Classical Music Happy Hour

Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax has something special to share with listeners! Grammy and Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste joined WQXR host Terrance McKnight for a live conversation and performance at The Greene Space in May. Batiste shares the inspiration behind his then-to-be-released album, Black Mozart, reflects on his classical roots, and performs selections from the album in this special edition of Classical Music Happy Hour.

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What happens when one of the world’s greatest pianists returns to Carnegie Hall after 14 years away? Manny Ax was there as a teenager, and he remembers it all. Manny shares a story about one of classical music's greatest pianists and the actual mark that he left on the floor of Carnegie Hall. We hear Horowitz’s Nails, an episode of Carnegie Hall’s podcast If This Hall Could Talk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Producer Lauren Purcell-Joiner puts Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax in the hot seat with the tough questions: What’s his favorite drink? The best book about music he’s ever read? And which composer would he most like to grab coffee with?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax and producer Lauren Purcell-Joyner bring you a special episode from Aria Code, diving into Verdi’s Aida, which is one of Manny’s all-time favorite operas. Together, they reflect on what makes this story so timeless, from the beauty of the music to the real-life stories that reveal just how deeply opera can connect to our own lives.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Manny Ax is back for a very special live episode of Classical Music Happy Hour featuring highlights from the sold-out launch party this past March.

Joined on stage by Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce, author and New York Times columnist John McWhorter, comedian and violist Isabel Hagen, and one very special surprise guest, Manny brings listeners an evening of unforgettable music, lively conversation, games, delicious food, and of course, cocktails.

Whether you were there in person or are tuning in for the first time, pull up a chair and enjoy this unique live edition of Classical Music Happy Hour.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi Classical Music Happy Hour listeners! I’m your host, Manny Ax. I’ve heard from so many of you over the course of this season and I’m so proud of this show and the community we are creating. We’re working hard on another season with amazing guests, fun games, your listener questions, and of course great music. But in the meantime, we’re going to try something a little different. So, for the next few months, I’ll be introducing you to new shows, sharing some music, dropping a few surprises, and as always, having a bit of fun along the way.

But as we get ready for a new season, we’d also love to hear from you! What were some of your favorite moments from the show? Who would you love to see as a guest? What are some questions you’d like to hear answered? Use this form to submit your questions or send them to us at manny@wqxr.org. We want to hear your thoughts!

Grab a drink and stick around as we continue to celebrate our love for all things classical!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Violinist and social media guru Ray Chen wraps up this season of Classical Music Happy Hour with an in-studio live performance. He chats with Manny about video games, performance anxiety, and his practice app Tonic. In our game, he joins Manny in our game called Is It a Composer or Is it Cheese?

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Ray Chen performed an excerpt from JS Bach’s Chaconne from Partitat No. 2 for Solo Violin, BWV 1004.

Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O14: III. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn
Mariko Honda & Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Keith Clark
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2 Andante teneramente
Brahms
Performed live in-studio by our host, Emanuel Ax

Le sorcier: Overture
François-André Danican Philidor
Prague Sinfonia Orchestra & Christian Benda
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Paquito D’Rivera is composer, saxophonist and clarinetist whose work spans classical, jazz and latin music. Born in Havana, Cuba, D’Rivera started his career playing with the National Theater Orchestra at the age of 10 and has been on stage for seven decades. During their chat, Paquito and Manny discuss what beef and beans have to do with Benny Goodman playing Carnegie Hall, what kind of music teacher his father was, and all things clarinet. He also joins Manny for an in-studio performance of one of his compositions. In our game, Manny and Paquito decide if a sound is made by a musical instrument or an animal.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

The piece Paquito D’Rivera and Emanuel Ax perform is Contradanza for Bb Clarinet and Piano, composed by our guest, Paquito D’Rivera.

3 Movements from Petrushka: No. 3, La Semaine grasse
Stravinsky
Antonii Baryshevskyi, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14, H.48, Ronde du Sabbat
Berlioz
Orchestre National de Lyon & Leonard Slatkin
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pianist Yefim Bronfman, “Fima,” chats with Manny about their decades-long friendship, their love of sports, their surprising anxiety around live broadcast performances. They’ll answer listeners’ questions about recovering from injuries and picking repertoire, even the stuff no one heard of! Fima and Manny work together in our Newly Dead game to identify odd ways composers have died.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8: II. Adagio
Szymanowski
Martin Roscoe, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Sinfonia avanti il Barcheggio for Trumpet, 2 Violins and Continuo
Stradella
Niklas Eklund & Wasa Baroque Ensemble & Edward Tarr
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Armide, Act III Scene 4: Je responds a tes voeux
Lully
Stephanie Houtzeel & William Sharp
Opera Lafayette Chorus & Opera Lafayette Orchestra & Ryan Brown
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Solomon, HWV 67: Pt. III: Air. Ev’ry sight these eyes behold
Handel
Nicola Wemyss & Barockorchester Frankfurt & Joachim Carlos Martini
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

The piece Paquito D’Rivera and Emanuel Ax perform is Contradanza for Bb Clarinet and Piano, composed by our guest, Paquito D’Rivera.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comedian Isabel Hagen is a classically trained violist, and a filmmaker. As a comedian, she has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was a New Face of Comedy at the Just for Laughs festival in Montréal. She talks to Manny about how the viola can be funny and make people love classical music by making them laugh!

