The musical tracks in this podcast are all from A Ceremony of Carols. The recording is performed by the National Youth Girls Choir, with Vicky Lester on harp, conducted by Esther Jones. With grateful thanks to Delphian Records for allowing us to use extracts from this recording.By Miriam Keogh, Madeleine Holmes, Ben Vonberg-Clark, National Youth Girls Choir, Dr Lucy Walker

Lucy is joined by two of this year's composers - Roderick Williams and Kerry Andrew - and by Sophia Allen, our Head of Community. Tune in to find out how the Friday Afternoons songs - past and present - have reached thousands of schoolchildren, and inspired creative artists of all kind.By Britten Pears Arts

In this month’s podcast we celebrate the fascinating subject of song and singing. We start with Benjamin Britten, and his lifelong attachment to song – inspired to explore it in multiple ways by his partner Peter Pears’ voice, by poetry, and by the occasion he was composing for. Following his example, Britten Pears Arts has song at the very centre …

In 2023 we mark the 400th anniversary of the deaths of two composers who wrote beautiful music, and who lived in extraordinary times. William Byrd (c.1540-1623) lived through a remarkably turbulent period of history, under no fewer than six monarchs. He wrote a huge amount of exquisite choral works, including Catholic masses which – depending who w…

Tune in to the final podcast of Season 3 (recorded in June 2021) to hear about Alma Mahler's work, the potent combination of opera, film and fashion house (a link to the film Elise discusses can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhgwmZQVgJE), and the power of song to connect people in isolation. Plus, some beautiful tracks for the podca…

Tune in to hear more about Hannah's work, how she has been inspired by Britten's music, how the life and work of both Britten and Pears can still be sensed at The Red House, and what a Creative Retreat in the grounds of their former home has meant to her. Plus, further additions to the podcast playlist - four brilliant tracks that are all about cou…

Tune in to find out how Alternative Classical engages with new listeners, how to explore an exciting range of classical music performances, and how to play Concert Roulette! Plus, as usual there are some excellent additions to the podcast playlist.By Lucy Walker, Hannah Fiddy

Tune in for a remarkable conversation about the environment, music, Britten's home town of Lowestoft, the fascinating and valuable relationships between musicians and environmental causes, and how music of all kinds can deeply affect the emotions.By James Thornton, Lucy Walker

Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the background, creation, and ethos of the multi-media music piece BEAM: Everybody Can Stand in their Own Light. The remarkable creative team behind this work (Nadine Benjamin, lead artists/co-dramaturg, Darren Abrahams, co-dramaturg and trauma specialist, and Claire Shovelton, senior producer and photog…

Tansy Davies' new piece for string orchestra and percussion, 'Monolith: I Extend My Arms' will be premiered at Snape Maltings on 26 June 2021 (a Britten Pears Arts commission). Tune in for a conversation about this piece, and about other fascinating compositions - including Tansy's operas 'Between Worlds' and 'Cave', and the horn piece 'Yoik'. Plus…

Soprano Samantha Crawford and pianist Lana Bode have been collaborating on a remarkable project: dream.risk.sing. Their forthcoming recital and CD (with Delphian Records) focusses on women's voices. It is a programme of music mainly by female composers, and of texts by women (the proejct is supported using public funding by the National Lottery thr…

Tune in for a fascinating conversation between Lucy and Joe (who are both alumni of Edinburgh University!) about the rich and varied European choral tradition. The Chapel Royal at St James's Palace has an extraordinary history, intertwining the musical interests of English monarchs with the great musicians of the previous centuries, including Byrd,…

As we celebrate a year of Britten Pears Arts, we welcome a new Trustee! Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has had a remarkable career, from a music degree at Nottingham University, to a move into the political sphere, and his recent appointment as Chief Executive of UK Music. Tune in to hear a fascinating conversation about the emotional impact of music, how per…

In this podcast during Women's History Month, Lucy and Anna have a fascinating conversation about a wide range of histories, and how historical stories are told. Tune in to hear about celebrities of the nineteenth century, the heroic figure of the British tenor (and how Italian tenors became the villains of romantic novels!), portraits and death ma…

Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation with Reverend Coles about his extraordinary life and variety of careers, his lifelong love of music of all kinds from Motown to Benjamin Britten, the experience of being an 'accidental popstar', life as a gay man and political activist in the 1980s, how Christian faith can manifest in music and in physical sp…

Tune in for the final episode before Christmas for a conversation about Anna's remarkable career, the rise of female conductors and organists, and the joy of transcribing orchestral works for organ. Plus, some further additions to our podcast playlist, including some festive treats.By Anna Lapwood, Lucy Walker

Tune in to hear a conversation about songs on the concert stage and in the home, the relationships that inspire composers to write them, and fascinating insights into the ever-changing conventions of song performance. Plus, some further contributions to our podcast playlist.By Lucy Walker, Natasha Loges

