Jessica Duchen

Jessica Duchen was a classical music correspondent for The Independent for 12 years and her work has also appeared in BBC Music Magazine, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. Her writing about, for and with music includes novels, dramatic works, libretti and biographies. Her latest novel, Ghost Variations, was chosen as Best Read of 2016 by John Suchet in the Daily Mail.

Latest from Jessica Duchen

Sephardi Judaism

The Jewish composer whose music draws on his Sephardi roots

Thomas Adès explains why his latest piece for the Royal Opera House speaks to his heritage

By Jessica Duchen

4 min read

The Jewish composer whose music draws on his Sephardi roots

Dynamic conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya is leading from the front

5 min read

Apollo's Fire, Jeanette Sorrell. Photo by Roger Mastroianni

‘Papa was a survivor. We knew nothing’: the story that inspired Jeannette Sorrell's music

6 min read

Four pianos playing in harmony

4 min read

More from Jessica Duchen

Pictures plus music: A video to help Ukraine rise again

The pianist Margaret Fingerhut has teamed up with a Ukrainian filmmaker to raise funds for warzone aid

3 min read

February 23, 2023 13:03

Pictures plus music: A video to help Ukraine rise again

Revealed: The three Jewish maestros called up by the King for his big day

Composers tell of their joy to be invited to write music for Coronation

2 min read

February 23, 2023 11:01

Revealed: The three Jewish maestros called up by the King for his big day

Splendour created from the depths of horror

A concert of music at Jewish Book Week highlights songs composed under oppressive regimes

4 min read

February 16, 2023 13:23

Splendour created from the depths of horror

Why Israel Philharmonic’s new director believes nothing's more connective than music

Conductor Lahav Shani is a busy man but he finds time to tell us about his work as he prepares for a concert in London

3 min read

December 1, 2022 13:55

Israeli-born conductor Lahav Shani performs with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, during the Festival of Joy concert, outside of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, on May 8, 2018. (Photo by HANS PUNZ / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read HANS PUNZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Jews and music: a lot to sing and dance about

From Felix Mendelssohn to a new wave of classical players now emerging, the Jewish Chronicle has never been short of Jewish musical talent to celebrate

3 min read

September 29, 2022 12:37

English cellist Jacqueline Du Pre (1945 - 1987) with her Argentinian-born Israeli husband, pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. After developing multiple sclerosis in 1972, Du Pre continued to teach for as long as she could. Original Publication: People Disc - HP0308 (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

Celebrating Leonard’s forgotten music

A concert aims to publicise the work of Leonard Salzedo

4 min read

September 13, 2022 09:29

Sabra prodigy has the keys to success

Just 17, Yoav Levanon is already hailed by the critics. The JC meets the pianist on his UK debut

2 min read

March 18, 2022 12:00

The Rothschilds' golden book of music

Jessica Duchen hears the story of a talented musician, a daughter of the Rothschild family

3 min read

March 3, 2022 11:25

A letter to my murdered great-grandmother - in music

Michael Etherton's great-grandmother Kamilla died at Auschwitz. Her family treasured their last letter from her. Now he is part of a group which has released a new album of Jewish music, including a moving response to that letter

4 min read

January 21, 2022 11:18