Bigger, bolder, better PODCASTS...
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra returns to our screens
THE FROST TAPES ON BBC SOUNDS
Wilfred Frost rediscovers his father David Frost’s interviews with influential thinkers, politicians and cultural icons. Many of these tapes were lost for a generation. Until now. There are nine episodes available including the most famous one with President Richard Nixon, and a less famous one with a young Joe Biden.
CRIMETOWN
Crimetown is already into its second season so there is a lot to catch up with. The seasons each begin in a different city in the US investigating the culture of crime in Providence Rhode Island and in Detroit. The website makes it more interesting as there are many photos of the criminals and the victims.
www.crimetownshow.com
BUNGA BUNGA
Bunga Bunga is the story of the real-estate tycoon Silvio Berlusconi who caused such upset in Italian politics. The rise and fall of Berlusconi hosted by Whitney Cummings makes for interesting listening, and is perhaps informative about naughty politicians.
wondery.com
GRAHAM NORTON
And our final suggestion is to join a new book related podcast with the fabulous Graham Norton - if you love him, you love him. (It was only a couple of years ago at the Usher Hall that he managed to completely sell out an hour long talk about his new book. The applause both at the beginning and end was deafening). Now he has a new Audible Original podcast discussing books, which you will find on Amazon.
The Graham Norton Book Club meets weekly and Graham chats to top authors, goes behind the mic with famous audiobook narrators and talks or argues about the book of the week with co-presenters Alex Clark and Sara Collins.
THE ROYAL SCOTTISH National Orchestra has returned to our screens, following the success of their 2020 digital season. Now back at home in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the 2021 spring/ summer season is bigger, bolder and more ambitious in pretty much every way. In addition to the fortnightly orchestral concerts – with the ensemble now back to full symphonic size and a noticeably more varied repertoire – the series has been augmented with chamber concerts on the intervening weeks, showing off the RSNO's most accomplished players and offering listeners a more intimate performance experience.
The season opened with the ever-popular Nicola Benedetti as soloist in the work that catapulted her to stardom on the classical scene, Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto. Not only was her performance as sensitive and sophisticated as we've come to expect, but the RSNO and principal conductor Thomas Søndergård were on excellent form with a perceptibly more assured performance than their already adept display in 2020.
Another highlight was the dazzling RSNO debut of rising star conductor Angus Webster, with vibrant renderings of Brahms' Fourth Symphony and Barber's Violin Concerto (with RSNO leader Maya Iwabuchi as soloist).
At just 22 years old Webster already displays rare clarity of expression and an obvious, deep emotional connection with the repertoire, hopefully this will be the beginning of a long and lucrative partnership between
Webster and the RSNO.
The season continues with weekly broadcasts until the 11 June and, with the entire series available until 30 July, you're sure to find something to suit all tastes.
To view the full programme and book an online viewing visit: www.rsno.org.uk/digital-season