The Classical Circuit

In Episode 60, Ella chats to pianist James Baillieu ahead of the 77th Aldeburgh Festival, which marks 50 years since the death of its founder, Benjamin Britten. In James' first year as Associate Director of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme (alongside Ryan Wigglesworth), he reflects on continuing Britten and Pears’ legacy of supporting young artists, through continuing existing traditions but also introducing new elements in order to tailor the programme to the music world of today. He talks about hearing Lise Davidsen sing for the first time, having a small number of long-term musical partnerships, and his most embarrassing concert moment...

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James Baillieu
Aldeburgh Festival 2026

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Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins
Performed by Daniel Lebhardt

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The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 59, Ella chats to Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, about the festival’s fascinating history and unique place within the UK opera scene. Polly also discusses her unconventional route into the opera world, and reflects on how experiencing the instability of the industry in her work as a freelancer informs her role as an Artistic Director.

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Longborough Festival Opera

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Follow The Classical Circuit on Instagram

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, ratings and follows help a lot with visibility, if you have a spare moment... *bats eyelashes*
No offence taken if not.

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Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins
Performed by Daniel Lebhardt

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The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 58, Ella chats to Steve Long, Managing Director of Signum Records. Steve reflects on steering the label through the changing landscape of recorded music and listening habits, from the rise and fall of CDs to the shift into streaming. He also discusses Signum’s enduring relationships with many of its artists, balancing artistic ambitions with commercial realities, and shares the one question *not* to ask when pitching a recording project…

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Signum Records

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Follow The Classical Circuit on Instagram

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, ratings and follows help a lot with visibility, if you have a spare moment... *bats eyelashes*
No offence taken if not.

--------------------

Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins
Performed by Daniel Lebhardt

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The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 57, Ella chats to mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston about her new album 'A Poet's Love', a project in which she explores her artistic identity beyond the baroque repertoire she’s so often associated with. Describing herself as 'a German Romantic at heart', Helen reflects on her long and ever-evolving relationship with Schumann’s Dichterliebe, and her approach to a work of which so many recordings already exist. She also discusses the operatic side of her career and the characters she feels most drawn to, and the realities of navigating illness as a freelance singer.

A Poet's Love is released this Friday 8th May on BIS.

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Helen Charlston
A Poet's Love

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Follow The Classical Circuit on Instagram

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, ratings and follows help a lot with visibility, if you have a spare moment... *bats eyelashes*
No offence taken if not.

--------------------

Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins
Performed by Daniel Lebhardt

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The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 56, Ella chats to pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason about her latest album 'Prokofiev': a project that not only represents her reaching a long-held goal, but is the product of taking time to figure out who she is as an artist, how she functions best and what she needs in order to facilitate that. Isata also reflects on the role her heritage has played in shaping her as a musician, representation in the industry, and how the stillness of the pandemic set her on the path to rediscovering her artistic voice.

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Isata Kanneh-Mason: Prokofiev

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Follow The Classical Circuit on Instagram

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, ratings and follows help a lot with visibility, if you have a spare moment... *bats eyelashes*
No offence taken if not.

--------------------

Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins
Performed by Daniel Lebhardt

--------------------

The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.