy Pop and Patty Smith, she joins Jess Gillam this week to chat about the music they can't get enough of. Lavinia is declaring her love for the bagpipes with a track by The Chieftains, we’ve two stunning concertos from Unsuk Chin and Korngold, re-worked film music by Peter Gabriel plus Stravinsky, Alabama Shakes and a very famous Waltz!

Playlist: Johann Strauss II - An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314 [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan] Peter Gabriel - With this Love The Chieftains - The Humours of Carolan Debussy – Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G Major, L. 3: Third Movement [Andre Previn (piano), Julie Rosenfeld (violin), Gary Hoffman (cello)] Unsuk Chin - Violin Concerto; Movement I [Viviane Hagner (violin), Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano] Korngold - Cello Concerto in C Major, Op.37; I. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco [Edgar Moreau (cello), Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Sanderling]

Jess Gillam is joined by Qanun player Maya Youssef for a listening party of some of the music they love the most. Jess brings some spine-tingling violin by Philip Glass and an absolute classic by Peter Gabriel, while Maya shares an earworm by Dvorak, and like all good parties it all ends with a little studio dance session to tracks by Toufic Farroukh and Hooverphonic

Playlist: John Adams - Shaker Loops: i. Shaking and Trembling [Bournemouth SO/Marin Alsop (conductor)] Toufic Farroukh - Elhob ?! Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer JS Bach - Fuga in G minor, BWV1000 [Yasunori Imamura (lute)] Philip Glass - Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt [Gidon Kremer (violin), Vienna Philharmonic/Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor)] Hooverphonic - 2 Wicky Dvorak - Symphony no.9 'From the New World' - 2nd mvt [Vienna Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan (conductor)] Morten Schantz - Godspeed

Jess is joined in the studio by Brazilian guitarist Plínio Fernandes to share the music they love. Plínio shares his Latin roots with Villa-Lobos, Albéniz and a beautiful duet by Elis Regina and Tom Jobim, and Jess offers up Bartok inspired Jazz from Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter, a fiendishly difficult concerto by John Adams and Scott Walker is lamenting the weather.

Playlist: Heitor Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, W.424; IV. Danza [Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony] Eddie Sauter / Stan Getz - I’m Late, I’m Late Beethoven - Bagatelles, Op. 33: V. Allegro, ma non troppo [Cristian Budu] Scott Walker - It’s Raining Today Isaac Albeniz - Suite espanola no. 1, Op.47; III. Sevilla [Julian Bream] John Adams - Saxophone Concerto; II. Molto vivo: a hard, driving pulse [Timothy McAllister (sax), St Louis Symphony, David Robertson] Elis Regina & Antônio Carlos Jobim - Águas de março Johann Sebastian Bach – O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht Motet, BWV 118 [English Baroque Soloists, The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner]

Jess Gillam and harpist Magdalena Hoffman meet online to share the music they love, with the revolutionary sound of Gil Scott-Heron, Portico Quartet, Nino Rota, Schumann and Esperanza Spalding.

Playlist: Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Handel - Keyboard Suite No 1 (Set II) in B-flat Major, HWV 434 (trans. Wilhelm Kempff) - Roberto Cominati (piano) Schumann - Szenen aus Goethes Faust , WoO 3. Pt. VII Hier ist die Aussicht frei - Christian Gerhaher and BRSO Nino Rota - Trio for Flute, Violin and Piano; I. Allegro ma non troppo - Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Eric Le Sage (piano) Esperanza Spalding - Lest We Forget (blood) Charles-Valentin Alkan – 13 Prieres, Op. 64; No. 11. Andantino - Olivier Latry (organ) Portico Quartet - Youth Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 E-Flat Major Op. 100 II. Andante (Trio Wanderer)

Jess Gillam and trumpeter Alison Balsom are joined by a live audience at The Hay Festival to have a listening party of some of the music they love the most. Alison brings along one of their most beautiful tunes and outs herself as a Queen superfan, then shares the Miles Davis tune that brings her most joy. Meanwhile Jess shares an absolute banger by Piazzolla, an epic sax solo by Rachmaninov and a breathtaking performance by Nina Simone.

