Episodes

Thursday Mar 25, 2021
BONUS EDITION: Sir Humphrey Burton
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
This week, one of the most important figures in arts broadcasting, Sir Humphrey Burton, celebrates his 90th birthday.
As a special tribute to Humphrey, here is an exclusive interview Tommy Pearson recorded with him in 2018 at home in Aldeburgh - and this is the first time the recording has been heard.
In a wide-ranging chat, Humphrey Burton talks about his extraordinary career, from joining the BBC in the 1950s, to heading Music and Arts at the BBC and LWT, his long working relationship with Leonard Bernstein, creating Young Musician of the Year and even how he nearly joined MI6 (or did he?).
Presenter/Producer: Tommy Pearson
Recorded in 2018.
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Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Top 5 Most Shocking Moments in Classical Music
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
This week, the team is joined by conductor and host of the "A Mic on the Podium' podcast, Michael Seal who chooses 5 moments in music that have shocked him; ranging from the personal - on the podium - to major issues facing the industry.
A wide-ranging discussion on shocking musical moments, events and, er, bassoons.
With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner.
Producer: Simon Funnell
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Friday Mar 12, 2021
Top 5 Quintets
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Friday Mar 12, 2021
This week, Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner are joined by a violinist who spent much of his time playing in one of the UK's most popular ensembles - the Brodskys - before becoming an in-demand orchestral leader: Andrew Haveron, currently concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Australia.
Andrew chooses his Top 5 (and then some!) Quintets. They can come in many forms and a myriad of different instrumentations and composers have often saved their best music for a 5-musician line-up. But which ones will be the favourites of Andrew and the panel?
Producer: Simon Funnell
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Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Top 5 Unaccompanied Choral Works
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Our guest this week is superstar composer and presenter Howard Goodall who chooses his Top 5 (and more!) works for unaccompanied choir. A chorister throughout his childhood, Howard went on to write some of the most performed choral works of recent years (as well as themes to hit TV shows like Blackadder, Red Dwarf, QI and The Vicar of Dibley). But which pieces mean the most to him?
With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner.
Producer: Simon Funnell
If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you!
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Friday Feb 26, 2021
Top 5 Classical Earworms
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Friday Feb 26, 2021
This week, Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner choose their Top 5 Classical Earworms - those pesky tunes that get stuck in your head and are impossible to shift, whether you like them or not!
From Handel to Karl Jenkins, you are bound to find at least one of their choices will stay with you long after the podcast. You have been warned!
Producer: Simon Funnell
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Wednesday Feb 17, 2021
Top 5 American Orchestral Works
Wednesday Feb 17, 2021
Wednesday Feb 17, 2021
This week, the team is joined by US conductor, lecturer and teacher Christopher Russell who has made it his special mission across his career to feature works by American composers old and new. Chris chooses both classics and lesser known repertoire in his Top 5, alongside the team's own.
With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner.
Producer: Simon Funnell
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Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Top 5 Musicals
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
This week, the team is joined by Emmy, Tony, Grammy Award-winning and 7-time Oscar nominated composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mary Poppins Returns, Sleepless in Seattle, Sister Act, A Few Good Men, South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut) who chooses the musicals that mean the most to him.
Marc reveals a wide variety of choices and regularly turns to the piano to illustrate them!
With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner.
Producer: Simon Funnell
If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you!
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Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Top 5 Ballets
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
This week, Tommy, Richard and Charlotte are joined by conductor Barry Wordsworth who chooses his Top 5 Ballets. As Music Director and now Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Ballet and Music Director Laureate of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Barry has conducted a huge range of ballets in his long career. So which ones will he choose?
With Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner.
Producer: Simon Funnell
If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you!
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Thursday Jan 21, 2021
Top 5 Overtures
Thursday Jan 21, 2021
Thursday Jan 21, 2021
This week the team tackles a very big subject - Overtures. There are a LOT of them! Helping them whittle it down to 5 each is special guest Paul Daniel, who has conducted countless overtures in his time, especially in the opera house where he has been music director of Opera North and English National Opera, among others.
Will your favourite overture make the final list?
Producer: Simon Funnell
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Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Top 5 Solo Instrumental Works
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
We're back! A new year and a new series as Tommy Pearson, Richard Bratby and Charlotte Gardner continue their survey of the greatest works, performers and composers in classical music. This week we select our Top 5 Solo Instrumental Works - pieces with no accompaniment (and excluding piano, which will get its own show!).
Producer: Simon Funnell
If you enjoy our podcasts, please help us continue by making a donation at paypal.me/classicaltop5. Thank you!
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