Renowned Iraqi conductor and cellist Karim Wasfi tells NPR's Scott Simon about his music, the challenges of his work and his commitment to his country.
Host Ari Shapiro speaks with singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier about his latest project, a four-album odyssey called Djesse , the first volume of which is out now.
Who knew that a little orchestra in America's Midwest, born in 1918, could grow up to be one of the world's best? Through a century of trials and triumphs, the Cleveland Orchestra still shines.
In a surprise move, the orchestra announced Wednesday that it is bringing composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen aboard as its music director, beginning in September 2020.
While conducting research at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a music theory professor discovered manuscripts of music that haven't been heard since World War II.
An elite music college in Princeton, N.J., is up for sale. Its prospective buyer is a for-profit Chinese company — which is partially owned by the Beijing municipal government.
Recorded during the 2018 International Trombone Festival, this brass choir elevates the cover game.
Sometimes it takes an outsider to see a culture clearly. Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Ninth Symphony was an ode to what American music could become.
Guitar Gala Night comprises performances by the Amadeus Guitar Duo and the Duo Gruber & Maklar in a programme that’s a veritable variety show, combining original compositions with arrangements for one, two and four guitars. Ranging from the abstract to the descriptive, the earliest piece (1612) represents dance music by Michael Praetorius, while the most Read More ...
Raymond Bisha introduces us to the flip-side of Rossini the opera composer, who spent the last 40 years of his life in operatic retirement, instead composing some 200 vocal and solo piano pieces (his Sins of Old Age) whilst also indulging in the pleasantries of life as a gourmand and amateur chef. The final release Read More ...
The three newly published pieces on this recording were written in the decade following Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s flight to the United States in 1939 in the wake of the proclamation of anti-Jewish laws by Italy’s fascist regime. The programme includes his Concerto No. 3 for Violin and Piano (1939–40), written for no less a figure than Read More ...
Raymond Bisha introduces a programme of orchestral music by Alfred Bruneau (1857-1934), a composition student of Jules Massenet and one of the most important yet overlooked figures in turn-of-the-century French musical life. Bruneau’s desire for theatrical realism in his operas mirrored the literary aspirations of his friend Émile Zola. Conductor Darrell Ang and the Barcelona Read More ...
The last decade in the life of Austrian composer Frank Schreker (1878-1934) proved a tragic conclusion to his hitherto highly successful career as a teacher, conductor, administrator and composer. In the mid-1920s critics were bearing down on him for failing to step in line with developing compositional styles; by the 1930s his work had come Read More ...
Raymond Bisha introduces composer-pianist-academic Tanya Ekanayaka through a new release of music for solo piano, composed and performed by herself. The twelve ‘prisms’ derive their stylistic inspiration from a variety of sources that include classical, contemporary, pop, rock, world and film music. The fusion of styles in each movement is rooted in the folk and Read More ...
Raymond Bisha introduces a new release of music by three Baroque titans: Lully, Telemann and Rameau. The latter two were hugely influenced by the music of Lully, who was powerfully positioned as the chief musician of King Louis XIV of France. Lully left a rich legacy of dramatic music scored for orchestra. It left an Read More ...
Invented during the early part of the nineteenth century, the accordion’s popularity soon soared and has been sustained ever since by its adaptability to many styles of music, from folk to heavy metal. Virtuoso performer Hanzhi Wang presents an intriguing compilation of classical works from Denmark, where numerous composers have followed the example of Per Read More ...
Kenneth Fuchs celebrates a 15-year association with conductor JoAnn Falletta and the London Symphony Orchestra upon the release of these world premiere recordings of three concertos (respectively for piano, electric guitar and alto saxophone) and a song cycle for countertenor and orchestra. Variety is the hallmark of the works’ scoring, while an easy-sounding mastery is Read More ...
Born in Hungary in 1894, Eugene Zádor moved to the USA in 1939 and remained there as a naturalised citizen until his death. He left a sizeable catalogue of works that includes more than 120 film scores, 13 operas and a wide variety of concert music. Zádor has been described as a classicist, a romantic Read More ...