Playlist:

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto no.4 - 1st mvt (English Concert, Trevor Pinnock) DAVID BOWIE: Dollar Days (from Blackstar) MILES DAVIS: If I Were a Bell (Miles Davis Quintet) RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op. 45 - No.1 {Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin) PIAZZOLLA: Histoire du Tango: Night Club 1960 (Astoria) QUEEN: Love of my Life (from A Night at the Opera) NINA SIMONE: Stars (Live at the Montreux Jazz festival) STRAVINSKY: The Firebird - finale (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle)

Jess chats with conductor Charlotte Politi about the music they both love, with a ballet by Tchaikovsky, an opera by Mozart, Isobel Waller-Bridge's Illuminations and a classic by The Supremes.

Playlist: Khachaturian – Masquerade – Ballet Suite: 1. Waltz [London Symphony Orchestra, Stanley Black] Mozart - Così fan tutte: 'Soave sia il vento' [Véronique Gens (soloist), Pietro Spagnoli (soloist), Bernarda Fink (soloist), Concerto Köln, René Jacobs] Isobel Waller-Bridge - Illuminations Billie Holiday - Blue Moon Modest Mussorgsky - A Night On The Bare Mountain [Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado] Rameau - Les Indes Galantes Ouverture [Jordi Savall, Le Concert Des Nations] The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On Tchaikovsky – Sleeping Beauty, Op.66: No. 29c Adagio [The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Mark Ermler]

Jess Gillam and pianist Kunal Lahiry have a listening party of tracks they love, including a seminal teenage memory involving Tori Amos, a Nirvana cover and an apple martini. Plus tracks by Orlando Weeks, epic choral music by Brahms and Yo-Yo Ma playing one of the most beautiful melodies ever written, Dvorak's Song to the Moon

Jess Gillam and baritone Benjamin Appl share music they love - including tracks by Barbra Streisand and Thom Yorke, the tune of all tunes from Tchaikovsky violin concerto, a heartbreaker by Marlene Dietrich and Ben reveals his majestic side with a choral banger that he always takes on planes...

Jess Gillam and cellist Amalie Stalheim share the music they love, including the soundtrack to Amalie's teenage years, two very different lullabies and a 'feel-good' sonata.

Playlist: Shostakovich - Jazz Suite No 2 - Dance 2 [Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky] Björk- Army of Me Mendelssohn – Cello Sonata No.2 in D Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro assai vivace [Steven Isserlis - cello, Melvyn Tan - piano] Joesef - Comedown Josef Suk - Serenade for Strings in E-flat major, Op. 6: IV. Allegro [Vienna Philharmonic, Clemens Krauss] Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime Icelandic Folk Song - Sleep for Mama (Vikingur Olafsson - piano) Fredrik Lindborg - Danny’s Dream

Jess Gillam and countertenor Jakub Josef Orlinski share some of the music they love, including saxophone music by John Harle, Andreas Scholl singing Handel, a slice of feelgood from Gregory Porter and some Polish rap from O.S.T.R.

Plus Jakub shares how he ended up becoming one of the world's biggest countertenors by drawing straws in his choir (and losing) and how his past as a skateboarder and breakdancer influenced the music he loves

Playlist: Gregory Porter - Everything You Touch is Gold John Harle - The Interpretation of Dreams [John Harle (sax), Doric Quartet, Sarah Leonard (voice)] O.S.T.R. - O robieniu bitów Aleksander Debicz - Recipe [Aleksander Debicz (piano), Lukasz Kuropaczewski (guitar)] Air - Playground Love Handel - Dove sei (from Rodelinda) [Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin] Joy Crookes - When You Were Mine

Jess Gillam and composer Ella Jarman-Pinto share the music they love, with life-affirming tunes from Anna Meredith, Flora Purim and Jungle. Beauty in simplicity from Howard Skempton and Luke Howard, fire passion and grit from Elizabeth Maconchy and a little moment of comfort from Johann Christian Bach.

