Classical Music Playlist, November 20, 2024Just as Felix Mendelssohn composed his "Scottish" Symphony #3 after exploring Scotland, after wandering through Italy he wrote his “Italian” Symphony #4 which includes tuneful traditional Italian dances. The "Italian" is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 23, 2024Haydn’s Symphony No. 96 is called the “Miracle” symphony because no one was hurt at its premiere when a chandelier fell from the ceiling. That did happen, but actually during Haydn’s Symphony No. 102, today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 22, 2024Happy 213th birthday to Franz Liszt! His “A Faust Symphony” that paints musical portraits of each main character of Goethe’s epic play is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 21, 2024Generally considered to be his best symphony, the 1928 Symphony No. 2 by Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 18, 2024The Symphony No. 6 by Russian composer Alexander Glazunov has been called his “most Russian” symphony and “Glazunov at his very finest.” It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 17, 2024What the conductor for the London premiere in 1908 called “the greatest symphony of modern times, written by the greatest modern composer,” Edward Elgar’s Symphony No. 1, is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 16, 2024With one movement for each month plus a finale, “The Year” for solo piano by Fanny Mendelssohn, performed by Ukraine-born pianist Anna Shelest, is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 15, 2024In 1999 American bassist & composer Edgar Meyer wrote a violin concerto specifically for American violinist Hilary Hahn and her particular masterful abilities. It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 14, 2024Composed as a demonstration of how American composers can create a uniquely “American” sounding classical music, in 1893 Czech composer Antonín Dvořák composed his Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 11, 2024Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the San Francisco Symphony with the complete (56 minute) Symphony No. 1 by Gustav Mahler for today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, October 10, 2024Composed in Fall 1784 during a period of great success and popularity in his first years in Vienna, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18 is today's Midday Masterpiece.
