Classical Music Playlist, June 7, 2024Written during the horrors of WW1, the title of Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable," refers to the irrepressible will toward life in all things including mankind, animals and nature. It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 6, 2024Czech pianist Rudolf Firkušný performs Antonín Dvořák's only Piano Concerto in its infrequently heard (and technically difficult for the soloist) ORIGINAL version for today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 5, 2024Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian’s tuneful and passionate Violin Concerto in D-minor from 1940 is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 4, 2024Beethoven’s bold and successful effort to balance three very different instruments against an orchestra, his Triple Concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra, is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, June 3, 2024The Symphony No. 3 by Swedish composer Franz Berwald was never performed until 37 years after his death when musical tastes finally caught up with his forward-thinking ideas and he became posthumously celebrated. It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 31, 2024Igor Stravinsky’s ballet about a puppet that comes to life is no charming Pinocchio story. It’s a story of love, rejection, murder and revenge (by puppets!). Stravinsky's original 1911 version of his ballet “Petrushka” is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 30, 2024Mozart's sunny and tuneful Clarinet Quintet from a most difficult year for him is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 29, 2024Sac State professor of guitar Richard Savino is the soloist in the Guitar Concerto No. 1 by THE early 19th century guitar virtuoso in Europe, Mauro Giuliani, for today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 28, 2024Written as a wedding gift to his wife, and featuring a demanding piano part throughout despite not being a piano concerto, the innovative and fun Symphony No. 5 by Danish composer Niels Gade is our Midday Masterpiece at 2pm.
Classical Music Playlist, May 27, 2024Premiered in 1946 after WWII, Aaron Copland emphasized American heroism in his Symphony No. 3, reusing his own “Fanfare for the Common Man” for the final movement. On this Memorial Day, Aaron Copland's Symphony No. 3 is our Midday Masterpiece at 2pm.