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Harold en Italie, S. 472/R. 138: I. Harold aux montagnes
Berlioz
Philip Dukes & Piers Lane
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: I. Allegro non troppo
Brahms
Jenő Jandó & Brussels Philharmonic & Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Beethoven
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra & Richard Edlinger
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

The Star-Spangled Banner
John Stafford Smith
Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy & Keith Brion

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The New York Times has called Nicholas Britell: “The composer at the frontier of film music.” Britell has written scores for Hollywood movies including:The Big Short, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could talk. Listeners might best recognize his work from the theme of the HBO series “Succession” for which he’s won the Emmy for the iconic theme song. He’ll talk about writing for the big screen and he’ll play one of his most recognizable pieces live-in studio.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Var. I (C.A.E.)
Elgar
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & George Hurst
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

The Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War
Holst
CSR Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava & Adrian Leaper
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176: Introduction
Strauss
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Zdeněk Košler
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13, Pathetique”
Beethoven
Alessio Bax, piano
Live recording at The Greene Space

Fantasia in C minor, K. 475
Mozart
Péter Nagy, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86
Debussy
The Knights
Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell

Symphony No. 64 in A Major, Hob. 1:64 (Tempora mutantur)
Haydn
The Knights
Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell

Le Sacre du Printemps
Stravinsky
Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107; II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam
Bruckner
Linz Bruckner Orchestra & Mark Poschner
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Actor David Hyde Pierce has had a long career in film, television and the theater. He’s best known to listeners for his portrayal of Niles Crane on the sitcom "Frasier." He joins Manny to talk about his life and love of classical music and listen to some of their favorite recordings. They also play a game called “Animal or Instrument.”

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Fantasia in C Minor, Op. 80 "Choral Fantasy": Fantasia in C Minor, Op. 80
Beethoven
Leon McCawley, piano
City of London Choir
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97 "Archduke": III. Andante cantabile
Beethoven
Xyrion Trio

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": I. Allegro
Beethoven
Boris Giltburg, piano
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer Jeanine Tesori is a two time Tony Award winner, a two time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and in 2024, she became the first woman composer to open the Metropolitan Opera Opera season in its 139 year history. On this edition of CMHH she tells Manny about her time living in a lighthouse, about her love of Stravinsky, and why she decided not to be a doctor.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

3 Movements from Petrushka: No. 1, Danse russe
Stravinsky
Antonii Baryshevskyi, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Carmen, Habanera
Bizet
Graciela Alperyn, mezzo-soprano
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Rahbari, conductor
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Turandot, SC 91: Nessun dorma (Live)
Puccini
Mario Malagnini
Genoa Carlo Felice Theatre Orchestra & Donato Renzetti
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Carmen: Act I: Habañera: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
Bizet
Marjana Lipovšek, mezzo-soprano
Munich Radio Orchestra
Giuseppe Patanè, conductor
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Boléro, M. 81
Ravel
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Adrian Leaper
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live from Tanglewood, cellist Yo-Yo Ma chats with Manny about their long musical relationship and friendship. The two treat the live audience to a few musical performances, and they take questions from the audience about their burning musical questions, like “why does a piano have three pedals?”

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music Performed in Today’s Episode:

Lieder ohne Worte (Song without Words)
Mendelssohn
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Emanuel Ax, Piano

Ave Maria
Schubert
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Emanuel Ax, Piano

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Columbia University Professor of Linguistics John McWhorter, chats with Manny about swear words, Broadway, and tackles the conundrums of musical etymology. McWhorter also makes the case for the brilliant first movement of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in B minor. The two then square off in a game about famous classical pieces that bombed at their premieres.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

Strike Up the Band: The Man I Love (Arr. For orchestra)
George Gershwin
Richard Hayman Symphony Orchestra & Richard Hayman
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115, I. Allegro
Brahms
József Balogh, clarinet and Danubius Quartet
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3 “The Hunt”
Beethoven
Joyce Yang, Piano
Live Recording at The Greene Space

Herzgewächse
Arnold Schoenberg
Alumni Musicians of the Bang on a Can Summer Festival
Live Recording

