Shostakovich Symphony #13: "Babi Yar"
In 1961, a poem appeared by the young poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, entitled Babi Yar. The first line of this poem is: "There are no monuments over Babi Yar." In September of 1941 at least 33,771 Jews wer...
1 Jul 20211h 3min
The Story of "Blind" Tom Wiggins, w/ Deirdre O'Connell
Never heard of Tom Wiggins? You're in for a treat with this episode! Tom Wiggins was a fantastic 19th century pianist and composer who was ruthlessly exploited by his owner/guardian on account of his ...
24 Jun 202140min
Bach Chaconne for Solo Violin
The Bach Chaconne is one of the great masterpieces of Western Classical Music, and today we're going to be diving straight into this monumental work. We'll talk about the legends behind its compositio...
17 Jun 202152min
Wynton Marsalis and the "Blues Symphony"
I had the chance to sit down with virtually with the legendary Wynton Marsalis for a conversation about Jazz, comparing jazz and classical pieces, why so many classical composers writing jazz fail and...
10 Jun 202141min
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Part 2
The cycle is complete! Would it surprise you to find out that Beethoven's 9th Symphony wasn't his last piece? Would it surprise you that he was actually considering an all instrumental movement for th...
4 Jun 20211h 1min
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Part 1
More has been written about the meaning of Beethoven's 9th than any other symphony. There are more recordings of it, more performances of it, and more uses of its most famous theme, the Ode to Joy, th...
1 Jun 202148min
Beethoven Symphony No. 8
In 1812, Beethoven's life was in ruins. He was embroiled in court battles, pining away for his "Immortal Beloved," and profoundly depressed. His musical response is one of his funniest, most charming,...
27 Mai 202143min
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
The composer Carl Maria Von Weber called it the work of a madman. Clara Schumann's father, Friedrich Wieck, called it the work of a drunk. Beethoven's 7th has been popular ever since its premiere, but...
20 Mai 202155min
