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Tom Service talks to Richard Tognetti, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, about the return to concert life Down Under and how he’s putting together a number of high-tech music films in response to the pressures, both artistic and financial, of living under COVID-19.

We explore, too, how the pandemic is changing the relationship between players, agents and institutions, and hear from Jasper Parrott, Kate Adams, and Kitty Whately about how the classical music industry’s business models might be shaken-up.

Rachel Harris, Professor in Ethnomusicology at SOAS, speaks to Tom about her new book 'Soundscapes of Uyghur Islam', and we’re also joined by the ethnomusicologist Mukaddas Mijit, to discuss how the culture and music of this minority population in China is under increasing pressure from Beijing.

And with accusations against the Chinese authorities about Human Rights issues, we ask if the West should continue pursuing cultural projects such as orchestral tours and residencies in China. We’re joined by Cathy Graham, Director of Music at the British Council, and Charles Parton, former diplomat with more than 20 years of experience in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.