Classical Classroom

Conductor JoAnn Falletta. Photo by Mark Dellas, courtesy of JoAnn Falletta. Who was Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and why does he have two last names? And why would a 19th century Russian composer write a symphonic poem based on a collection of West and South Asian folk tales written in Arabic in the 16th century? What does it all mean?? Most* of these questions and more are all answered within by Buffalo Philharmonic/Virginia Symphony Orchestra conductor, guitarist,... Read More

Composer Nico Muhly. Photo by Matthew Murphy. Courtesy of artist's website. This week, composer Nico Muhly is premiering a brand new work, How Little You Are, in Austin. He talks about the classical (or, concert) music world's premiering process, and about how and why listening to classical music golden oldies is different than listening to a new work, about the inspiration for his new piece, and of course, about Prince. Music in this episode:- Mozart:... Read More

Our summer music festival series is over, and we are frankly a little sleepy now. So this week, while we nap, we are bringing you some old gold from the vault. It's one of our faves, featuring Branford Marsalis. If you don't love it, too, we will be both shocked and appalled. ------------------------------------- Branford Marsalis' stark 2014 solo album "In My Solitude" includes jazz standards like "Stardust" next to C.P.E. Bach's Sonata in A Minor for Oboe, Wq. 132. His jazz discography is peppered with classical releases. What's that all about?! Where do jazz and classical intersect? How is playing one different from the other - or is it? Find out in this episode! Audio production by Todd "The Twister" Hulslander with a firm handshake from Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio. Music in this episode: Lee Dorsey: "Working In The Coal Mine" (1966) Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu: Mozart - Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos Andrew Litton, Branford Marsalis and English Chamber Orchestra: "L'Isle Joyeuse" from Romances for Saxophone  Ferenc Erkel Chamber Orchestra and Jozsef Kiss: CPE Bach - Sonata in A Minor for Oboe Solo, Wq. 132: 1. Poco adgio   ...and from Branford Marsalis' "In My Solitude: Live at Grace Cathedral":  CPE Bach - Sonata in A Minor for Oboe Solo, Wq. 132: 1. Poco adgio Hoagy Carmichael/ Mitchell Parish - "Stardust" Ryo Noda - MAI, Op 7 Improvisation No.1

HSPVA Orchestra conductor Brad Smith. Photo courtesy of his website. March is Music in Our Schools month! In this second edition of our MusicWorks series, we take a field trip to an public high school that's a kind of music education utopia - Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) (or, Fame High School, as I like to imagine it). We chat with Brad Smith - HSPVA's orchestra conductor - and with... Read More

Houston Public Media's Amy Bishop. Still from a video by Adam Clay. Producer Todd thought he needed to take a "vacation" with his "family" last week, so we are giving you this month-appropriate rerun before returning next week with a slew, a treasure trove, a veritable cornucopia of new episodes. Meanwhile, sit back, relax, and learn about these great women of classical music. - Dacia-----------------------------------------It's Women's History Month up in the Classroom! Houston Public Media's... Read More

Mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer. Photo courtesy of Ms. Fischer's website. What's it like to be more or less the only character in a live, full-length opera, playing the role of a real-life intense person who lived life intensely, while accompanied by an electric guitar? Mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer dishes about playing Isabelle Eberhardt, the inspiration for Missy Mazzoli's opera Song from the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt, with the NOW Ensemble. Audio production by... Read More

Guitarist Valerie Hartzell. Photo courtesy of the artist's website. It's Women's History Month, and all month, we're bringing you amazing women in classical music! In this episode, guitarist Valerie Hartzell, creator/director of the Classical Minds Festival and Competition, talks about the ladies of classical guitar. Who are they? Why did their numbers diminish over time? And what can we do about it?? Audio production by Todd "Not Tony Danza" Hulslander with editing by Mark DiClaudio and... Read More

Each day during February, we posted a "Classical Music Moment in Black History" on our Facebook page to show the contributions of black artists to classical music throughout history. We've collected our twenty-eight February entries in this article. By the way, these entries were originally part of an episode of the Classical Classroom podcast (audio included below). Composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges. In the mid-to-late 1700’s, Chevalier de Saint-Georges was an Afro-French composer who was also France's best fencer. After... Read More

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco. Courtesy of Ms. Dinnerstein's website. "Indie-Classical", "Alt Classical", "Nonclassical"... whatever you want to call it, George Gershwin may have been one of the first people to do it. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein explains Gershwin's sound, its French influences, and what makes it uniquely classical. Audio production by Todd "Teeny" Hulslander with editing by Mark DiClaudio, and one giant leap by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode: "Rhapsody in Blue"... Read More

Tracy Jacobson and the rest of WindSync in one of the group's "Concert Selfies". Photo courtesy of WindSync's website. This episode is so old that Producer Todd didn't even have funny middle names yet. But it's so good that we wanted for you guys to hear it again. Because Debussy. And Tracy Jacobson. I mean, come on. Back next week with more new stuff!-----------------------------WindSync Wind Quintet bassoonist, Tracy Jacobson, takes Dacia along on her journey... Read More

Composer Alex Freeman. Photo by Aino Launis. Courtesy of the composer's website. Composer Stephen Paulus passed away last October and left a void in many hearts along with an amazing legacy. Composer Alex Freeman teaches about Paulus the man, and the music he left for us. Music in this episode (both by Stephen Paulus):- Pilgrims' Hymn- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Audio production by Todd "Tastee Freez" Hulslander with punches and kicks from Dacia Clay.... Read More

Soprano Sonya Yoncheva. Photo © Ruven Afanador. Courtesy of Ms. Yoncheva's website. We're excited to share our new subseries, MusicWorks! It's a show where you'll learn about what classical music is doing in the world right now. You'll hear inspiring artist stories, plus we'll go into the sometimes unexpected places we've discovered classical music thriving while we've been learning about it on the Classical Classroom. We hope you dig it! In our first MusicWorks episode,... Read More

Cantus Vocal Ensemble. Photo by Curtis Johnson, courtesy of the group's website. One of the distinguishing characteristics of chamber music is its inherent "democracy" - each part is of equal importance. Aaron Humble and Paul Rudoi of the Cantus Vocal Ensemble explain how it works when everyone involved in making the music is a special snowflake. Audio production by Todd "Sir Toddsalot" Hulslander with unflagging devotion to somethingerother by Dacia Clay. Music in this episode,... Read More

Joel Luks. Photo by Nicole Clarfield. Courtesy joelluks.com. Okay. So our HAL 9001 hasn't come in yet, and you're getting another rerun episode. But dang - it's a good one! And! We have so much new stuff we can't wait to share with you once HAL arrives. Stick with us! <3, Your friendly Classical Classroom production team -------------------------------------------------- All about the flute!! Joel Luks, CultureMap Houston editorial staffer and columnist, and classically trained flutist, teaches... Read More

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Photo by Andrew Eccles. Courtesy of rachelbartonpine.com. What makes Mozart's violin concertos so special? Is it that he only wrote 5 of them? That he wrote him when he was a teenager? That they are both beautiful AND hilarious? What is it?? Violinist Rachel Barton Pine returns to the Classroom to spell out why these pieces are so special - generally and personally - that she decided to record all of... Read More