London Philharmonic Orchestra

Prokofiev: Man of the People? is the London Philharmonic Orchestra's January 2012 festival. Fourteen events over 20 days expore one of the most misunderstood men in 20th-century music. Vladimir Jurowski is the festival's Artistic Director. In this interview he introduces Prokofiev, puts his music in the context of the political events of the early 20th century, explores his diaries and reveals the strange history of the new version of Ivan the Terrible to be performed on 28 January. 'In my view, the composer, just as the poet, the sculptor or the painter, is in duty bound to serve Man, the people. He must beutify human life and defend it. He must be a citizen first and foremost, so that his art might conscionsly extol human life and lead man to a radiant future. Such is the immutable code of art as I see it.' Sergei Prokofiev

Julian Anderson, the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Composer in Residence, sheds light on how he composed his virtuoso work Fantasias. From the simplicity of the opening brass fanfare via the canopy and birds of the Rain Forest, to Tom and Jerry, he helps us understand some of the challenges of taking risks in composition. As this podcast was being produced, we heard that Fantasias won the orchestral category of the British Composers Awards 2011! Fantasias has been the inspiration and starting point for this term's work by The Band, run by the Orchestra's Education and Community programme. Led by Tim Steiner, young musicians from South London create and perform their own music, alongside members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. If you enjoy finding out about The Band, might you consider making a £5 donation as part of our Annual Appeal? You can give online at www.lpo.org.uk or by text message by sending the text PHIL12 £5 to 70070 The Band is supported by The Hobson Charity and The Stansfield Trust.

In October, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and viola soloist Lawrence Power performed Mark-Anthony Turnage's On Opened Ground. In this podcast you can hear part of the pre-concert talk in which composer and soloist discussed the work, the freedom of writing a concerto for viola and working with the LPO. Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski believes that Arthur Honegger was one of the most gifted composers of the early 20th century, standing alongside giants such as Bartók, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Berg. He introduces the three works that appear on the new CD - Symphony No. 4, Pastoral d'été, and the Christmas Cantata. Featured recording: Honegger: Pastoral d'été and Christmas Cantata conducted by Vladimir Jurowski (LPO-0058)

Nicholas Collon is this season's assistant to the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Conductor, Vladimir Jurowski. In this interview he explains what the role involves, and the challenges of conducting an orchestra that has already played the works with so many established conductors. He also takes his pick of the recent CD releases on the LPO Label, with works by Dvorak, Sibelius and Mahler on his list. Featured London Philharmonic Orchestra recordings, available on itunes: Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras (LPO-0055) Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste (LPO-0056) Mahler: Symphony No. 2 conducted by Vladimir Jurowski (LPO-0054)

The Greek myth of Prometheus has attracted composers over the centuries, including Beethoven, Liszt, Nono and Scriabin. The London Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Conductor, Vladimir Jurowski explores the myth, and in particular the visionary work created by Scriabin - Prometheus, Poem of Fire - which has claim to be the first true 'multi-media' work for orchestra and light. The music of Scriabin is itself a blaze of colour, and the LPO's Composer in Residence Julian Anderson introduces the musical soundworld.

In this final Mahler Anniversary Season pre-concert talk, Surrey University Lecturer Jeremy Barham explores the early 20th century collection of German folk poetry 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn' (The youth's magic horn), placing it in historical and literary context of the Romantic movement. The collection is perhaps best known through the songs by Mahler, and this talk looks at the composer's masterful depiction of the texts through his music.

Gustav Mahler is known today through his music, but in his own time was equally known as a conductor and arranger. In this Mahler Anniversary Season pre-concert talk, Surrey University Lecturer Jeremy Barham looks at the fascination the music of JS Bach held for Mahler throughout his life, and the ways in which he reimagined Bach's music for the early 20th century. Beethoven's String Quartet Op. 95 was also arranged by Mahler, who believed that it needed expanding to work in large concert halls, and the result offers an alternative perspective on the work.

Placing composers in the context of their contemporaries often helps us to understand their music, and sometimes to trace how new compositional ideas spread. In this Mahler Anniversary Season pre-concert talk, Surrey University Lecturer Jeremy Barham looks at the relationship between Zemlinsky and Mahler, building up a picture of life in early 20th century Vienna and their competition for the same woman, then focussing on the musical links and differences between Mahler's compositions and the 'mystical evocation of human love' of Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony.

Placing composers in the context of their contemporaries often helps us to understand their music, and sometimes to trace how new compositional ideas spread. In the second of this Mahler Anniversary Season's pre-concert talks, Surrey University Lecturer Jeremy Barham looks at Mahler's relationship with the music of Franz Liszt. Starting with the music by Liszt that we know Mahler heard or conducted, and what Mahler wrote about him, Barham then explores some of the interesting musical links between the composers.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin is in his third season as the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Guest conductor. He looks back at the highlights of 2010 - a year in which he accepted the position of Music Director at the Philadelphia Orchestra and made his debut at the Met Opera. He talks about his relationship with the LPO, shares his method of working with different orchestras around the world, and introduces his next two programmes (16 and 19 February 2011) at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.

Julian Anderson is the London Philharmonic Orchestra's new Composer in Residence. Before a performance of his 1998 work The Stations of the Sun, Julian spoke to broadcaster Christopher Cook about his plans for the residency, learning through collaboration and the challenges of writing melodies in the 21st century. In the second half of the talk he reveals some of the inspirations and compositional structures he used when composing The Stations of the Sun in 1998.

Shostakovich's Symphony No 11 is filled with Revolutionary songs and the weight of uprising and oppression. In this pre-concert talk the Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko and writer and broadcaster David Nice discuss the work, the 1905 revolution that the symphony describes, the relevance of the Hungarian uprising of 1956 to the music and Shostakovich's life in the post-Stalin era of the late 1950s. Petrenko also shares some of his preparation of the work for performance, and why the viola is the best instrument for mourning.

Why have some of Rossini's operas become central to the repertoire of opera houses, while others remain rarely performed? Opera Rara and the London Philharmonic Orchestra recently performed Rossini's Aureliano in Palmira at the Royal Festival Hall. In this pre-concert talk, Roger Parker (King's College, London) and Benjamin Walton (University of Cambridge) introduce the opera and the musical and political circumstances that led to the opera struggling to catch the imagination of European audiences in the 1800s.

What did Mahler's contemporaries think of his music? And how have his works been interpreted, performed and transformed over the 100 years since his death? With particular reference to Mahler's 3rd Symphony, this engaging pre-concert talk given by Dr Jeremy Barham (Surrey University) on 22 September 2010 offers an overview of the Mahler Anniversary celebrations.

American violinist Robert McDuffie speaks to Edward Seckerson about performing Philip Glass, and in particular the second violin concerto, The American Four Seasons, which was written for him. Recordings: The LPO's recent release of Brahms Symphonies 1 and 2 conducted by Vladimir Jurowski is disc of the month in BBC Music Magazine. And the new release on the LPO Label is from the archive - Vernon Handley conducts Elgar's Symphony 1 and Sea Pictures (with soloist Dame Janet Baker). We want to hear from you - tell us your views on our podcasts for a chance to win a package of recent LPO CDs. Closing date 25 June 2010.