Elgar Enigma Variations • Conductor Vladimir Jurowski • The Original Glastonbury

PODCAST:

Should audiences be allowed to bring food and drink into operas? Which age group is now most interested in orchestral music? And how much money do orchestral musicians make? These are just three of the questions the BBC Music Magazine team grapples with in this month's episode, which also features the podcast's first 'Meet the Artist' interview. That's with Vladimir Jurowski, who has won the Royal Philharmonic Society's conductor award this year.

Plus, we introduce this month's magazine, which is an Elgarian extravaganza with an all-Elgar cover CD and a feature exploring the brilliance of the composer's Enigma Variations. We take a look at the story behind the original Glastonbury Festival, and, as always, bring along our favourite new discs. This time the selection includes Crusell Clarinet Concertos, Rebecca Clarke and Ravel Piano Trios, Voces8's latest album and Kit Downes's Obsidian.

This month's episode is presented by editor Oliver Condy, deputy editor Jeremy Pound, managing editor Rebecca Franks and editorial assistant Freya Parr.

Links: News: ENO food and drink ban: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/05/eno-bans-audience-bringing-food-drink-musical-theatre-shows/; 25 year-olds interested in orchestral music: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/orchestral-music-wows-video-game-generation-qggpwtwhz; Orchestral musicians living on 'breadline': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43976334; Winners of the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards: http://www.classical-music.com/news/winners-rps-music-awards-announced; First Listen (Freya's choice): Voces8's Equinox: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/equinox-deluxe-edition/1313028141; Crusell Clarinet Concertos (Jeremy's choice): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/crusell-clarinet-concertos-introduction-et-air-su%C3%A9dois/1362730843; Clarke and Ravel Piano Trios (Rebecca's choice): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-end-of-flowers-clarke-ravel/1324404379; Kit Downes's Obsidian (Olly's Choice): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/obsidian/1317981575

The podcast also features extracts from Sean Shibe's Dreams and Fancies (Delphian Records); Donizetti’s Mary Stuart (Chandos); Rutland Boughton's String Quartets (Hyperion Records). The podcast was produced by Jack Fletcher.