Together they reflect on Britten’s place in the world on his 107th birthday, talk about what Britten Pears Arts has been doing this very unusual year, and to explore a fascinating collection of birthday-related items from the Red House collection. Plus, as usual, some further contributions to our Spotify playlist.…

In this extraordinary year, her arrangement of Jerusalem was premiered at the Last Night of the Proms; she has been nominated for an RPS award in the Large-Scale Composition category for her piece This Frame is Part of the Painting; and her new EP Peace on Earth is released on 13 November. Tune in for a conversation about approaches to composition,…

Sean is one of the most adventurous musicians working today, combining classical and electronic music in his repertoire, and with a fascinating back catalogue of recordings, including the Gramophone award-winning softLOUD. Tune in for a discussion about Sean’s career to date, the challenges of 2020, adventurous concert-programming, and some surpris…

Both Lucy’s and Callum’s work is all about encouraging as many people as possible to be involved in music – tune in to hear about music in schools, in the community, and how it benefits us all! Plus, further additions to our increasingly eclectic podcast playlist.By Lucy Walker, Callum Given

Justin has a longstanding association with The Red House and Snape Maltings, often visiting the UK, and is always looking for new ways to explore Britten's music in his scholarship and recital programmes. Tune in to find out more about this fascination for Britten and his world. Plus, what our podcasters have been listening to lately.…

Tune in for a wide-ranging and illuminating conversation, covering matters musical, cultural and political - as well as 'Why Britten Matters'. Plus, further additions to our brilliantly eclectic From The Red House playlist.By Lucy Walker, Imani Mosley

Stephen’s recent books include How Shostakovich Changed my Mind, a very personal response to Shostakovich’s works, and The Eighth, a study of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, and the world from which it emerged. Join in for a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion – plus, what our contributors have been listening to recently.…

Tune in to hear about Shankar’s extraordinary life and utter dedication to musicianship, captured vividly in this beautiful book. Also discussed is how Shankar’s life briefly, but significantly, intersected with Britten’s at various times. Plus, what our podcasters have been listening to lately.By Oliver Craske, Lucy Walker

Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges of the lockdown, the thrill of live performance, getting back to vocal fitness, and the fascinating process of commissioning and co-creating new pieces. Plus, the eclectic range of pieces are contributors have been listening to recently. To listen to the pieces featured, visit our 'From T…

Tune in for a fascinating discussion (recorded down the line from a café in Antwerp!), and hear about what Matthew has been listening to during lockdown. Please note, the sound quality is a little patchy, due to a somewhat intermittent connection.By Matthew Rose, Lucy Walker

Roger Wright (Chief Executive), Sarah Bardwell (Executive Director) and Lucy Walker (Head, Public Programming) discuss the merger of Snape Maltings and Britten-Pears Foundation back in April, the shared aims and vision of this new organisation, and the challenges and experiences of working together during Covid-19. Plus, the listening choices of al…

Sarah has written, directed and performed in two Aldeburgh Festival Pumphouse shows over the last two years: Middagh Street (2018), a glorious evocation of Britten and Pears' months in a riotously bohemian house-share in 1940s; and Barlines (2019), an account of Michael Tippett's formative time spent in Wormwood Scrubs in 1943. Tune in for a conver…

Tune in to hear about the origins of the Friday Afternoons project, its remarkable legacy, setting words to music (in this case, the brilliant poetry of Michael Rosen), how to write for childrens’ voices, and the joys and challenges of unusual commissions! Plus, find out what our podcasters have been listening to this week.…

Find out about the fascinating and diverse Red House collections, the human stories they contain, how we talk about them (in person and in lockdown), and what makes archivists' blood pressure rise. Conversational byways lead to Magnus Pyke, roller-skates, the history of shopping, and the Windmill Theatre, as well as unusual places to store archives…

Tune in for a discussion ranging across all matters musical, including concert-going, how to find a way into classical music, football matches, Disney films, adverts, and our participants’ musical blind spots. Plus, what both have been listening to lately.By Katy Hamilton, Lucy Walker

Tune in for a discussion about the fascinating art of life writing: how you go about beginning a biography, how invested you get in the subject, the changing fashions in life writing, and exciting news about Oliver’s forthcoming publications. Also, find out what Lucy and Oliver have been listening to lately. Topics include: biography, life writing,…

Topics include: the work of LGBT+ History Month and this year’s theme; the context of Britten and Pears’ relationship at a time when homosexuality was illegal, and how we tell their story at The Red House; the 2017 Red House exhibition Queer Talk; how attitudes to LGBT+ lives have changed, but also the challenges that still remain. Plus, what our c…

Topics include: the background to the composer Benjamin Britten, his relationship with the tenor Peter Pears, their lives together at The Red House, and what visitors can experience when they come to the house. Also discussed is how ‘difficult’ some people find Britten’s music, and suggestions of how to get to know it. Plus, what our contributors h…