This Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast episode features Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu who, on the 19th August releases her recording of Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor (pared the Grieg Piano Concerto). She's also playing a major role in the Leeds International Piano Competition later this year giving the first Alexandra Dariescu Award for the outstanding performance of music by a female composer - Clara Schumann's concerto is one of the concerto that finalists can select for the Concerto Final. The Leeds gets underway on 11 September, with the Finals staged on 20 and 21 September. Alexandra joins Petroc Trelawny presenting the Leeds on BBC television.

The Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast hears from mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron in this episode, previewing her appearance at the 2024 Ryedale Festival in particular her collaboration with dancer Suleiman Suleiman and musician Hibiki Ichikawa intertwining a Japanese Kabuki play with Schubert's iconic Winterreise song cycle.

In this podcast Fleur talks about her international influences, illustrating what fuels her work - discovery - something closely aligned to Thoroughly Good's approach to classical music.

Fleur appears at Ryedale from 13th July. Spring Snow is scheduled for 16th July. Listen to the podcast for repeat performance dates in London and Europe.

https://ryedalefestival.com/event/13-spring-snow/

Organist and pianist James McVinnie is Artist in Residence at Southbank Centre in London this year. His programming like many of his recordings often juxtaposes old and new These juxtapositions can bring about a delicious kind of cognitive shift for the listener. James explored his art, his approach to performance and explains more about his fascination with the intersection between baroque and minimalism.

Recommended recording: Counterpoint, 2021 🎧https://open.spotify.com/album/1YaUdmi1BHvotzVS95uuqj?si=L10oITkmRp-uw8syTud7og

Conductor, organist, harpsichordist and lovely man Ton Koopman riffs on the joys of JS Bach at BachFest in Leipzig, ahead of his festival in the Dordogne - Itineraire Baroque - where he and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra will be performing Bach’s St John Passion.

Jon Jacob speaks to ETO General Director Robin Norton-Hale and members of the cast and production team about the English Touring Opera production of Blond Eckbert that opens the 75th Aldeburgh Festival on 7th June 2024.

How can recontextualising classical music help build a new audience for the genre? Classics Explained YouTube producer Ben Levy explores the opportunities he's discovered using animation to tell the story of some of classics most-loved works, and some of the pushback he's received doing so.

Hailstones, frogs and sexy trills. Monteverdi Choir's director Peter Whelan joins Amy Wood and Nick Pritchard to introduce the detail and the colour in Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt.