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WETA Classical

WETA Classical/WETA VivaLaVoce. Classical Music for Washington. Listen on-air, online, or on the app anytime.

WETA Classical 90.9 FM is one of the most listened to classical music radio station in the United States. With marquee programs such as “Front Row Washington” and “NSO Showcase,” podcast "Classical Breakdown," and our all-vocal digital channel, “WETA VivaLaVoce” on vivalavoce.org, WETA Classical provides a 24/7 music service with broad appeal. The station reaches audiences over the air throughout

Greater Washington and surrounding counties in Maryland and Northern Virginia, online at wetaclassical.org, via tablet and mobile app devices through the WETA Classical App, and is also available on smart speakers. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at ! Commenting Policy:
For reference: WETA Classical reserves the right to delete comments that contain:
* offensive language
* personal attacks
* improper comments that target any ethnic, racial, or religious group
* spam or include certain links to other sites
* are clearly off topic. We reserve the right to use all comments made here for promotional materials.

01/23/2025

Verdi's Aida is one of the most beloved and quintessential operas of all time. Our in-house opera expert Linda Carducci and opera scholar Saul Lilienstein take us on an in-depth journey of Aida ahead of The Metropolitan Opera broadcast on Opera Matinee this Saturday at 1PM ET!

Linda Carducci speaks with opera scholar Saul Lilienstein about Verdi's Aida, showing an in-depth guide to the beloved opera ahead of the Met Opera broadcast on January 25.

01/21/2025

Perhaps the most iconic piece of American music, Lincoln Portrait is Aaron Copland's defense of democracy. On the latest episode of Classical Breakdown, John Banther and Evan Keely explore this powerful work that uses the timeless words of Abraham Lincoln and was even banned from a Presidential Inauguration.

Music was used in World War 2 like never before, from propaganda to national pride. John Banther and Evan Keely explore Copland's musical effort to rally a defense for democracy using Abraham Lincoln's timeless words and examine why it was banned from a Presidential inauguration.

01/16/2025

How are we all doing, DMV? Capital Weather Gang says we hit some of the coldest temps of winter so far with even colder weather on the way next week. 🥶

Let's all warm up together with a musical trip to Spain this afternoon! Nicole Lacroix will be our tour guide as she plays Chabrier's España at 3:04PM ET. It may be cold and gray out, but our spirits will be warm and bright!

Join us on the dial, on our app, or at weta.org/player 🎶☀️

01/14/2025

Anyone else watch the new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and notice uncanny similarities with the beloved film Amadeus?

Besides similarities in the two dramatized films based on the lives of the musical savants born centuries apart, Mozart and Bob Dylan's real lives are more alike than you'd expect! Find out on the latest blog on Classical Score!

James Jacobs explores parallels between two musical geniuses - Mozart and Bob Dylan, in real life and in the films Amadeus and A Complete Unknown.

01/13/2025

How would you perform a Romantic era’s interpretation of a Baroque masterpiece in the modern day? Find out on our guest blog by Elizabeth Field, the concertmaster of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and tune in Sunday night at 9PM ET to enjoy Mendelssohn’s arrangement of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

Elizabeth Field, concertmaster of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, shares her experience of performing the live performance recording of Bach/Mendelssohn St. Matthew Passion.

01/10/2025

From Joseph Haydn to Pat Metheny, the Escher String Quartet and Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux present an enchanting program of hidden gems for guitar and string quartet from Performing Arts at the Library of Congress. Join us on Front Row Washington on January 13 at 9PM ET!

Program details: https://weta.org/fm/features/front-row-washington/escher-quartet-and-jason-vieaux-play-haydn-metheny-jobim-and-more

01/08/2025

2025 starts off with drama with music by Tchaikovsky and Casella on NSO Showcase. Join us, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Maestro Gianandrea Noseda tonight at 9PM ET for the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and Alfredo Casella's Symphony No. 3.

NSO 📸 Yassine El Mansouri

01/07/2025

Trumpet legend Chris Gekker tells us all about the trumpet, from its use in military battles and physical dangers, to beautifully soft moments on the stage. Whether you're a fan of the trumpet, music history, classical, jazz, or anywhere in between, this is not one to be missed!

We take a glimpse into the massive world and history of the trumpet! From its use in military battles and physical dangers to beautifully soft moments on the stage, world-renowned trumpeter and teacher Chris Gekker joins John Banther for a wide-ranging discussion on the trumpet, and he plays example...

01/06/2025

Happy Snow Day! One of our favorite composer photos - Richard Strauss enjoying (or not enjoying...) his sledding experience. Perhaps this was the true inspiration behind his Alpine Symphony? ❄️

01/03/2025

We get a rare glimpse into the story behind recording music that's been "hiding in plain sight" for 350 years. Matthew Robertson, Artistic Director of The Thirteen, writes a guest blog about his experience of recording The Thirteen's latest release, "Monteverdi: The 'Lost' Vespers", which will be featured on Choral Showcase this Sunday at 9PM ET.

Matthew Robertson, Artistic Director of The Thirteen, writes a guest blog sharing his process and experience of recording The Thirteen's latest release, Monteverdi: The 'Lost' Vespers

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!

We are ushering in 2025 with Classical Countdown Rewind with 2024's winning piece at 6:26PM ET. Then waltz into 2025 with our broadcast of New Year's Day from Vienna with Vienna Philharmonic from the golden hall of Musikverein with your favorite waltzes by Johann Strauss Jr and more!

📸 Wiener Philharmoniker/Dieter Nagl

12/31/2024

Say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025 by joining us for Classical Countdown Rewind throughout New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! This year's Classical Countdown saw another historic battle for the #1 spot. Enjoy the best of classical music as determined by our listeners as we ring in the new year!

WETA Classical is the exclusive home for classical music in the nation's capital.

12/30/2024

Beat the post-holiday blues with Rhapsody in Blue on Front Row Washington tonight at 9PM ET! We are thrilled to feature a performance from Performing Arts at the Library of Congress with Simone Dinnerstein and The United States Air Force Band.

Read about the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue and learn more about this particular program in the link below!

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue, James Jacobs delves into the fascinating history behind the beloved American masterpiece.

12/26/2024

Bach's Cello Suites are synonymous with the beloved instrument. On the latest episode of Classical Breakdown, John Banther and our resident cellist James Jacobs explore this iconic work. With a cello in hand, James demonstrates different aspects of the suites and shows us what to listen for, plus we enjoy a full recording performance of one of the suites at the end!

WETA resident cello player James Jacobs joins John Banther for a deep dive into the 6 iconic cello suites by JS Bach. With cello in hand, James demonstrates different aspects of the suites and shows us what to listen for, plus we enjoy a full recording performance of one of the suites at the end!

12/25/2024

All of us at WETA Classical are wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Whether you're hosting, traveling, spending a quiet holiday, or anywhere in between, we are here to keep you company with the most glorious music of the season. ✨

12/24/2024

Happy Holidays from all of us at WETA Classical! No matter what your festivities may be for today, we have the season's best music lined up to bring on the holiday spirit on Christmas Eve, from a Carolfest to The Nutcracker, and more!

12/20/2024

We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American classic, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, on Front Row Washington on December 30 at 9PM ET. We are proud to present an electric performance from Performing Arts at the Library of Congress with pianist Simone Dinnerstein and The United States Air Force Band. It will be the perfect remedy for the post-holidays blues!

Program info: https://weta.org/fm/features/front-row-washington/simone-dinnerstein-and-us-air-force-band-perform-music-gershwin

12/19/2024

We are your Home for the Holidays! Celebrate the season with the music you love with holiday classics by your favorite composers and artists. No matter where you are during the holiday craze, you will be at home with us.

Listen on the dial, on our app, or at wetaclassical.org.

Address

3939 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA
22206

Telephone

+17039982600

Website

http://WETAClassical.org/

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Videos

Behind the mic with Matthew Dayton. The slight nodding to the ending of Summer from The Four Seasons. Very demure. Very mindful. 👌💯

𝑴𝒆𝒕 𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝑫 𝑻𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 Read below to enter to win a pair of tickets to The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD presentation of Offenbach's Les Contes d’Hoffmann on October 5 at 1PM at your choice of AMC Tyson, Regal Rockville, or Regal Gallery Place. Tenor Benjamin Bernheim stars in the title role alongside sopranos Erin Morley and Pretty Yende and mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as Hoffmann’s trio of lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts Tony Award–winning director Bartlett Sher’s dazzling production, which conjures a world of magic and delusion, aspiring romance and thwarted love, hope and deceit. Enter to win the giveaway by commenting below your favorite French composer and your theater of choice between AMC Tyson, Regal Rockville, or Regal Gallery Place! 🎶This giveaway ends on October 2 at 11:59PM ET. 🎶Winners will be notified by Facebook Messenger on October 3.

WETA Classical or WETA VivaLaVoce?

Are you team WETA Classical or WETA VivaLaVoce? Hosts Evan Keely and John Banther weigh in! Neither station would be possible without your support! Keep the music alive during our Fall Pledge Drive. Donate at weta.org!

Talent abounds in the DMV! A sneak peek of another local virtuoso featured on From the Top this Sunday at 6PM ET! Harpist Eunice Park from Springfield, VA shares a heavenly clip of her performance. Be sure to tune in this Sunday to meet Eunice and guitarist Ethan Kim along with other incredibly talented young musicians on From the Top! #fromthetop #harp #harpist #harpistsofinstagram

Hosts Bill Bukowski and Nicole Lacroix share their go-to classical music for Independence Day! Spoiler alert: it is not 1812 Overture, but rather poignant pieces that symbolize the best of our country. What is your favorite piece of classical music for the Fourth of July? Speaking of the birth of our nation, check out our latest quiz and test your American history knowledge! At the end of the quiz, you have a chance to enter to win an exciting watch party gift basket to make your viewing of A Capitol Fourth a star-spangled party! Items include fun party items, gift cards to Dog Tag Bakery, Compass Coffee, Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ, Andy’s Pizza, Dolci Gelati, and Giant Food, and more! https://action.weta.org/page/68058/action/1 #ACapitolFourth #July4thPBS #PBS

Amit Peled joins on Classical Breakdown to talk all things cello, from its history, music, and his philosophies on music. The best part? His mesmerizing performances! Listen from the link below or from your favorite podcast app! https://weta.org/fm/features/classical-breakdown/what-cello-star-cellist-amit-peled-tells-all #cello #cellolove #cellomusic #celloplayer #cellist #cellistsofinstagram

From the history of the cello to his philosophy on playing, star cellist and professor at Peabody Institute Amit Peled joins on the latest episode of Classical Breakdown to talk about all things cello! Listen from the link below or from your favorite podcast app! https://weta.org/fm/features/classical-breakdown/what-cello-star-cellist-amit-peled-tells-all #cello #cellistsofinstagram #cellist #classicalmusic #celloplayer #cellolove

Robert Schumann’s Carnaval is a delightful work for the piano on the surface, but there is so much more to discover like hidden cryptograms throughout the music. Check out the latest episode of Classical Breakdown to learn more! Listen on your favorite podcast app or from this link: https://weta.org/fm/features/classical-breakdown/robert-schumanns-carnaval-solo-piano-brings-masked-ball-life

Happy 60th birthday, Gianandrea Noseda! All of us at WETA Classical are wishing you a wonderful day, full of great music! And we are filling our airwaves with great music conducted by the maestro every hour today! Be sure to tune in to join in on the celebrations! 🥳 Check out the link below to learn how the National Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the maestro’s 60th birthday all season long! https://weta.org/fm/classical-score/buon-compleanno-maestro-celebration-maestro-nosedas-60th-birthday

In period performance, choosing the right bow (ie a Baroque bow or a late Classical bow) can make a big difference in sound and interpretation. Elizabeth Field from The Vivaldi Project explains!Be sure to catch our exclusive broadcast premiere of The Vivaldi Project’s “Discovering the Classical String Trio” Volume 4 all this week! See link below to learn more about the album, and discover the fascinating genre of the Classical string trio! #classicalstringtrio #stringtrio #violin #viola #cello https://weta.org/fm/classical-score/vivaldi-project

How do you interpret tempo marking from 18th-century manuscripts? Elizabeth Field from The Vivaldi Project explains! Be sure to catch our exclusive broadcast premiere of The Vivaldi Project’s “Discovering the Classical String Trio” Volume 4 all this week! See the link below to learn more about the album, and discover the fascinating genre of the Classical string trio! #classicalstringtrio #stringtrio #violin #viola #cello https://weta.org/fm/classical-score/vivaldi-project

How do you interpret 18th-century notation? It takes more than just reading what’s on the page! Elizabeth Field from The Vivaldi Project explains! Be sure to catch our exclusive broadcast premiere of The Vivaldi Project’s “Discovering the Classical String Trio” Volume 4 all this week! See the link below to learn more about the album, and discover the fascinating genre of the Classical string trio! #classicalstringtrio #stringtrio #violin #viola #cello https://weta.org/fm/classical-score/vivaldi-project