With Lew Smoley, and Jeeyoon Kim
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley Koechlin Persian Hours Sieste, Avant Le Depart La Caravane (Reve, Pendant La Sieste) L’Escalade Obscure Matin Frais, Dans La Haute Vallee En Vue De La Ville A Travers Les Rues Chant Du Soir Clair De Lune Sur Les Terrasses Aubade Roses Au Soleil De Midi A L’Ombre, Pres De La […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley Felicien David Le Desert Part 1 Entry Into The Desert Song Of The Desert Appearance Of The Caravan Progress Of The Caravan A Storm In The Desert Calm Returns, and The Caravan Resumes Its Progress Part 2 The Star Of Venus Hymn To The Night Arabian Fantasy Dance Of The […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley, and Stephen Brown The Works Das Susse Lied Verhallt Flagstadd, Melchior Volker, Muller Konya, Grummer Windgassen, Nilsson Frage Scene: Höchstes Vertrau’n Flagstadd, Melchior Volker, Muller Habt Dank Heinrich Frick Manowarda Talvela, Ludwig In Fernem Land Wittrisch Volker King Bjoerling Aureliano Pertile (In Italian) Del Monaco (In Italian) Ticho Parly Mein […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley, and Stephen Brown The Works Erhebe Dich Schorr Berry, Ludwig Weisst Du, Wer Dieser Held Schorr, Lawrence Du Wilde Seherin! Sved, Thorborg Weisst Du, Wer Dieser Held (French) Singher, Lawrence Euch Luften, Die Mein Klagen Lehmann Tebaldi Grummer, Ludwig, Fischer Dieskau Bjoner, Varnay, Neidlinger Entweihte Gotter, Helft Jetzt Meiner Rache! […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley, and Stephen Brown The Works Heernrufer Warren Fisher-Dieskau Mastromei Telramund, Dank Konig Schorr Udhe Vinay Elsa’s Dream Lehmann Flagstad Einsam In Trübe Tagen Crespin De Los Angeles Elsa’s Dream Rysanek Lohengrin’s Appearance and Question Melchior and Varney, part 1 Part 2 Maison and Hoerner, part 1 Part 2 Windgassen and […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley The Works Jardanyi Vorosmarty Symphony Hazadnak rendületenül Virag es pillango Hova merült el szep szemed vilaga Herci dal A ven cigany Sarkozy Sinfonia Concertante Szollosy Music Per Orchestra Ligeti Le Grande Macabre: Scene 3 Piano Concerto No. 1 Vivace Molto Ritmico E Preciso 4th movement Vivace Cantabile Allegro Risoluito, Molto […]
Listening Guide With Lew Smoley The Works Lehar Hungarian Fantasy Bartok Kossuth Kodaly Psalmus Hungaricus 1st movement 2nd movement 3rd movement 4th movement Kalman Gypsy Princess Waltz Lajtha 3rd String Quartet Andante Allegro Commodo Poco Lento Vivo Weiner Suite of Hungarian Dances Zador Hungarian Capriccio Kadosa Symphony No. 4 Seiber Fantasie Concertante Farkas Old Hungarian […]
This week on the Choral Featured Album, we present 'A Minnesota Christmas,' the first release from Vox Nova Chorale.
Get a free MP3 of Peter Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Closing Waltz and Apotheosis. And don't forget to sign up for the new Daily Download newsletter so you never miss a free MP3!
In 1946, while America was recovering from the ravages of World War II, a couple of war veterans, Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra, joined forces with composer Dimitri Tiomkin to make 'It's a Wonderful Life.'
The Minnesota Boy Choir's performances of the "Carol of the Bells," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Vince Guaraldi's classic "Christmas Time Is Here" are sure to warm your heart on a cold December afternoon. Listen now.
Get a free MP3 of Peter Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers. And don't forget to sign up for the new Daily Download newsletter so you never miss a free MP3!
This week on New Classical Tracks, Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire celebrate 'Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain' with traditional Celtic folk carols and later adaptions from the heart of Appalachia. Enter the giveaway for a chance to win their new release!
Get a free MP3 of Peter Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Snowflakes. And don't forget to sign up for the new Daily Download newsletter so you never miss a free MP3!
Lorie Line began her musical career playing piano in Dayton's department stores 30 years ago. Today, she tours the Midwest and beyond with her own ensemble, now doing holiday concerts. But her success did not always come easy.
Programmers have banned the song after fielding listener complaints that the song is offensive, only to face a backlash against that decision.
Minnesota Orchestra music director Osmo Vanska will step down at the conclusion of his contract, in August 2022. Vanska made the announcement at the Orchestra board's annual meeting Wednesday.