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, July 18, 2025With the violin and piano as main instruments, in front of a string quartet mostly as support, the 1891 “Concert for Violin, Piano and String Quartet” by French composer Ernest Chausson is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 17, 2025Prague loved Mozart’s new opera “The Marriage of Figaro” so he went there to see their production of it. While there, he premiered his new Symphony No. 38 and so it picked up the nickname the “Prague” Symphony. It’s today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 16, 2025Enthusiastically received by both critics and audiences, the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 was one of his greatest triumphs. It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 15, 2025Musically depicting himself in battle with critics, Richard Strauss's autobiographical tone poem, “Ein Heldenleben” (“A Hero’s Life”), is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 14, 2025What Spanish composer Manuel de Falla began as a set of nocturnes for piano eventually became a work for orchestra titled “Nights in the Gardens of Spain” — today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 11, 2025To gain experience writing for orchestra before tackling his first symphony (at age 46) and avoiding negative comparisons to Beethoven, Brahms composed other orchestral works from his mid-20s including his Serenade No. 1, today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 10, 2025“Carmina Burana” is a cantata about the pleasures of life ruled over by the random kindness or cruelty of fate. For the composer’s birthday today, Carl Orff’s complete “Carmina Burana” is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 9, 2025Urged by his wife Clara to compose it, Robert Schumann’s only piano concerto is today's Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 8, 2025Between the drama of Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony No. 3 and the innovations of his Fifth, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 is full of light good humor and charm. It’s today’s Midday Masterpiece.
Classical Music Playlist, July 7, 2025Music for wind instruments by Mozart inspired Antonín Dvořák to compose his own tuneful “Serenade for Winds.” Dvořák’s “Serenade” is today’s Midday Masterpiece.
