Classical MusicClassical Music Playlist, July 15, 2024Leonard Bernstein premiered his Chichester Psalms on July 15th, 1965. Composed on a commission from the Chichester Cathedral in England, the work is an uplifting prayer for peace with texts of Psalms sung in Hebrew. It's today's Midday Masterpiece.
Symphonic Sidebars: A Sardonic Symphony From ShostakovichOctober 1, 2015 | Kent TeetersThe symphonic language of Dmitri Shostakovich runs the gamut, from heroic to playful, passionate to provocative.
A Dark But Redeeming Tour Of Coal Country, With Composer Julia WolfeSeptember 28, 2015Wolfe has just released the recording of Anthracite Fields, which won the 2015 Pulitzer for music. The piece is based on the knotty history of coal-mining families in her home state of Pennsylvania.
Farewell To Blackfaced Otellos At The MetSeptember 25, 2015When the curtain rises on the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Verdi's Otello tonight, opera fans will quickly notice what's not there.
Get To Know One Of The Most-Performed Living ComposersSeptember 11, 2015To mark the 80th birthday of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (Bjork and Michael Stipe are among his fans), preview an upcoming documentary and explore a few facts and myths about this singular artist.
The Case For Classical, Courtesy Of Ben FoldsSeptember 7, 2015Pop-rock balladeer, TV singing competition judge — those are just a few facets of Folds' diverse career. His latest album, made with a chamber ensemble, invites fans to open their ears a little wider.
Trouble Sleeping? A Composer Wants To HelpSeptember 4, 2015If counting sheep isn't working, British composer Max Richter's latest piece might. Sleep is eight hours long and designed to help listeners get some shut-eye.
Piano Twang: Steven Mayer Plays 'Le Banjo'September 1, 2015Music by New Orleans native Louis Moreau Gottschalk, America's first musical superstar, is a gumbo of styles including pop and classical.
Symphonic Sidebars: One Of The Best American Composers You've Never Heard OfAugust 26, 2015 | Kent TeetersDavid Diamond was one of the most prolific American composers of the 20th century. He wrote several concertos (three are for the violin), many chamber music pieces including ten string quartets, and numerous orchestral works.
A Rarity Reclaimed: Stolen Stradivarius Recovered After 35 YearsAugust 6, 2015For decades virtuoso violinist Roman Totenberg played his prized Stradivarius around the world. Then one day in 1980 it was snatched. Gone. But in June the FBI called his daughter, Nina Totenberg, with news.
Symphonic Sidebars: Jean Sibelius, Nordic Nature Beyond The BoundariesJuly 27, 2015 | Kent TeetersThe birthday of Jean Sibelius was celebrated during his adult years as a national event in Finland. Classical host Kent Teeters explains why this man was so beloved in his home country and beyond.