Classical Music Playlist, July 17, 2024It was 307 years ago today, July 17, 1717, that Handel’s “Water Music” was first performed as entertainment for the King as he floated down the River Thames and back. All three suites of the COMPLETE “Water Music” are today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 7, 2023Born on this date in 1860, we're celebrating Gustav Mahler with some of his music throughout the day, including his complete (56 minute) Symphony No. 1 for today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 6, 2023Six years before his “Pastoral” Symphony No. 6, Beethoven composed what has been called his “Pastoral” Piano Sonata No. 15 (titled by a music publisher, not Beethoven). It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 5, 2023Robert Schumann depicts the Rhineland landscape, folk songs and Cologne’s gothic Cathedral in his “Rhenish” Symphony No. 3; it’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 4, 2023For this Independence Day, take a musical trip to the Grand Canyon and see its changing colors at sunrise and sunset, ride a burro down a trail, and take cover during a thunderstorm! Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite” is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 3, 2023Making the case for French chamber music in 1864 when opera was all the rage in France, the Piano Trio No. 1 by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 30, 2023A new recording, released today, of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s lushly romantic Symphony No. 2 is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 29, 2023We're celebrating violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter for her 60th birthday today. Including her performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto for today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 28, 2023Composed by Johannes Brahms but with technical advice about the violin contributed by his violinist friend Joseph Joachim, the Brahms Violin Concerto is today’s Midday Masterpiece for Joachim’s birthday (born on this date in 1831).
Classical Music Playlist, June 27, 2023Music writers have called Mozart’s Piano Concerto #24 his greatest ever (even Beethoven and Brahms loved it). With John O’Conor as the soloist, it’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 26, 2023Composed during WWII when people were stressed, worried and worse, English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams composed his Symphony No. 5 which reviews called transcendent, benedictory and consoling. It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.