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Tales of Baroque

by Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Listen to Dr Alan Maddox in conversation with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Hugh Ronzani in an in-depth discussion of the composers and masterworks of the Baroque period.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Jun 18, 2025. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. Notre-Dame

    Ahead of the largest ever Brandenburg production, Notre-Dame, join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox to explore over 800 years of spellbinding music history, including both an Australian première and a World première, spanning the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris to the…

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  2. Baroque Now: The Poet Behind the Violin with Leila Schayegh

    After three years of trying, Leila Schayegh has finally reached Australian shores to Brandenburg concert goers’ and musicians’ delight! Join host Hugh Ronzani to get to know more about the “poet” behind Poet of the Violin and the music of Biber, Bach and Leclair.

  3. Poet of the Violin

    Leila Schayegh has finally arrived in Sydney and opening for Poet of the Violin is fast approaching! Host Hugh Ronzani shares the microphone once more with Dr Alan Maddox to discuss violins, violinists, and seminal violin and Baroque orchestral repertoire — but this time not Vivaldi. Hear more...

  4. The Lover

    Who is The Lover? Ahead of opening night and Théotime Langlois de Swarte’s Australian debut — where all will finally be revealed — Hugh Ronzani is joined by Dr Alan Maddox to explore the history and music that features in this spellbinding program of English and Italian music from around the turn...

  5. Ottoman Baroque 2023

    Ottoman Baroque is a celebration of culture and music and will be a unique concert experience, but most of the music has never been heard or recorded before. Host Hugh Ronzani (also responsible for composing music for much of the program) is joined by Dr Alan Maddox to discuss Rumi, mysticism,...

  6. Baroque Now: Bach & The Four Seasons with Shaun Lee-Chen

    A familiar face and a phenomenal presence on stage, Concertmaster Shaun Lee-Chen joins host Hugh Ronzani to share some thoughts about JS Bach, his various roles with Brandenburg, inspirations, and his new interpretation Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons.

  7. Gloria & The Four Seasons

    As opening night approaches for Gloria & The Four Seasons, Alan is in Europe!?! Host Hugh Ronzani is joined online by Dr Alan Maddox for a very fresh account of Baroque vestiges in the floating city that Antonio Vivaldi called home, as well as a broad discussion about two of the Venetian…

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  8. Baroque Now: Championing Cellos with Elinor Frey

    Guest soloist Elinor Frey has come to Australian shores from Montreal for the first time with not one, but two cellos. She joins host Hugh Ronzani to share her passion for lesser-known Italian and French cello music, her tips for writing cadenzas, and how all roads lead to Giovanni Battista...

  9. Spanish Steps

    As the musicians rehearse Spanish Steps with guest soloist Elinor Frey ahead of opening night, host Hugh Ronzani is joined by Dr Alan Maddox for an in-depth discussion revolving around cellos, the Galant period, and two iconic composers and paragons during their respective lifetimes—Luigi...

  10. Pulling out all the stops in Noël! Noël!

    Yes, it is that time of year again!?! Host Hugh Ronzani is joined by one of the key artists without whom Noël! Noël! and many other concerts featuring the Brandenburg Choir would not be possible—Répétiteuse and Brandenburg Chamber Organist Heidi Jones. Hugh and Heidi discuss the important role of…

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  11. Bach's Universe (Live)

    Following two cancellations, Jonas Zschenderlein is finally going to be able to make his live concert debut in Australia and Paul Dyer’s personal tribute to Bach will come to fruition! Ahead of opening night at the Melbourne Recital Centre, join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox...

  12. The Soprano

    The term ‘soprano’ is familiar to most, but have you heard of a male soprano before? And how is this rare masculine voice type different to the voices of castrati, counter-tenors, and trebles? Join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox as they discuss high voice types, Baroque...

  13. The Bachs

    Nowadays, the name 'Bach' is synonymous with one person - Johann Sebastian Bach. However, this Baroque genius was but one member of a family musical dynasty spanning seven generations of creative brilliance. This episode, host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox dive into a selection…

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  14. Mozart's Clarinet

    What makes Mozart's concerto for basset clarinet so captivating? Is it the melody? The tone of the instrument? Or perhaps our contemporary familiarity with this work? Despite Craig Hill's unfortunate late cancellation, join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox for their first look…

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  15. Paradisum

    Have you ever wondered what life was like at the French court? Do you know where ballet came from? Join host Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox for a deep dive into over 200 years of music history, and extraordinary story behind Fauré's Requiem.

