Charlotte Hawkins presents Smooth Classics at Seven from 7pm-9pm on Classic FM.
Join Charlotte every week for a selection of laid back music specially selected to provide a moment of calm and relaxation before thoughts turn to Monday morning. The programme also includes Charlotte’s popular Young Classical Star feature.
Get in touch with Charlotte by texting 61812 or using the form below.
This week, Charlotte Hawkins features the 13-year-old Cai Thomas as her Young Classical Star. Cai first came into the public eye in 2019 with the release of his debut album Seren, a previous Classic FM Album of the Week. Now, the boy treble embarks upon a new chapter of his music-making, having recently released two recordings to mark the end of his treble career.
Sunday 31 January
Charlotte Hawkins shines the spotlight on pianist Ji Liu as her Young Classical Star this evening. Ji was born in Shanghai where he started playing the piano at the age of 3, and since then he has built a reputation as one of today's most promising young pianists.To date Ji Liu has released five albums, and last year was awarded Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Sunday 7 February
Tonight, Charlotte gives the stage to Benjamin Grosvenor as her Young Classical Star. The pianist began taking lessons with his mother at the age of five, and has since gone on to win a Classic Brit Award and a number of Gramophone awards for his recordings, making him Gramophone's youngest-ever double award winner. He was named as one of The Daily Telegraph's "Top 10 Britons of the Year" in 2011, and in February 2021 releases his latest album, Liszt, which we hear music from tonight.
