In recent years music written by women has at long last begun to be commissioned, programmed, performed, recorded, discussed, reviewed, studied, and celebrated. And of course, most importantly, composedā¦ in greater and greater quantities. Last time I checked women account for half the planet's human population and if this podcast is called 'Classical For Everyone' then perhaps the music should be from 'everyone'. And even though I've scattered some wonderful music written by women through earlier episodes of the podcast, there is now so much great music available in great recorded performances, it feels like it could be time for the men to make just a little more room on the turntables. Music from 1690 to 2015 by Jennifer Higdon, Isabella Leonarda, Maddalena Sirmen, Fanny Mendelssohn, Mel Bonis, Ida Presti, Anna Clyne and Elena Kats-Chernin.
-------- Ā
1:22:55
--------
1:22:55
The Clarinet... Masters and Masterworks.
An episode back in late May 2025 featured music written for the clarinet from the 20th century. This is a companion show goes back to close to the invention of the clarinet with a work from 1755 and then finishes up with a gem from 1894. Music from Johann Stamitz, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Maria von Weber and Johannes Brahms. My AI friend Claude came up with the title of the episode and I hope you find 'The Clarinet... Masters and Masterworks' a pretty accurate description.Ā
-------- Ā
1:05:20
--------
1:05:20
Handelā¦ A very German Italian Englishman. Part Two.
At the end of the last episode Georg Friedrich Handel had just composed the anthem 'Zadok The Priest' for the coronation of King George II of Great Britain. The year was 1727 and it was the same year that Handel; who had grown up and begun his career in what is now Germany, and who had spent an intensely formative four years in the city states of the Italian peninsula, was granted British citizenship. In the next three decades he would write another dozen operas, over twenty oratorios, a slew of concertos, and books and books of keyboard music. More than enough for a second hour of music by this incredible composer.
-------- Ā
1:06:18
--------
1:06:18
Handelā¦ A very German Italian Englishman. Part One.
I hope you're in the mood for some truly beautiful musicā¦ much of it involving singing. I don't know if I can convert anyone to the delights of early 18th century opera but the songs I'm going to play you in this episode are I think some of the most exquisite ever written. Handel was born in 1685 in Halle near Leipzig in what is now north-eastern Germany and died in London in 1759. By the time he died he was not just the most successful composer in Great Britainā¦ he was one of the most successful people in the nation. And here is a little quote generated by Claude Ā whilst I was researching this show. It is I think a pretty good summary of why Handel's music has persisted for three centuriesā¦ 'The music combines German rigor, Italian lyricism, and English choral traditions into a distinctive, accessible style characterized by memorable melodies, dramatic contrasts, and psychological insight.'
Five hundred years of incredible music. No expertise is necessary. All you need are ears. If you've ever been even slightly curious about classical music then this is the podcast for you.
New Zealand