London Philharmonic Orchestra

American pianist Jonathan Biss makes his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Mozart's Piano Concerto No 22 conducted by Marin Alsop. Edward Seckerson speaks to Jonathan about the delights and challenges of an international career as a young artist. On 24 January, Mark Elder conducts Strauss's Sinfonia Domestica and in this interview explains why he believes this work is one of Strauss's most under-rated tonepoems, and introduces Martinu's The Frescoes of Piero della Francesca. Music clips featured on the podcast: Clips 1, 5, 7: Strauss Sinfonia Domestica Tonhalle Orchester, Zurich conducted by David Zinman. Arte Nova Classics 74321 98335 2. Used with kind permission of Sony BMG Clip 2: Beethoven – Pathetique Sonata (Rondo) Jonathan Biss. EMI - 0094639442225. Used with kind permission of EMI Clip 3: Mozart – Piano Concerto No 22 (1st movement) Jonathan Biss, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. EMI – 5099921727023. Used with kind permission of EMI. Clip 4: Schumann – Fantasie in C. Jonathan Biss. EMI - 0094636539126. Used with kind permission of EMI Biss's artist pages: http://www.emiclassics.com/artistbiography.php?aid=113 Clip 6: Martinu – Frescoes of Piero della Francesca (1st movement) Clip 8: Stravinsky – The Firebird Suite (Finale) LPO conducted by Sir Georg Solti. LPO-0025.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra is familiar with opera, spending up to 4 months each year as the resident orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera. What happens if you release the orchestra from the pit, and place them centre stage at the Royal Festival Hall for concert performances of opera? Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski talks to Edward Seckerson about the importance of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, and Opera Rara's David Parry uncovers hidden gems of the operatic repertoire by Donizetti and Rossini. Music clips featured on the podcast: Clip 1: Rossini: Bianca e Falliero. Act 1 LPO conducted by David Parry. ORC20. Used by kind permission of Opera Rara Clips 2 and 3: Wagner: Tristan and Isolde LPO conducted by Jiri Belohlavek. Nina Stemme (Isolde), Robert Gambill (Tristan). OA-0988D (DVD) Used by kind permission of Opus Arte and Glyndebourne Clip 4: Donizetti: Il diluvio universale. Act 1 LPO conducted by Giuliano Carella. ORC31. Used by kind permission of Opera Rara Clip 5: Rossini: La donna del lago. Act II Rondo finale. Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Maurizio Benini, soprano Carmen Giannattasio. ORC34. Used by kind permission of Opera Rara Clip 6: Elgar: Froissart, Concert Overture Op 19 LPO conducted by Edward Elgar. LPO-0016-20 (5 CD set).

Following on from the Revealing Tchaikovsky festival, the Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's Pathétique Symphony on November 26 in London after an 8 concert tour in Germany. Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski explores how the context for the symphony can change the audience's perception of the music. Discover the truth about touring with four players from the Orchestra, and enter the world of FUNharmonics Family Concerts with their presenter - Chris Jarvis of CBeebies TV. Podcast presented by Edward Seckerson. You can win the Orchestra's Children's CD by naming one of the works on the CD. Send your answer to info@lpo.org.uk by 19 November 2008 to enter the draw. This month's new CD release is of Rachmaninov's Symphony No 3, conducted by Osmo Vänskä. Music clips featured on the podcast: Clips 1-4: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 LPO conducted by Sir Georg Solti. LPO-0098 Clip 5: Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries LPO conducted by Klaus Tennstedt. LPO-0003 Clip 6: Paul Patterson: Little Red Riding Hood LPO conducted by David Parry. Chris Jarvis – narrator. LPO-0015 Clip 7: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3 (movement 3) LPO conducted by Osmo Vänskä. LPO-0036

The two week festival Revealing Tchaikovsky opens on 22 October. Artistic Director Vladimir Jurowski explores the importance of this composer to his own musical upbringing, and the influence Tchaikovsky had on later composers such as Mahler and Shostakovich. Jurowski and presenter Edward Seckerson also discuss what performances of Tchaikovsky on period instruments can show us, and the important role the audience has in a concert. Plus: who were Taneyev and Kalinnikov, and what does their music sound like? You can win a pair of tickets to the festival concert of your choice by answering the following question: What is the nickname of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 1? Send your answer to info@lpo.org.uk by 15 October 2008 to enter the draw. This month's new CD release includes Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto, performed by Colin Currie with conductor Marin Alsop.

Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski talks about the links between the four works that make up the opening concert of the season - Vaughan Williams, Ligeti, Turnage and Stravinsky- and the similarities he sees between Vaughan Williams and Prokofiev. Edward Seckerson also speaks to composer Mark-Anthony Turnage about the new violin concerto that he has written for Christian Tetzlaff which will receive its world premiere on 24 September, his relationship with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and views on Vladimir Jurowski. The podcast closes with an excerpt from the Orchestra's new CD release: Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 conducted by Bernard Haitink.

Presenter Edward Seckerson picks his highlights of the new season in conversation with the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Timothy Walker. They also discuss taking risks with unfamiliar works, and the uniqueness of live performance. The podcast closes with an excerpt from the Orchestra's latest CD release: Mahler's Symphony No. 5, recorded at a concert in January 2008.