The new, July edition, of Gramophone features a fascinating article by Handel expert Richard Wigmore, in which he focusses on six specific years spread throughout Handel's life to offer a fascinating insight into the composer's art, and his era. Last year Gramophone's Editor Martin Cullingford sat down with Richard to record a very special edition of the Gramophone Podcast - lasting more than an hour, it's filled with rich insight into Handel's music and some of its finest recordings. It's the perfect accompaniment to our cover story, and so here's another chance to hear it. We hope you enjoy the podcast.

You can listen to the Podcast above. To hear other Gramophone podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'Gramophone' in your Podcast App of choice, or visit Gramophone's page on Apple Music podcasts. 

Excerpts are taken from the following recommended recordings:

Musick for the Royal Fireworks, performed by Zefiro and Alfredo Bernardini, on the Arcana label; 'Pensieri, voi mi tormentate', from Agrippina, performed by Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev and Il Pomo d'Oro, on Erato; 'Se pietà di me non senti' from Giulio Cesare, taken from Jeanine De Bique's album 'Mirrors', with Concerto Köln and Luca Quintavalle, on Berlin Classics; 'Ombra mai fù' from Serse, sung by Joyce DiDonato, with Il Pomo d'Oro under Maxim Emelyanychev, on Erato; 'O Lord whose mercies numberless' sung by Sarah Connolly from the recording of Saul from Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, on Coro; the 'Hallelujah' chorus from Messiah, performed by The Dunedin Consort and Players conducted by John Butt, on Linn Records; 'As Steals the Morn', from L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, sung by Mary Bevan and Allan Clayton, with Ian Page conducting The Mozartists, on Signum.

Find our more about our July issue of Gramophone, featuring a special focus on Handel: full details - and you can listen to some of our other composer-themed podcasts below.