Welcome to BBC Music Magazine's January 2025 issue! This month, America is on our minds as we start this new year and bid fond farewell to a quarter-century.
Our cover star is the vibrant US soprano Angel Blue, whose leading operatic roles on both sides of the Atlantic herald her arrival as one of the world’s top sopranos. After enchanting the crowds at the 2024 Last Night of the Proms, Angel tells Ashutosh Khandekar about her journey from local beauty queen to global opera star.
Continuing with our American theme, Tom Stewart meets Anthony McGill, principal clarinettist of the New York Philharmonic and a leading advocate for greater diversity in the classical world. And, as President Trump prepares to be sworn in for the second time on the frosty steps of Washington’s Capitol, Terry Blain looks back at the music performed during past presidential inaugurations – and what those works can tell us about the ambitions and priorities for that politician’s tenure (who could forget the inspiring sight of Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero – and one Anthony McGill – performing at the inauguration of President Obama in 2009?)
If music can be used to inspire a nation, so too can it satirically subvert political and cultural movements, as Stephen Johnson explores in his history of satire in music. From Schumann’s veiled mockery of superficial public tastes to Shostakovich’s brave defiance of Stalin’s dark regime, there’s more in common between music and politics than first meets the eye... and ear.
- Shostakovich facts: 13 captivating details from one of classical music's most turbulent lives
- 'When a man is in despair, it means he still believes in something': 11 memorable Shostakovich quotes
Elsewhere, Rebecca Franks explores the inner workings of Mozart’s mind in a bid to learn more about his unique genius. Using today’s psychoanalytic methods, what can we learn, asks Rebecca, about the mind perhaps the greatest musical genius of all?
- Ten Mozart myths debunked
- Is genius overrated? Why genius composers need ordinary 'second-rankers' in order to thrive
Staying on a cerebral theme, we look at the mutual attraction between science and music. Anecdotally, the scientific mind is often drawn to music: Naomi Yandell approaches six eminent scholars for their thoughts on its attraction. And we have a very illuminating chat with legendary British actress Patricia Routledge. Though known chiefly for her brilliant portrayal of a social climber on TV’s Keeping Up Appearances, Routledge was once also a successful mezzo-soprano, as the actress recalls with Michael White.
For our travel feature, we're off to Eisenstadt, Austria, the Austrian town where Joseph Haydn began his working life as kapellmeister for the noble Esterházy family. Under the microscope for this month's Building a Library is Schubert's song cycle Die schöne Müllerin: Amanda Holloway is all ears as she listens to the best recordings of this set of songs detailing the doleful cycle of love, hope, rejection and despair.
Our Composer of the Month is the unfairly neglected Elisabetta de Gambarini. Stephen Pritchard relates the sparkling talent, entrepreneurial drive and shameful treatment of an unheralded 18th-century musical pioneer. And, for our Music that Changed Me slot, composer Rachel Portman reveals the six pieces of music that have helped shaped her as a musician and person.
Happy reading!
PS here's a look at our cover CD this month - a tribute to the wonderful BBC Singers, who recently celebrated their centenary. You'll find performances of choral works including Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, for which the Singers are joined by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Click here or on the image to see the track details for this month's cover CD.