Symphony No. 5 in D Major, I. Preludio. Moderato. Allegro
Vaughan Williams
Kees Bakels and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178
Liszt
Juan Pérez Floristán, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, B. 108: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Dvorak
Ilya Kaler, violin and Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Camilla Kolchinsky
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Renowned American composer John Adams joins Manny to discuss his approach to opera composition, the stories behind his intriguingly titled works, and the time he was once mistaken for John Cage. Adams answers listener questions on the evolution of music and the emotional pull of minor keys. He also shares his love of Stravinsky and Handel. For our game segment, Adams puts his knowledge to the test as Manny quizzes him on outrageous performance directions.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

Italian Concerto in F Major BWV 971, III: Presto
Bach
András Schiff, Piano
Live Recording at The Greene Space

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. 25
Bach
Anne-Catherine Bucher, Harpsichord
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. 25
Bach
Simone Dinnerstein, Piano
Live Recording at The Greene Space

Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K. 304
Mozart
Takako Nishizaki,
Violin
Jeno Jando, Piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38, I. Allegro non troppo
Brahms
Johannes Moser, Cello
Michael Brown, Piano
Liver Recording at The Greene Space

Symphony No. 5, I. Trauermarsch
Mahler
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, IV. Finale–Adagio lamentoso
Tchaikovsky
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Tu Del Ciel
Il Trionfo Del Tempo E Del Disinganno
Handel
Claron McFadden, Elisabeth Scholl, Joachim Carlos Martini, Junge Kantorei, Barockorchester Frankfurt, Nicholas Hariades & Peer Abilgaard
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Gnossienne No. 3
Satie
Klara Kormendi, Piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Horn Concert No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 417, III. Rondo Allegro
Mozart
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Michael Thompson
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer Gabriela Ortiz joins Manny to talk about her grandfather’s surprising connection to Mahler, her own compositional process, and her enduring love for works by Debussy and Stravinsky. Listeners call in with tricky questions about folk music’s influence on classical works, new developments in orchestral instruments, and the realities of orchestra cliques. In our game segment, Manny puts Gabriela to the test—can she identify which famous composer was panned by critics?

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp minor, IV. Adagietto
Mahler
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Le Sacre du Printemps
Stravinsky
Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

La Mer, L. 109, II. Jeux de vagues
Debussy
Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Miroirs, M. 43 Une barque sur l'océan
Ravel
Francois-joel Thiollier, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Estancia, Op. 8, Scene 5: Danza Final. Malambo
Alberto Ginastera
London Symphony Orchestra, Gisele Ben-Dor
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Romanian Folk Dances
Bartok
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Live Recording

Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
Beethoven
Danish Chamber Orchestra, Ádám Fischer
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Composer and pianist Marc-André Hamelin joins Manny to talk about growing up with a musical father, the mechanics of piano playing, and the influences behind his prolific performing and recording career. He answers listener questions about piano transcriptions and why music is written in so many different keys. In the music segment, Hamelin performs one of his favorite works by Rachmaninoff live in the studio.

The piece performed by Marc-André Hamelin is Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableau op39/5 in E-flat minor.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 12 in G-Flat Major (6th Version)
Leopold Godowsky
Robert Helps, Piano

53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 45 in E Major (1st Version)
Leopold Godowsky
Robert Helps, Piano

Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
Modest Mussorgsky
Yutong Sun, Piano

Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
Modest Mussorgsky
Volgograd Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Serov

Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major
Mozart
Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Michael Thompson

Fantasia in C minor, K. 475
Mozart
Péter Nagy, piano

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Superstar pianist Yuja Wang joins Manny Ax to talk about bad pianos, encores, what influences her musical interpretations, and her love for Prokofiev. In our Newly Dead game, Yuja puts her knowledge of composer deaths to the test.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Music used in today’s episode includes:

Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 "La chasse": IV
Beethoven
Boris Giltburg, Piano

Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: I. Allegro
Beethoven
Boris Giltburg, Piano

Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545 "Sonata facile": I. Allegro
Mozart
Jenő Jandó, Piano

Concerto No. 2 Op 18 II Adagio Sostenuto
Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Leopold Stokowski, conductor
The Philadelphia Orchestra 1924

Scythian Suite, Op. 20: II. The Enemy of God, III. Night
Prokofiev
Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra
Theodore Kuchar, conductor

Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 6: IV. Marche Funebre
Scriabin
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Konstantin Scherbakov & Igor Golovschin

Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica": II. Marcia funebre
Beethoven
Danish Chamber Orchestra & Ádám Fischer

Symphony No. 44 in E minor Trauer Sinfonie Mourning III Adagio
Haydn
Capella Istropolitana & Barry Wordsworth

Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join renowned pianist Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with special guests about their lives, listens to some of their favorite classical gems, plays music-inspired games, and answers questions from listeners. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music! Episode one with guest and pianist Yuja Wang drops next week.

Listen and Subscribeto Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.