Playlist: Anna Meredith – Sawbones Johann Christian Bach – Sonata No.5 in A Major, Op. 17, No. 5: I. Allegro [Daniil Trifonov, piano] Elizabeth Maconchy - Quartet for strings no. 1, 1st movement; Allegro feroce [Hanson String Quartet] Jungle - Keep Moving Howard Skempton - Lento [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mark Wigglesworth] Alberto Iglesias - Los Vestidos Desgarrados Flora Purim – This Is Me Luke Howard - Portrait Gallery

Jess Gillam and violinist Esther Abrami swap playlists, including a French-inspired movie score by Rachel Portman, Paris meets Beirut in jazz form by trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, a gorgeous Motown tribute to Otis Redding, and a classic French chanson reimagined by the one and only Jarvis Cocker.

Playlist:

Jonny Greenwood - House of Woodcock (from the Phantom Threads OST)

Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64 - 2nd mvt [Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz (conductor)]

Jarvis Cocker - Aline

Faure - Chanson d'amour, op.27 no.1 [Barbara Bonney (soprano), Warren Jones (piano)]

William Bell - Tribute to a King

Rachel Portman - Main title from 'Chocolat'

Christian Sinding - Rustle of Spring, op.32 no.3 [Christian Ihle Hadland (piano)]

Ibrahim Maalouf - Lily will Soon Be a Woman (live)

Jess Gillam and cellist Edgar Moreau share some of the music they love, with shimmering piano pieces by Debussy and Rachmaninov, and epic emotion from Serge Reggiani and Dusty Springfield. Abdullah Ibrahim is playing the soprano saxophone and Edgar takes us back to his very first orchestral experience with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

Playlist: Debussy - Suite bergamasque for piano: Clair de lune Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Offenbach - Harmonies des bois, Op. 76; No. 3 Les Larmes de Jacqueline Mischa Maisky (cello), Dania Hovora (piano)

Abdullah Ibrahim - Ishmael Abdullah Ibrahim (soprano saxophone), Cecil McBee (double bass), Roy Brooks (drums)

Serge Reggiani - Ma fille

Bremer/McCoy - Ordet

Rachmaninov - Suite No 1 op 5 Fantaisie Tableaux, Barcarolle Martha Argerich, Alexandre Rabinovitch (piano)

Dusty Springfield – You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64; II. Andante cantabile… Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko

In a special show for International Women's Day, Jess sits down with composer Anna Meredith to share some of their favourite tracks by female artists - from lush strings by Bjork and Hildur Guðnadóttir via heartbreakers from FKA Twigs and the Shirelles, to a brand new banger by composer/producer Carmel Smickersgill

Playlist

Bjork: Stonemilker Meredith Monk: Ellis Island FKA Twigs: cellophane Hildur Guðnadóttir: Folk faer andlit Carmel Smickersgill: Thinking Louise Farrenc: Nonet, op.38 - 3rd mvt (Consortium Classicum) Emily Hall: Eternity (Olivia Chaney) The Shirelles: Will you Still Love me Tomorrow

Jess Gillam swaps mixtapes with pianist and composer Joseph Havlat, with tracks by Nick Drake and Mike Oldfield, a Romantic classic by Tchaikovsky and a toe tapping early folk tune.

Playlist:

Trad - Kathryn Oggie [Baltimore Consort] Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture [Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov (conductor)] Nigel Westlake - Shards of Jaisalmer [Grigoryan Brothers] Nick Drake - Saturday Sun Mike Oldfield - Incantations (pt 4) Punch Brothers - All Ashore Schumann - Traumerei, op.15 no.7 [Martha Argerich (piano)] The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

Jess swaps favourite tracks with singer, songwriter and cellist Laufey, from silky jazz piano from Bill Evans and virtuosic fireworks in Sibelius Violin Concerto to Joe Cocker covering The Beatles.

