Classical Music NPR
Many have called Don Giovanni the finest opera ever composed. Mozarts classic is a brilliant combination of stark human tragedy and touching comedy, set to music of limitless genius. Its heard in a new production from Houston Grand Opera.
After WWI, the British were lamenting a lost era and eager for something new. Edward Elgar gave them a meditative, compelling cello concerto. Steven Isserlis plays Elgars autumnal music in concert with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Painter Edward Hoppers images of urban America have become iconic, and have made him one of this countrys most popular artists. The University of Maryland has commissioned an opera based on five of Hoppers paintings. Later the Same Evening, or the Hoppera, as the work is informally called, premieres Nov. 15.
The title character in Simon Boccanegra is among the most complex and poignant that Verdi ever created, and the opera is among his most beautiful. In this production from Houston, Boccanegra is played by the renowned baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
From the ancient Day of the Dead melody to depictions of ghouls and witches, composers have long tapped into the dark side to serve up some deliciously devilish music. Halloween is the perfect time to observe a few creepy classics.
This weeks From the Top comes from New England Conservatorys Jordan Hall in Boston, where 18-year-old Samuel Thomas unpacks his accordion to play Chopins Nightmare. Eleven-year-old violinist Mindy Chen plays a romance by Sarasate, and a talented teen quintet takes on Dvorak. Also, a young cellist chooses Elgar, and a 14-year-old pianist plays Prokofiev.
Countertenor David Daniels takes the brilliant title role in Julius Caesar, Handels slightly offbeat take on Roman history, from Houston Grand Opera.
On this weeks From the Top, host Christopher ORiley revisits performances by some of the outstanding teen musicians from past shows, and checks in to learn where life has taken them since appearing on the program.
From the musical buzz in pre-WWI Vienna to the experimental New York scene of the 1960s and on through today, Alex Ross reveals the story of 20th-century music in his new book The Rest Is Noise.
Legendary tenor Placido Domingo sings the heroic role of Siegmund in Die Walkuere, the second installment in the Washington National Operas new production of Wagners The Ring of the Nibelungen.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of classical composer Jean Sibelius. Musician David Was says the composers work was in danger of falling out of fashion, but is recently enjoying a burst of new interest.
Even when it isnt sung, the Italian language sounds like music, which is part of why Italian words are used to tell musicians how to playpresto, lento, adagio, forte. Commentator Miles Hoffman explains why Italian is the lingua franca of classical music.
Einstein and Gandhi have been operatic subjects for Philip Glass. His list of great leaders expands with a brand-new opera Appomattox, a Civil War story featuring lead roles for Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
Soprano Patricia Racette stars in the title role of Janaceks devastating, yet stunningly beautiful drama Jenufa, in a production from the Washington National Opera.
With votes from Gramophone magazine critics and listeners of 15 classical radio networks, Fischer has topped the worlds largest classical-music poll, receiving the 2007 Classic FM Gramophone Artist of the Year award.
Soprano JiYoung Lee stars as an army brat who was adopted by the entire army. The opera is Donizettis Gallic romp, The Daughter of the Regiment, from the Washington National Opera.
In the 1990s, The Brian Setzer Orchestra helped reinvigorate interest in swing music. Now Setzer turns to classical fare with his CD Wolfgangs Big Night Out.
Conductor Marin Alsop recently made history by being named the first woman to head a major American orchestra. She plans to lead the Baltimore Symphony in a mix of cutting-edge contemporary pieces and core classics.
Anna Litvinenko followed in her mothers footsteps by taking up the piano, but she switched to her fathers instrument, the cello, after he showed her a video of cellist Jacqueline DuPre. These days, the 13-year-old is accomplished on both instruments. Hear her play At the Fountain by Carl Davidoff.
When pianists Wei Wei Hsu, Si Yi Fang and Kaisaer Ainiwaer all squeeze together at one piano they call themselves 6HM, which stands for Six-Handed Monster. They perform an arrangement of America from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein. This segment originally aired on May 16, 2007