Kirill Gerstein’s new album, timed for release mid-way between the anniversary of the death of Claude Debussy (March 25) and Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), pairs music by Debussy and the Armenian, Komitas. Both composers were profoundly affected by the death and destruction surrounding them during the First World War, and both responded with music of multi-layered intensity. Gerstein links late Debussy piano music with Komitas’s piano works, as well as songs by each composer. 'Music in the Time of War' is released to stream and download by Platoon, and on two CDs with a substantial book of essays next month by Myrios. James Jolly spoke to Kirill Gerstein to learn about the project and why he brought together these two powerful musical voices in the same programme. This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with Wigmore Hall.

Klaus Mäkelä has been named Riccardo Muti's successor at the helm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a role he assumes in 2027 alongside the post of Chief Conductor of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Meanwhile, he remains committed to his two European orchestras, the Orchestre de Paris and the Oslo Philharmonic.  Following his Decca debut recording, of the complete Sibelius symphonies in Oslo, Mäkelä has made two much-admired recordings of music commissioned by Serge Diaghilev. The first of these, made with the Orchestre de Paris, was released early last year – Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and the complete Firebird ballet – and James Jolly spoke to the conductor by Zoom back in February 2023 as Klaus was in Cleveland conducting performances of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Gramophone Podcasts are given in association with Wigmore Hall

This month's Gramophone Podcast explores the life and music of Franz Schubert. Editor Martin Cullingford talks to Richard Wigmore about this most remarkable of composers, one whose finest works, notably in the song, piano and chamber music genres, are today held to be among music's most beloved creations.

Paavo Järvi's latest recording project adds the five Mendelssohn symphonies to his substantial catalogue. Alpha Classics has released the new set which features the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. James Jolly caught up with Paavo Järvi recently by Zoom to talk about the cycle, but also to talk about the conductor's passion for recording the complete symphonic outputs of many of the great composers.  This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with Wigmore Hall.

Hattie Butterworth is joined by composer Rebecca Dale for this week's Gramophone Podcast to explore her new album of works for cello and choir with cellists Steven Isserlis and Guy Johnston and the choir Tenebrae, out now on Signum Classics. More about Rebecca Dale   

Dalia Stasevska, Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, has launched a new project, ‘Dalia’s Mixtape’, for Platoon. Leading her BBC orchestra, she has recorded ten works by ten modern composers, each shedding a new and different light on the symphony orchestra and what it can do. Breaking with tradition, the project will unfold piece by piece over the next half year. And each work will be accompanied by a podcast focusing on the music. In this first episode, hosted by Gramophone’s Andrew Mellor, Dalia’s guest is the Scottish composer and performer Anna Meredith whose work, Nautilus, originally conceived for electronics, is presented in a new acoustic guise. She, Andrew and Dalia discuss the work’s origins and its transformation into a vibrant new work for a traditional symphony orchestra. Produced by Platoon and Gramophone.

This week on the Gramophone podcast, Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by the co-founders of the 12 Ensemble – cellist Max Ruisi and violinist Eloisa-Fleur Thom – to talk about their fascinating new album on the Platoon Label, Metamorphosis, featuring music by Edmund Finnis, Claude Vivier, Oliver Leith and Richard Strauss.

For this week's Gramophone Podcast, Jonathan Cohen, conductor of Arcangelo, joins Editor Martin Cullingford to talk about his new recording on the Alpha label of Handel's powerful late oratorio, Theodora, a work Cohen describes as Handel at 'his very finest and most inspired'.

The tenor Alessandro Fisher is a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Artist and a former member of the BBC New Generation Artists Scheme, and on February 23 Rubicon releases a solo album, ‘A Gardener’s World’, a collection of songs about flowers and their symbolic significance. Joined by the pianist Anna Tilbrook, Alessandro explores the horticultural theme in the company of composers from many countries, including France, Germany, Scandinavia, Catalunya and Argentina. James Jolly went to visit Alessandro in his north London home and, overlooking the garden, they discussed the genesis of the new album, which was recorded live at Wigmore Hall in July 2021.

Pianist Lara Downes joins Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford this week to talk about her fascinating new recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, as reimagined for today's world by composer Edmar Colón to mark the iconic work's centenary, and available from the Pentatone label.