Classical music is often perceived, unfairly, as elitist, and this stuffy reputation is taking a toll. These six podcasts aim to take the mystery out of the genre and put the entertainment factor back in, blending lively conversations and personal storytelling with expert analysis, history and selections of the music itself.
‘Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast’
This long-running series bills itself as “a classical musical podcast for everyone,” approaching the genre as a source of joy and entertainment rather than a worthy cultural chore. The host, Joshua Weilerstein, is the chief conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and the music director of the Orchestre National de Lille, and his infectious enthusiasm permeates the show as he focuses on a composer, piece or musical movement in each episode. There’s plenty for experts to enjoy, too, including detailed structural analyses of specific symphonies and the historical context behind them, and insightful interviews with fellow conductors, composers and musicians.
Starter episode: “Handel’s Messiah with Aram Demirjian”
‘Art of the Score’
Many people are exposed to symphonic music through movie scores, and they can be a gateway to further exploration. Over 36 episodes, this Australian podcast delves into the scores for some of the most acclaimed films and successful blockbusters, including “Jurassic Park,” “Vertigo” and multiple “Star Wars” installments. It’s hosted by a trio of experts: Andrew Pogson, a producer, director and jazz musician; Nicholas Buc, a composer and conductor, and Dan Golding, a composer and academic. The three men deconstruct the themes, orchestration and narrative context of each score in fascinating detail. Some episodes widen the exposure to explore TV shows (“Stranger Things”), video games (Journey) and even the overlooked (but surprisingly nuanced) stories behind Hollywood’s studio fanfares — the familiar blasts that play over the logos for 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures and others at the beginning of movies.
Starter episode: “Episode 25: ‘Blade Runner’”
‘Joanna Lumley & The Maestro’
The British actress Joanna Lumley, best known for co-starring in the long-running comedy “Absolutely Fabulous,” has been married to the conductor and composer Stephen Barlow since 1986. In this charming and insightful series, the couple share relaxed conversations about their love of classical music, often joined by famous guests including Stephen Fry, Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper. Lumley takes the role of the enthusiastic amateur, often posing questions to Barlow about specific composers, pieces or head-scratching quandaries (like what musical note you could not live without).
Starter episode: “Rule Breakers: Gesualdo, Beethoven and Stravinsky”
‘Decomposed With Jade Simmons’
Despite running for a single six-episode season in 2019, “Decomposed” is worth seeking out. This American Public Media show is hosted and co-written by Jade Simmons, a concert pianist and storyteller who brings both talents to bear in these expertly crafted stories about music history. Each episode tells a different story about the human drama behind major works of classical music, interwoven with excerpts from the piece in question. Towering figures like Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Beethoven take on new life when they’re filtered through the show’s intimate and searching lens.
Starter episode: “There is only one Beethoven”
‘Classical Fix’
Although it’s billed as a podcast for classical newbies, this BBC show is also ideal for anybody who’s nostalgic for the era of making mix tapes. Before each episode, guests are given a playlist of classical music curated by the host, and on the show they discuss their reactions. The original host of “Classical Fix” was Clemency Burton-Hill, a broadcaster and violinist who stepped back in 2020 following a serious brain injury and was replaced by the musician Linton Stephens. Burton-Hill returned the following year for a compelling special episode in which she talked about how classical music aided her recovery.
Starter episode: “Ania Magliano”
‘From the Top’
The beloved NPR series “From the Top” has been running in some form since 2000, five years after the nonprofit organization of the same name began with the mission of elevating young musicians. The radio series-turned-podcast has been hosted by the pianist Peter Dugan since 2020, and tells the stories of emerging musicians through a combination of interviews and music from live performances. Given its focus on musicians in their teenage years, the show is a hopeful counterweight against the idea that classical music is a dying form that young people don’t care about.
Starter episode: “Playing With Emotion”
The post 6 Podcasts About Classical Music appeared first on New York Times.