Playlist: Bill Evans - Like Someone in Love Shara Worden - From the Invisible to the Visible Ravel - Pavane pour un enfant defunte (Louis Lortie (piano)) Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends Sibelius - Violin Concerto, 3rd mvt (Hilary Hahn (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa‐Pekka Salonen (conductor)) Chet Baker - While My Lady Sleeps Shostakovich - Cello Concerto, 1st mvt (Sol Gabetta (cello), Munich Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel (conductor)) Tsegue Maryam Guebrou – Homesickness, pt 2

Jess Gillam talks to Argentinian composer Sebastian Plano about the music they love, including Villa-Lobos and an army of cellos taking on Bach, synth wizard Vangelis conjuring up the sound of Antarctica, the soulful voices of Mercedes Sosa and Lianne La Havas, plus a real tearjerker from Elgar.

Playlist: Rossini - William Tell – Overture [Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan] Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar Ryuichi Sakamoto - Amore Vangelis - Theme from Antarctica Jóhann Jóhannsson - Flight from the City Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No.1. Introduction Lianne La Havas - Bittersweet Elgar - Variations on an original theme, Op 36 “Enigma”: 9 Nimrod (Adagio) [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess is joined this week by the conductor Jamie Phillips. They share some of their favourite tracks and musical discoveries, including Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto, a jazz arrangement of Holst's The Planets, elegiac piano music by Busoni and a track by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.

Jess Gillam talks to recorder player Lucie Horsch about the music they love including the warm vocal tones of Omara Portuondo, some speaker shaking bass from Mark Guiliana, an early choral classic from Faure and masterful film music from Bernstein and Hans Zimmer.

Playlist: Bernstein – West Side Story: Overture [Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story Orchestra, Johnny Green] Omara Portuondo – La sitiera (Rafael Lopez) Mark Guiliana - Bud Schubert – 4 Impromptus Op.142, D.935: No.4 in F minor: Allegro scherzando [Andras Schiff, piano] Faure - Cantique de Jean Racine [City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier] Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes Hans Zimmer - Matera from 'No Time To Die' Handel – Theodora - oratorio in 3 acts: Act 1 sc.4; As with rosy steps the morn [Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo-soprano), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Harry Bicket]

Jess Gillam is joined by the conductor Oliver Zeffman to share some of the music they love. Including a rare and beautiful song by Tchaikovsky, a banging tune by Lizzo, plus possibly THE greatest ending in all of music with Mahler’s 8th Symphony.

Playlist: Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21, in C Major, K. 467; II. Andante [Mitsuko Uchida (piano), English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate] Alex Baranowski - Constellations Lizzo - Good as Hell Pauline Oliveros – The Beauty of Sorrow [extract] Jordan Rakei - Brace Tchaikovsky - None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, TH 93, No. 6 [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Ivari Ilja (piano)] Abdullah Ibrahim - Maraba Blue Mahler - Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major – ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ Part 2: Finale [Leonard Bernstein, The London Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Festival Chorus]

Conductor and composer Eimear Noone is best known for her film and video game scores - she joins Jess Gillam to swap mixtapes and together they get swept away with a vintage Beethoven recording, dream of Orkney with Erland Cooper and get revved up with AC/DC.

Jess Gillam and tenor Nicky Spence don their Christmas jumpers to share their favourite seasonal music, from Jon Vickers singing Handel to Joni Mitchell, and from Vivaldi's Winter to joyful harmonies from Pentatonix.

Playlist: Trad. Jingle Bells - Ella Fitzgerald Trad. arr. Ola Gjeilo - The Coventry Carol (Choir of Royal Holloway) Yma Sumac - Malambo No.1 Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Overture & Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy (Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev conductor) R Strauss - Weihnachtsgefuhl (Edita Gruberova) Vivaldi - Concerto No.4 in F minor RV297 ‘Winter’ (Henning Kraggerud violin, Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra) Mervyn Warren - Joyful, Joyful (Pentatonix) Handel - Messiah, Part 1: Comfort ye, my people; Every valley (Jon Vickers tenor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham conductor) Joni Mitchell - River

Jess Gillam and horn player Felix Klieser share the music they love, with some sumptuous early Prokofiev, Kate Bush, Sidney Bechet, Piazzolla and Sting.

