Can classical music make you happier?

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So, Hear Me Out – the classical music podcast

Southbank Centre

8 episodes

2 hours ago

So, Hear Me Out is a brand new podcast from London’s Southbank Centre, exploring the big questions around classical music — and why it still matters today. Join hosts Linton Stephens (musician, broadcaster and Deputy Artistic Director of Chineke! Orchestra) and Gillian Moore (writer, broadcaster and Artistic Associate at Southbank Centre) as they challenge assumptions, unpick controversies, and share fresh ways of listening to the music you thought you knew. Each episode starts with a question — from “can classical music be laugh-out-loud funny?” to “is it okay to borrow instruments and styles from other cultures?” — and opens the door to two hand-picked pieces of music. Some you’ll recognise instantly, others might be brand new to you, but all will spark new perspectives. Expect surprising connections, plenty of feeling (not just theory), the occasional detour to Gillian’s piano, and a warm invitation into the classical world — no PhD required.

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Can classical music make you happier? | So, Hear Me Out

So, Hear Me Out – the classical music podcast

39 minutes 33 seconds

1 week ago

Can classical music make you happier? | So, Hear Me Out

We deep dive into why and how classical music is able to capture pure joy in sound, featuring joyful pieces by Felix Mendelssohn and Francesca Caccini.

Gillian and Linton discuss the innovative and emotional power of Mendelssohn's Octet in E Flat, written by the composer when he was just 16, and the hypnotic, rhythmically alive Chaconne by Cini, one of the first women composers in Europe to earn a living from her music.

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome to So Hear Me Out

00:59 Today's Big Question: Why Does Classical Music Make Us Happy?

01:19 Felix Mendelssohn: A Burst of Brilliance

02:15 Nile Rodgers and the Joy of Music

04:19 Mendelssohn's Musical Legacy

08:43 The Joyful Octet in E Flat

15:50 Mendelssohn's Signature Sound

18:54 Mozart's Early Masterpieces

19:42 Felix Mendelssohn's Emotional Journey

21:56 Discovering Francesca Cini

24:20 The Joy of Baroque Music

35:00 The Science of Joy in Music

38:44 Conclusion and Farewell

Featured music:

Felix Mendelssohn's Octet in E Flat

Francesca Caccini’s Chaconne

Get in touch:

📩 Send your classical questions to podcasts@southbankcentre.co.uk

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Credits

Produced by Connor Gani

Executive Producers Emily Dicks and Phil Smith

Sound Mix by Solomon King

A Reduced Listening production for Southbank Centre