In the latest Gramophone Podcast, the baritone Sir Thomas Allen talks to Editor Martin Cullingford about his latest album, September Songs. Drawing on personal favourites from the ‘Great American Songbook’, it sees the acclaimed singer step from the opera stage and lieder recital hall for which he is best known, to the music of Broadway. In this fascinating conversation he discusses his love of this repertoire, with its melodic beauty, lyrical inventiveness and emotional directness - and his choice of songs.

You can listen to the Podcast above. To hear other Gramophone podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'Gramophone Magazine' in your Podcast application of choice, or visit Gramophone's page at iTunes. 

Musical excepts are taken from the album, which is available now from Champs Hill Records (see Gramophone's review here). And if you've enjoyed the converstion, why not explore further some of the composers discussed through the links below.