SPONSORED: CD Spotlight. A Fascinating Recording - John Joubert's string quartets, heard by Alice McVeigh.
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VIDEO PODCAST: Slava Ukraini! - recorded on the day Europe woke up to the news that Vladimir Putin's Russian forces had invaded Ukraine. Also features Caitríona O'Leary and Eric Fraad discussing their new film Island of Saints, and pays tribute to Joseph Horovitz, Malcolm Troup and Maria Nockin.
DISCUSSION: John Dante Prevedini leads a discussion about Improvisation in the classical world and beyond, including contributions from David Arditti, James Lewitzke, James Ross and Steve Vasta.
The German soprano Irmgard Seefried, born 9 October 1919 at Köngetried, Bavaria, had a distinctive and natural voice. She made her operatic début just before the war, and was with the Vienna State Opera from 1943, with débuts at Covent Garden and the New York Met in 1947 and 1953 respectively. Her career was outstanding with both Opera and Lieder, and she took a part in the rediscovery of Mozart's songs. She died in Vienna on 24 November 1998.