A major influence on Brahms and other composers of the time was also one of the first violinists to record: Here, Joseph Joachim performs his arrangement of Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 1 in 1903:

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has named maestro Riccardo Muti as the next music director of the CSO. He's the tenth conductor to hold that post. "I would like to make this last engagement as music director in my life something that can enrich people," Mr. Muti said Monday in his first interview after signing the contract. Click here to read the full story.

Watch conductors Riccardo Muti and Seiji Ozawa on The Charlie Rose Show in April, 1999:

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by Frank Dominguez, WDAV Program Director

I recently returned from a meeting in New York City of specially invited classical radio professionals called together to discuss the future of classical music on the radio. It was a stimulating and congenial conversation hosted by WNYC at their future location (appropriately enough) in Lower Manhattan.

The stations and producers represented a variety of approaches to classical radio programming, but I think it’s accurate to say that they fell into two broad camps: those who are interested in preserving a tradition, and those who seek to invent a new one for a different kind of listener.

Continue reading "The Classical Radio Listener of the Future" »

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Dona Nobis Pizza, composed by L. Ziblat.

A piece of music about integration. Three themes which have little in common with each other, a Latin American one (Argentinean), a Middle Eastern one and a contemporary one, clashing against each other until they subconsciously assimilate.

As you know, the tomato did not exist in Europe until the discovery of America in 1492. This piece is then an ode of empathy to the Roman empire, before the discovery and integration of the tomato in Europe.

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Plenty of Wow Factor here. Enjoy!

Nikita Vlasov (accordion) and Moscow Virtuosi. Vladimir Spivakov conducts:

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In 1905, composer Camille Saint Saens recorded a performance of his Rhapsodie d'Auvergne on a piano roll using a reproducing piano manufactured by M. Welte & Sons (Welte-Mignon).

To hear a portion of it, click here.

You can listen to the entire track here, but must register first. (Registering gives you access to every track on the Naxos site: 25% of each track for free, full-length tracks from more than 5,000 CDs for $19.95.)

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's Monty Python's take on the beloved classic. Good thing this isn't part of the annual New Year's concert from Vienna...(Looks more like Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony!)

Posted by Jennifer Foster at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)