Episodes
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Verdi & Shakespeare
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores the dynamic between the literary themes of William Shakespeare and the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Verdi took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare three times in his career, once fairly early on (Macbeth), and then decades later for his...
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Unfinished Symphonies
In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham looks at three of the most celebrated 'unfinished' symphonies, from the genius minds of Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler.
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Debussy's Preludes
In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott explores one of the landmarks of 20th century piano music in Claude Debussy's Preludes. Following the tradition laid down by JS Bach and Chopin (among others), Debussy wrote a set of 24 preludes (across two books of twelve), but the stress on…
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The Orchestral Songs of Richard Strauss
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the last of the German Romantic composers, Richard Strauss, who is today remembered primarily for creating stunning works in two genres: orchestral tone poems and operas. Yet Strauss should be remembered just as much for his...
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Beethoven's Piano Concertos
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores another chapter in the extraordinary creative output of Ludwig van Beethoven: his piano concertos. Beethoven revolutionised the way composers composed, and the way performers performed. Today, it is easily forgotten that Beethoven's...
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Bach's Goldberg Variations
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the mightiest works for the keyboard: Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations'. Today, it stands alongside the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor, The Art of Fugue and the Musical Offering as an eternal musical...
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Classics Unlocked - Ep. 18 - The Études of Philip Glass
This episode of Classics Unlocked delves into some rather recent piano music, from one of the most famous of all contemporary composers. Philip Glass is considered one of the founding fathers of the movement known as ‘Minimalism’. Graham Abbott explores one particular aspect of Glass’s canon –…
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Tchaikovsky's Solo Piano Music
In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott looks at the solo piano music of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky. Best known for his dramatic symphonies, ballets and concertos, Tchaikovsky wrote a plethora of smaller works which rarely see the light of day. Thanks to a recording project from Decca...
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Brahms's Orchestral Music
In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott unlocks the enormous orchestral output of Johannes Brahms – works which look simultaneously backwards and forwards, in the sense that they say something truly new for their times and in the sense that they provide a new foundation of their own…
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Bartók's Piano Music
In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott explores the piano music of Béla Bartók. His music was, by and large, influenced by his researches into folk music traditions, but he also wrote works with starkly modernist characteristics. He was not only one of the great composers and music...
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Beethoven's Late Piano Sonatas
In this episode, Graham Abbott completes his journey dissecting the 32 published piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven by examining those classified as being written in his 'late' period, with specific attention paid to the composer's use of harmony and fugal structures. This episode of Classics...
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Elgar's Two Great Concertos
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott provides an introduction to the two completed concertos by Sir Edward Elgar. Mention 'Elgar' and 'concerto' in the same sentence, and the chances are the piece that will come to mind will be his famous Cello Concerto from 1919; however Elgar...
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Beethoven's Middle Piano Sonatas
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the middle piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven - a creative phase in which the composer breaks away from the classical model. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Sonatas...
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Verdi's La Traviata
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of Giuseppe Verdi's – indeed one of all opera's – most popular creations: his La traviata from 1853. This episode uses the legendary recording from 1977, featuring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Sherrill Milnes, with the...
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Beethoven's Symphonies
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the most famous bodies of work in the Western music tradition: Beethoven's nine completed symphonies. This episode of Classics Unlocked features the legendary Deutsche Grammophon recordings of Herbert von Karajan's complete…
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Carols Old and New
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott looks at two beautiful English works from the first half of the 20th century which evoke the spirit of Christmas and which are inspired by seasonal carols and poetry: Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols' and Ralph Vaughan Williams'...
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Mozart's Wind Concertos
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores a small but vital corner of the 600 works Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left the world: his beautiful wind concertos.
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Bruckner's Symphonies
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the gigantic symphonic output of Anton Bruckner. 'Once immersed in the sound world of a Bruckner symphony', says Graham, 'the experience can be truly overwhelming and deeply moving'.
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Beethoven's Early Piano Sonatas
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the early published piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven - a young man trying to impress!
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Berlioz the Rule Breaker
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz (1803–1869), one the greatest rule breakers in the whole history of music. All the recordings from this episode are on the Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Classics labels, and can be...
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Wagner's Ring
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott talks about one of the most monumental works of art ever to come from the mind of man: Richard Wagner's 'Der Ring des Nibelungen'. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: WAGNER: Der Ring des Nibelungen Sir Georg...
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Tchaikovsky's Symphonies
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores the powerful and emotive symphonies of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This episode of Classics Unlocked features the following recording: P. TCHAIKOVSKY: The Symphonies; Symphonic Poems Mikhail Pletnev, conductor Russian National Orchestra...
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Mahler's Symphonies
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the symphonic output of Gustav Mahler. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: Mahler: The Symphonies & Song Cycles Bernard Haitink, conductor Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Decca Classics 483 4643 (12-CD +...
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Bach's Cello Suites
In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott discusses the wonder and mystery of Johann Sebastian Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello. This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording: J.S. BACH: The Six Cello Suites Pierre Fournier, cello Deutsche Grammophon 483 6385…
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About this show
Presented by beloved broadcaster and educator Graham Abbott, Classics Unlocked is a monthly podcast exploring the many wonders of classical music.
Hosted by
Universal Music Australia
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