Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn

13/11/2024

Streaming 24/7, all day and all of the night, todas las horas, tagsüber, Beethoven and the Piano Concerto, Part One. On Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free.
Ludwig van Beethoven started out in music playing the piano. And he was one of the renowned pianists of his time, before his increasing deafness took away his ability to perform. Thankfully, Beethoven was still able to compose. Beethoven composed a large amount of beautiful and profound music for the piano. This edition of Classical And a Bit More and next week’s edition are an exploration of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos. And an exploration of some of the various performance styles. First up is Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Opus 15, performed by Friedrich Gulda accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Horst Stein, for that big orchestra sound with Viennese polish. The second offering is Piano Concerto No. 2 in D flat Major, Op 15, performed by Melvyn Tan accompanied by the London Classical Players under the direction or Roger Norrington, for the period instrument sound. After that, you, the listener, is served with the Glenn Gould sound in the form of Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37, performed by Glenn Gould accompanied by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Bagatelle in G Minor, Opus 126, in a performance of frenzied precision by Melvyn Tan.

13/11/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: Beethoven and the Piano Concerto, Part Two, on Radio Free Brooklyn. (Streaming 24/7 starting Monday, November 18, at 5 am, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.)
What can one say about Ludwig van Beethoven? Ludwig van Beethoven was irascible, certainly. And he didn’t take kindly to suggestions or criticism that he felt was unwarranted. He once replied to a letter criticizing one of his works with this pithy reply: “What I s**t is better than anything you’re done.” Beethoven kept a messy apartment. He walked around Vienna with wild hair. In spite of his father’s alcoholism, he was not averse to a drink or two. And he was also a hustler. Beethoven kept track of his works. Indeed, he was a musical empresario, organizing concerts of his works. That means he hired the hall and the musicians and collected the ticket sales. You can be sure of that. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts out with "Piano Concerto No. 4" in G Major, Opus 48, performed by Murray Perahia accompanied by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. That is follow by Ludwig van Beethoven’s "Piano Concerto No. 5" in E flat major, Opus 73, with Alexis Weissenberg on piano, accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Herbert von Karajan. After that, "Für Elise," or "Bagatelle No. 25" in A Minor, WoO 59, performed by Alexis Weissenberg. Then the wondrous "Fantasia" in G Minor, Op 77, by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by Melvyn Tan. Next is "32 Variations on an Original Theme" in C Minor, WoO 80, performed by Alexis Weissenberg. The program concludes with "Bagatelle" in G Minor, Op. 126, performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

06/11/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: Beethoven and the Piano Concerto, Part One, on Radio Free Brooklyn. (Streaming 24/7 starting 11 November at 5 am on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.)

Ludwig van Beethoven started out in music playing the piano. And he was one of the renowned pianists of his time, before his increasing deafness took away his ability to perform. Thankfully, Beethoven was still able to compose. Beethoven composed a large amount of beautiful and profound music for the piano. This edition of Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn and next week’s edition are an exploration of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos. And an exploration of some of the various performance styles. First up is "Piano Concerto No. 1" in C major, Opus 15, performed by Friedrich Gulda accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Horst Stein, for that big orchestra sound with Viennese polish. The second offering is "Piano Concerto No. 2" in D flat Major, Op 15, performed by Melvyn Tan accompanied by the London Classical Players under the direction or Roger Norrington, for the period instrument sound. After that, you, the listener, is served with the Glenn Gould sound in the form of "Piano Concerto No. 3" in C Minor, Op. 37, performed by Glenn Gould accompanied by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The program concludes with Beethoven’s "Bagatelle" in G Minor, Opus 126, in a performance of frenzied precision by Melvyn Tan.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

30/10/2024

Streaming all day and all of the night, wherever you are, Franz Schubert, Part One, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Franz Schubert. He lived to only 31, and yet in that short time he produced over a thousand pieces of music, and most are quite worth listening to, 196 years after this death. His music has inspired a fair number of obsessions. As did Schubert in his lifetime. And Franz was not immune to obsession and drama, for his part. This edition of Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn starts with Schubert’s famous "Unfinished Symphony," "Symphony No. 8 in B Minor," D 759. "Piano Sonata in E Major," D 459 follows. Three of Schubert’s Lieder are on offer after that: "An Schwager Kronos," or "To Brother in Law Kronos"; "Geheimnis," or "Secret"; and "Widerschein," or "Reflection." A Franz Liszt piano transcription of "Trockene Blumen," or
"Withered Flowers," from the epic song cycle "Die Schöne Müllerin." After that you will hear Variations on "Trockene Blumen," for Violin; and the program concludes with "Piano Quintet in A," also known as the "Trout Quintet," D.667.

