Week of September 4, 2023 - Water Music In the 5th Century BC, water was classified as one of the four essential elements and over the centuries, artists, poets, philosophers, and composers have returned repeatedly to the mysteries of water for inspiration. This week, we will focus on Water Music with works by Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Debussy, and (of course) Handel. Bill starts in the American Southwest with a traditional song, Bound for the Rio Grande performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Week of September 11, 2023 - The Big Five I: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1891 as part of the local burghers’ relentless pursuit of international recognition. For a city that was growing faster than any in history, the attention was bolstered by the World’s Fair Columbian Exposition in 1893, where America was introduced to Indonesia’s gamelan orchestra. Bill brings together the music of the composers, conductors, and musicians and tells stories of the hall and its patrons who participated in the making of the CSO.
Week of September 18, 2023 - Beethoven Symphonies: New Recordings Side by Side with Classic Performances, Part 1 Bill says in a letter to a dear friend, “Right now, I’m engaged in an interesting project. The conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin, who continues as Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and has recently become Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, has found time to go to London to record the entire set of nine Beethoven Symphonies with another distinguished ensemble, The Chamber Orchestra of Europe.” Over the next ten episodes, Bill will put these newly recorded performances in context, side-by-side, with famous recordings all the way back to Wilhelm Furtwängler. Starting with the first symphony, this week will conclude on Friday with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
Week of September 25, 2023 - Beethoven Symphonies: New Recordings Side by Side with Classic Performances, Part 2 Welcome to the second week of a big Beethoven festival, starting with Beethoven’s sixth symphony. By Friday of this week, we will have heard every single note of the Beethoven symphonies conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin in his new set of the nine Beethoven Symphonies with The Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Bill will also continue to share this new recording side-by-side with the recorded history of celebrated performances.