  16. Italian Baroque with Circa

    Naples, Florence, Rome, Venice - join host Hugh Ronzani and Sydney's own Caldara expert, guest Dr Alan Maddox, as they delve into the history and music of these four cities at the heart of a Baroque pasticcio imagined by Paul Dyer.

  17. 21 Years of Noël! Noël! in 2021

    With the imminent return to the concert hall just over the horizon, Hugh Ronzani is joined for a wonderful tale of Baroque music-making and carol singing with sublime soprano Belinda Montgomery, the Brandenburg Choir's longest-serving member. Hugh and Lindy revisit Noël! Noël! music past, present...

  18. Baroque in Bloom

    The tale behind Baroque in Bloom starts at Cremona, continues through Lucca, then Bologna, Rome and finally Venice via Dresden. Join Hugh Ronzani and esteemed guest Dr Alan Maddox for this very special extended episode of Tales of Baroque, where they discuss the origins of the modern violin and...

  19. Bach's Universe

    Who was Johann Sebastian Bach, and who is he for us now? The Brandenburg's Hugh Ronzani is joined by Dr Alan Maddox to discuss the far-reaching influence of arguably the greatest composer of all time, in this special extra-long episode of Tales of Baroque.

  20. Higher Angels

    In this episode, Hugh Ronzani and Dr Alan Maddox discuss the 'higher angels' that fleetingly floated above the music of Handel and Carl Heinrich Graun on the Baroque stage, and the real importance of these superstars of the past.

  21. Handel's Rome

    The Brandenburg's Hugh Ronzani talks to Dr Alan Maddox about Baroque Italy, Corelli, the Concerto Grosso form and more.

  22. Life, and Harps, in Baroque Venice

    With Xavier de Maistre returning to woo audiences in Vivaldi's Venice, Dr Alan Maddox also returns to share the microphone with Hugh Ronzani. Together they take a look at life, and harps, in Venice during the affluence of the Baroque period.

  23. Noël! Noël! and Looking Forwards to 2020 with Paul Dyer

    After five wonderful and varied concert series this year celebrating thirty years of Baroque music excellence with the Brandenburg, Paul Dyer joins Hugh Ronzani on Tales of Baroque for the first time to talk about the year that has been, Noël! Noël!, and what to look forward to in Season 2020. A...

  24. Program Music, Telemann & Vivaldi

    Dr Alan Maddox returns for another engaging conversation with the Brandenburg's Hugh Ronzani. In this episode of Tales of Baroque Alan and Hugh cover the development of program music in the Western musical tradition, including Telemann's Water Music and Vivaldi's picturesque Four Seasons.

  25. Learning from the Greats

    Listen to Dr Alan Maddox in conversation with the Brandenburg's Hugh Ronzani in an in-depth conversation of Next Generation Baroque. In this episode of Tales of Baroque, Alan and Hugh delve into the challenges facing young Baroque musicians, and how we learn from the 'Greats'.

  26. Handel & Ceremony

    Listen to Dr Alan Maddox in conversation with the Brandenburg's Hugh Ronzani in an in-depth discussion of Handel's Anthems & Fireworks. In the fascinating new podcast Tales of Baroque, Alan and Hugh explore Handel's life and times and the music he composed.

About this show

Listen to Dr Alan Maddox in conversation with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Hugh Ronzani in an in-depth discussion of the composers and masterworks of the Baroque period.

Hosted by

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

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Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Tales of Baroque have?

Tales of Baroque has 26 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on February 22, 2024.

What is Tales of Baroque about?

Listen to Dr Alan Maddox in conversation with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Hugh Ronzani in an in-depth discussion of the composers and masterworks of the Baroque period.

How often does Tales of Baroque release new episodes?

Tales of Baroque publishes monthly, based on its 26 episodes since August 2021.

Who hosts Tales of Baroque?

Tales of Baroque is created and hosted by Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
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