Playlist: Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major, K. 495; III. Rondo, Allegro vivace [Hermann Baumann (horn), Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pinchas Zukermann] Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Verano Porteno The Police - Every Breath You Take Prokofiev - Autumnal Sketch [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits] Kate Bush - Pi Sidney Bechet - Petite Fleur Saint-Saens - Romance in F major, Op. 36 R. 195 [Mischa Maisky (cello), Orpheus Chamber Orchestra] Olafur Arnalds - Respite

Jess Gillam chats to composer Erland Cooper about the music they love, with music by Peter Maxwell Davies, The Pixies, Florence Price and Boards of Canada.

Playlist: Ravel - Le Tombeau de Couperin; I. Prelude [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez] Boards of Canada - Zoetrope CPE Bach - Sonata In A Minor For Oboe Solo Wq. 132: I Poco Adagio [Branford Marsalis] Ennio Morricone - Se telefonando [Mina] Florence Price - Adoration [Randall Goosby] Peter Maxwell Davies - Farewell to Stromness The Pixies - Where is my Mind? Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending [Daniel Pioro]

Jess Gillam and accordionist Samuele Telari swap mixtapes and chat about the music they love, including accordion music by Piazzolla, Satie on the guitar, traditional Italian song and classic David Bowie.

Jess Gillam and composer Eydís Evensen share the music they love, with music from Rachmaninov, Sigur Rós, Christine Southworth and Minnie Riperton.

Jess Gillam and the French cellist Bruno Philippe share some of their favourite music, including movements from Schubert's final string quartet and Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Sixth Symphony, tracks by Amy Winehouse and Alex Turner, and music by Lera Auerbach and John Ireland.

Playlist: Puccini - Overture from Madame Butterfly [Orchestra Dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Alberto Erede] De Visee - Sarabande from Pieces for lute, Suite No.7 [Thomas Dunford, Jean Rondeau] Amy Winehouse - Back to Black Lera Auerbach - T'filah (Prayer) for solo violin [Vadim Glutzman] Schubert - String Quartet No.15 in G, 1st movement [Hagen Quartet] John Ireland - Fantasy Sonata [Michael Collins, Michael McHale] Alex Turner - Piledriver waltz Beethoven - Symphony No.6 in F major 'Pastoral', final movement [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti]

Jess Gillam and violinist Mari Samuelsen share the music they love, including Gershwin, Nick Cave, Hannah Peel, Huw Watkins and Queen!

Playlist: Gershwin – Walking the dog (Promenade) from Shall we Dance [Los Angeles Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas] John Bennet – Weep, O Mine Eyes [Attacca Quartet] Nick Cave – Push The Sky Away Hannah Peel – Emergence In Nature Huw Watkins – Flute Concerto; III. Allegro Molto [Adam Walker (flute), Halle, Ryan Wigglesworth] Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now Korngold – Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35; I. Moderato nobile [Nicola Benedetti, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits] Vivaldi / Max Richter – Recomposed, Vivaldi The Four Seasons; Spring 3 [Daniel Hope (violin), Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin, André de Ridder]

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Carlos Simon to share the music they love including the Philip Glass opera Akhnaten, Quincy Jones' Happy Feet, Gabriela Lena Frank, Earth Wind and Fire and a cracking tune from Sibelius.

Playlist: Philip Glass - Funeral of Amenhotep (from Akhnaten) [Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Karen Kamensek, Zachary James] Bach - Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No.3 in E Major, BWV 1016; 3rd movement [Renaud Capuçon (violin), David Fray (piano)] Quincy Jones - Happy Feet (from the movie Walk, Don’t Run) Traditional – The Butcher's Boy [Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant] Gabriela Lena Frank - Leyendas, “An Andean Walkabout” - mvt. 2 Tarqueada [Chiara Quartet] Fanny Mendelssohn - Das Jahr - June [Liana Serbescu (piano)] Earth Wind and Fire - Can’t Let Go Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43; 2nd Movement [New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam and composer Claire M Singer share the music they love, with music from Meredith Monk, Telemann, Lee Scratch Perry, Schnittke and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Playlist: Meredith Monk – The Games: Spaceship (Arr. M Gordon for Chamber Ensemble) [Bang On A Can All-Stars] Telemann – Sonata TWV 41:f1 in F minor; I. Triste [Frans Bruggen (recorder), Anner Bylsma (cello) Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)] Lee Scratch Perry – Blackboard Jungle Dub Miklos Rozsa - Spellbound [LSO, John Williams] Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Storm (Excerpt) Eydis Evensen - Brotin Alfred Schnittke – Requiem aeternam [Eric Ericsons Kammarkör, Radiokören, Conductor – Tõnu Kaljuste] Eric Whitacre – October [Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Band, Stephen Gage]

