December 1, 2025 - The Sweet Spot As Bill explains: “I’ve spent my life as a classical musician devoted to the great body of standard repertoire, which began about 1685 with the birth of Bach and Handel and continued through Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven on to the present. I loved that music as a youngster and I still do, but there are occasions, especially when I’m least expecting it, when music composed roughly between 1550 and 1650 will take my breath away. ‘You know,’ I murmur to myself, ‘music really never got any better than this.’" Madrigalists and other Italian composers, giants like Palestrina (born 500 years ago), the Gabrielis, and Orlando di Lasso. We will be listening to Renaissance composers from France, Spain, Germany, and England.
December 8, 2025 - Peter Tchaikovsky, part I (1840-1893) Bill launches into the first part of a two-part series on the Russian Romantic composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Though shunned by some other Russian composers as sounding “too Western”, Tchaikovsky was loved throughout the world as a great Russian composer. Caught between East and West, he created his own sound— a sound that to this day is still treasured and that Russians are proud to call their own. Bill starts with Mikhail Glinka, who broke from the Italian school to create the Russian school of music, and ends with excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Don’t miss this week and next, where we continue with the music of Peter Tchaikovsky.
December 15, 2025 - Peter Tchaikovsky, part II (1840-1893) This week, we’ll continue our exploration of Peter Tchaikovsky, focusing on the latter part of his life, including his symphonies, ballets, and life at the Moscow Conservatory. Bill will begin with Tchaikovsky’s "Variations on a Rococo Theme," Op. 33, for cello and orchestra, composed in 1876. We will conclude the week with his Symphony No. 6 in B minor, titled "Pathétique," which was written in 1893 and premiered just days before his death. Throughout the week, Bill will share the story of Tchaikovsky’s failed marriage and his unique relationship with his patroness, Nadezhda von Meck.
December 22, 2025 - Holiday Celebration The sound of sleigh bells means that its winter holiday time, and music is full of representations of celebratory music. All around the world, winter holidays of a wide variety are celebrated, and their music is wonderful to listen to regardless of which one you celebrate.
December 29, 2025 - Mozart Piano Concertos Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed numerous concertos, many of which are lively and pleasing to the ear, even when performed by an eight-year-old. During his teenage years, Mozart was heavily influenced by the music of Johann Christian Bach, which he skillfully reinterpreted to develop his own style. In addition to their mutual love for music, JC Bach and Mozart shared a passion for intricate keyboard games. This week features five episodes of exceptional piano performances, with Murray Perahia conducting while soloing Mozart’s early concertos. It also includes performances by Alfred Brendel, Maria João Pires, Rudolf Serkin, and Mitsuko Uchida.
