Connections

Host Stephen Peithman explores ideas, themes and people shared by many classical works Saturday evening at 8.

"I've always been intrigued by the connections between different compositions and/or composers," explains host Stephen Peithman, "and in this program we explore those connections in an informative and entertaining way. This include works that display a strong influence of another work or composer, works that draw directly from other works, and those that share a common theme or inspiration. There are great stories to be told--both comic and dramatic--and a lot of great music, as well."

Upcoming Shows

Feb 11 The Love Connection

Tucked into Antonin Dvorak's great Cello Concerto is a tune written 30 years earlier--composed in his youth for the first real love of his life.

Feb 18 The Paganini Connection

How Nicolo Paganini's 24th Caprice for Solo Violin inspired works by Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Benny Goodman and Andrew Lloyd Webber, among others.

Feb 25 The Patron Connection

The surprising stories behind five unusual patrons and the musical works they inspired.

Mar 03 The Loose Connection

Tales of missing documentation, simple carelessness, honest mistakes—and a few cases of outright fraud.

Mar 10 The Bachianas Connection

An exploration of the "Bachianas Brasileiras" of Heitor Villa-Lobos--shaped by his Brazilian heritage and his lifelong admiration of Johann Sebastian Bach

Recent Shows

Feb 04 The Espagnole Connection

Spanish style in French music from Bizet’s 'Carmen' to Debussy’s 'Iberia,' from Chabrier’s 'Espana' to Ravel’s 'Bolero.'

Jan 28 The Ancient Airs Connection

Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances--and the original Renaissance lute pieces that inspired him.

Jan 21 The Eroica Connection

How and why Beethoven used a single theme in four different works, as he worked to develop his signature style.

Jan 14 The Faust Connection

How a single book inspired Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner--indeed, an entire generation of composers.

Jan 07 The Winter Connection

Winter music by Vivaldi, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Delius, Prokofiev and more.

Dec 31 The New York Connection

The Big Apple in works by Gershwin, Carpenter, Copland, Bernstein and more

Dec 24 The Carol Connection

Classical works that have inspired well-known carols, and vice versa.

Dec 17 The Pastoral Connection

Pastoral carols, instrumental, and choral works for the season--and the inspiration behind them. Saturday, December 17 at 8 p.m.

Jul 16 The Scottish Connection

A sampling of Scottish-themed works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Haydn, Berlioz, and Debussy, among others--and the surprising stories behind them.

Jul 09 The Nocturne Connection

An appreciation of the Nocturne, with music by Liszt, Field, Chopin, Borodin, Debussy, Copland, and more

Jul 02 The National Anthem Connection

The intertwined stories behind the British & German national anthems, and how they've been used - and misused - for two centuries

Jun 25 The Haydn-Prokofiev Connection

Prokofiev's Classical Symphony - and the "London" Symphonies of Haydn that inspired it.

Jun 18 The Ravel-Debussy Connection

An exploration of the links between Debussy and Ravel, and their string quartets.

Jun 11 The Incidental Connection

Theatrical works by Purcell, Bizet, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Grieg, and Vaughan Williams

Jun 04 The Wedding Connection

Classical works that celebrate the union of two people in holy —and, occasionally, unholy—matrimony.

May 28 The Summer Connection

Classical music on summertime themes, from Vivaldi and Haydn to Glazunov and Gershwin.

Feb 05 The Left Hand Connection

How a pianist lost his right arm in war, then learned to play with just his left--and commisioned concertos from five of the 20th century's greatest composers.