Jess Gillam with... Lucy Armstrong

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Lucy Armstrong, whose commissions have included from the Psappha Ensemble and Bergen National Opera. She and Jess chat about the music they love, from Smetana to Sondheim via Tansy Davis and Ute Lemper singing Kurt Weill.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year’s Bafta awards, Jess is one of today’s most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.