Classical Music Playlist, June 19, 2026With "Autochthonous" defined as ”indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists,” the “Autochthonous” Symphony No. 4 by William Grant Still that depicts the American people and our fusion of musical cultures is today's Midday Masterpiece
Classical Music Playlist, May 23, 2025The 1858 Symphony No. 3 by 19th century American composer, violinist and educator George Frederick Bristow is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 22, 2025Richard Strauss's "Four Last Songs" for soprano and orchestra are a serene reflection on themes of life and the peaceful acceptance of death. Composed shortly before his own passing, they are today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 21, 2025Having won the composer’s friendship and trust to perform his music successfully, conductor Sir Adrian Boult’s mid-1970s recording of Edward Elgar’s 1911 Symphony #2 is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 20, 2025The "Háry János" Suite of music from the 1926 opera by Zoltán Kodály about a braggart and teller of impossible tall tales is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 19, 2025Spoiler alert about Mozart’s dark and melancholic String Quintet No. 4 in g-minor: it concludes with a happy ending in a sunny G-major! It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 16, 2025Johannes Brahms composed his Serenade No. 2 WITH NO VIOLINS, so the strings have a slightly dark & heavy tone, but that’s counterbalanced by a light & cheery sound from the winds. The Serenade No. 2 by Brahms is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 15, 2025Robert Schumann’s description of his Symphony No. 2 as "music of light and shade, sunshine and shadow" is also a reflection of his emotional state while composing it, happily ending victorious. Schumann's Symphony No. 2 is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 14, 2025Maurice Ravel’s 1932 Piano Concerto was his penultimate composition and hailed as a masterpiece wherever it was performed soon after its premiere. It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 13, 2025The only of his symphonies that he never revised and called his “boldest,” the Symphony No. 6 by Anton Bruckner is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, May 12, 2025Inspired by a trip to sunny Italy in 1907, Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar composed his "Serenade." It's considered one of his greatest orchestral works, and it's today's Midday Masterpiece.