Jess Gillam and cellist Gabriella Swallow share the music they love including Scott Walker's Sleepwalkers Woman, Barbara Hendricks singing Britten, electricity and fire from CPE Bach, love and longing from Carole King and Stravinsky is at The Fair.

Playlist: Stravinsky – Petrushka First Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair [Concertgebouw, Riccardo Chailly] Chilly Gonzales - Overnight Benjamin Britten – Les Illuminations, Op. 18 IX. Depart [Barbara Hendricks, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis] Alfa Mist - Mulago John Adams – Shaker Loops IV. A Final Shaking [Orchestra Of St. Luke's, John Adams] Carole King – So Far Away CPE Bach: Flute Concerto in A minor, Wq.166, H.431 1. Allegro Assai [Emmanuel Pahud, Kammerakademie Potsdam, Trevor Pinnock] Scott Walker – Sleepwalkers Woman

Jess Gillam and composer Jacob Mühlrad share the music they love. Jacob introduces us to the music of Sven-David Sandström and a glistening re-mix of Josin by Kiasmos. We have some passionate tango performed by Nicola Benedetti and friends, a landscape of sound from John Cage and Missy Mizzoli tells the story of Isabelle Eberhardt. Plus some early Mahler, unfinished Schubert AND a meeting of musical magic with Chris Thile and Brad Meldhau.

Playlist:

Carlos Gardel - Por Una Cabeza (Arr. John Lenehan) - Nicola Benedetti (violin), Ksenija Sidorova (accordion), Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Leonard Elschenbroich (piano), Alexander Sitkovesky (violin) John Cage – In a landscape (Alexei Lubimov - piano Chris Thile, Brad Meldhau - Tabhair dom do Lamh Mahler – Piano Quartet in A minor - Gidon Kremer (violin), Veronika Hagen (viola), Clemens Hagen (cello), Oleg Maisenberg (piano) Missy Mizzoli – Song From the Uproar: Overture - Abigail Fischer (mezzo), NOW Ensemble, Steven Osgood Josin – Company (Kiasmos Remix) Sven-David Sandström - Agnus Die - Swedish Radio Choir, Peter Dijkstra Schubert - Symphony no. 8 (D.759) in B minor "Unfinished", 1: Allegro moderato - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber

Jess Gillam and pianist George Harliono share the music they love. George introduces us to the fascinating world of Soviet composer Mikael Tariverdiev as well as Bobby Hebb's joyous dedication to his brother 'Sunny'. Missy Mazzoli writes a chorus inspired by Sardinian folk music and Itzhak Perlman lovingly performs Elgar's Salut d'amour. Plus we'll hear heart-wrenching music from Anthony and the Johnsons and Saint-Saëns PLUS Dvořák's playful piano quintet.

Playlist: Antonín Dvořák - Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 81 (3rd mvt) (Andreas Haefliger - piano, Takács Quartet) Missy Mazzoli - Vesper Sparrow (Roomful of Teeth) Mikael Tariverdiev - Prelude from 17 moments of Spring (Mikael Tariverdiev - piano) Edward Elgar - Salut d’amour (Itzhak Perlman - violin, Samuel Sanders - piano) Bobby Hebb – Sunny Jean Sibelius - Andante Festivo (Gothenburg Symphony, Neeme Jarvi - conductor) Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There’s Someone Camille Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, Act II: Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix (Anita Rachvelishvili - soprano, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI, Giacomo Sagripanti - conductor)

Ahead of his performance at the 2023 Final Night of the Proms, revisit cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason's chat with Jess Gillam as they share the music they love. First aired August 2021

Mozart takes us to heavenly plains with his Great Mass, Leroy Anderson plays a typewriter, Max Richter sends us to sleep and we'll hear some heart-wrenching cello playing from Jacqueline du Pré in Dvorak's Silent Woods. Plus Jess and Sheku discuss the iconic voices of legends Bob Marley and Nina Simone.

