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, January 17, 2025Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo’s 1966 “Concierto Madrigal” for two guitarists — performed by the guitarists who performed the world premiere — is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 16, 2025Mozart wrote his final three symphonies in quick succession over the summer of 1788. The first of those, his Symphony No. 39, is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 15, 2025Innovator Beethoven opens his Piano Concerto No. 4 with a solo piano; and not even dramatically, but “softly, sweetly” (“piano, dolce”) as he noted in the score. It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 14, 2025Adapted from his score for the 1948 film “Scott of the Antarctic” about British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott, the 1953 Symphony No. 7, “Sinfonia Antartica” by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 13, 2025Finnish composer Jean Sibelius objected to programmatic content in other composers’ symphonies and declared that HIS music is about nothing but itself. Hear how he applies that to his Symphony No. 3 for today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 10, 2025The Piano Concerto No. 5 by Camille Saint-Saëns — often called the “Egyptian” Concerto because he wrote it while vacationing in Cairo and Luxor and makes use of a “Nubian love song” — is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 9, 2025Composed in 1816 at age 19, Franz Schubert himself gave the title “Tragic” to his 4th symphony owing to it being in a minor key and some of it having a “tragic” stormy feel. It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 8, 2025Featuring violinist Isaac Stern and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in g-minor is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 7, 2025Based on the melody of an ancient Hungarian folk song that in the early 20th century came to be known as a revolutionary song, Zoltán Kodály’s “Peacock Variations” are today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, January 6, 2025We’ll celebrate German composer Max Bruch’s 1838 birthday today with a 2022 recording of his Violin Concerto #1 with violinist Randall Goosby for today's Midday Masterpiece.
