A new podcast from the Southbank Centre is inviting listeners to rethink what classical music means in today’s world.
So Hear Me Out tackles some of life’s biggest philosophical and cultural questions through music both familiar and surprising.
Co-hosted by musician and TV presenter Linton Stephens and Southbank Centre Artistic Associate Gillian Moore CBE, the eight-part weekly series takes a playful and accessible look at how classical music connects to everything from film and gaming to protest and joy.
Each 45-minute episode centres on one question, from “Can classical music be funny?” to “Can it give hope to the imprisoned?” The hosts then each choose a piece of music in response.
Together, they explore unexpected links, such as the relationship between John Williams’ Star Wars score and Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia Movement No. 3, or how the music of Les Misérables can be understood as a form of protest.
The series hopes to open up classical music to new audiences by showing how it shapes and reflects the world around us.
Stephens and Moore’s thoughtful and lively discussions highlight the humour, politics, and humanity that run through centuries of musical creation.
Listeners can find So Hear Me Out on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