Playlist: Dvořák - Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, Op. 68 No. 5 (Jacqueline du Pré - cello, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim - conductor) Sam Cooke – Falling in Love Mozart - Mass in C minor, K427 'Great' – Kyrie (Barbara Bonney - soprano, Berlin Radio Choir, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado - conductor) Margaret Bonds – Troubled Water (Samantha Ege - piano) Leroy Anderson – The Typewriter (Eastman Rochester Pops Orchestra, Frederick Fennell) Bob Marley & The Wailers – African Herbsman Max Richter – Dream 1 Nina Simone – I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free (Nina Simone - vocals/piano, Studio Orchestra, Sammy Lowe - conductor)

Jess Gillam and conductor Jonathan Bloxham share the music they love. With a beautifully pensive tango from Piazzolla, Curtis Mayfield's life-affirming song 'Move on Up' and court jesters and curses from Verdi. Also, Anna Clyne is inspired by Persian poetry, Nick Drake sings about growing up and Haydn keeps to time.

Playlist: Haydn - Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock' - finale (Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado - conductor) Piazzolla – Oblivion (Gidon Kremer - violin, Per Arne Glorvigen - bandoneon, Alois Posch - double bass, Vadim Sakharov - piano) Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up Anna Clyne – DANCE: I. when you're broken open (Inbal Segev - cello, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop - conductor) Verdi – “Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata” - Rigoletto, Act 2 (Sherrill Milnes - baritone, Rigoletto, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge - conductor) Nick Drake – Place to Be Brahms - Piano Trio, Op. 8 in B - 1st mvt, Allegro con brio (Jascha Heifetz - violin, Arthur Rubinstein - piano, Emanuel Feuermann - cello) Michael Nyman – Water Dances - Stroking… Syncronizing (Michael Nyman Band)

Jess Gillam joins up with the Australian violinist Courtenay Cleary to share some of their favourite music, including an iconic work by Richard Strauss, a highly charged Janacek String Quartet, a spellbinding farewell from David Bowie, kaleidoscopic Australian jazz-funk and a special gift from the Aurora Orchestra.

Playlist: R. Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic) Janacek - String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" (Emersen String Quartet) David Bowie - Lazarus Arvo Part - Fratres (Ursula Schoch, Marcel Worms) Marcello - Oboe Concerto in D Minor (Heinz Holliger, I Musici) Hiatus Kaiyote - Nakamarra Scriabin - Piano Sonata No.5 in F Sharp Major (Vladimir Ashkenazy) Barber - Sure On This Shining Night (Allan Clayton with Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon)

Jess Gillam joins up with American pianist Tom Weaver to share some of their favourite music, including Dvorak's Eighth Symphony, a virtuosic Vivaldi violin concerto played on the trumpet, an energetic tango by Piazzolla, plus tracks from Aerosmith and Electric Light Orchestra.

Playlist: Dvorak – Symphony No.8, 3rd movement (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion (from Toys in the Attic) Piazzolla – Night Club 1960 (from Histoire du Tango) (Astoria) Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in A minor (arr. trumpet) (Alison Balsom, Scottish Ensemble) Mahler – Das Lied von der Erde, 1st movement; Das Trinklied vom jammer der Erde (Jonas Kaufmann, Jonathan Nott, Vienna Philharmonic) George Walker – Hoopla (A Touch of Glee) (Sinfonia Varsova, Ian Hobson) Electric Light Orchestra – The Whale (from Out of the Blue) JS Bach – Fugue in D# minor, BWV 853 (from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1) (Edward Aldwell, piano)