30/10/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: "Franz Schubert, Part Two," on Radio Free Brooklyn. (Streaming 24/7 starting Monday, November 4, at 5 am Eastern Time on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn).

Franz Schubert was born on the 31st of January, 1797, in Himmelpfortgrund, Vienna, in the Archduchy of Austria. Schubert passed away on the 19th of November, 1828, at the age of 31. In his life he wrote over a thousand pieces of music and invented the genre of the epic song cycle. In this edition of Classical And a Bit More, we start off with "Ninth Symphony in C," D.944, also known as “The Great,” recorded at the Musikvereinsaal in Vienna and performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Riccardo Muti This is followed by a short discussion of Schubert’s life. After that, the great "String Quartet No. 14 in D minor", "Death and the Maiden," D.810, performed by the Takacs Quartet. The program concludes with "Gretchen am Spinnrade" performed by Renée Fleming and Christoph Eschenbach; and Schubert’s one violin concerto, "Konzertstück für Violine und Orchester" (Concerto For Violin And Orchestra) in D Major, D.345 performed by Gidon Kremer accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

23/10/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: Franz Schubert, Part One, on Radio Free Brooklyn--Streaming 24/7 starting Monday, October 28, at 5 am Eastern Time, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Franz Schubert. He lived to only 31, and yet in that short time he produced over a thousand pieces of music, and most are quite worth listening to, 196 years after this death. His music has inspired a fair number of obsessions. As did Schubert in his lifetime. And Franz was not immune to obsession and drama, for his part. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts with Schubert’s famous unfinished symphony, "Symphony No. 8," in B Minor, D 759. "Piano Sonata" in E Major, D 459 follows. Three of Schubert’s Lieder are on offer after that: "An Schwager Kronos," or To Brother in Law Kronos; "Geheimnis," or Secret; and "Widerschein," or Reflection. A Franz Liszt piano transcription of "Trockene Blumen," or Withered Flowers, from the epic song cycle "Die Schöne Müllerin." After that you will hear Variations on "Trockene Blumen," for Violin; and the program concludes with "Piano Quintet in A," also known as the "Trout Quintet," D.667.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

22/10/2024

Tomorrow on Classical And a Bit More at Radio Free Brooklyn, 5 AM Eastern time, is Franz Schubert, Part One.

21/10/2024

Streaming now, for your listening pleasure, "An Introduction to Gabriela Ortiz, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Gabriela Ortiz was born in Mexico City in 1964, in the Coyoacán neighborhood. Coyoacán is famous as a bohemian neighborhood. Coyoacán has been home to artists, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. And Coyoacán has seen more than a smattering of political radicals and exiles, including the Chilean singer Víctor Jara, who was killed by Augusto Pinochet’s secret police just days after the coup that overthrew Chilean President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. The other 9-11. It is impossible to overestimate the effect of that event on Latin America. Ortiz keeps a photo of Jara in her studio, and she has a guitar case that he gave to her. Ortiz is classically trained, having studied in Europe. In her work, she holds close to Mexican and Latin American musical traditions. Ortiz feels that this is the path forward for classical music, and her work reflects this sensibility. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts out with "Elegía," from 1991. This work is for voices and a small chamber orchestra. That is followed by "Rio de las Mariposas," or "River of Butterflies," from 1995. "Rio de las Mariposas" is scored for two harps and steel drum. Rio de las Mariposas is another name for the Río Papaloapan, which originates at the altitude of 3700 meters, or 12,100 feet, in the mountains of Oaxaca, and flows into the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz state. The remainder of the program is given over to "Revolución diamantina," Ortiz’s first full album of orchestral works, recorded in 2022 and 2023. "Revolución diamantina" starts with "Altar de cuerda." "Altar de cuerda," or Altar of string, is a violin concerto which Ortiz wrote for the Spanish violinist María Dueñas. "Altar de cuerda" is a three-movement work; the fourth work you will hear is "Kauyumari." The works title means "blue deer" in the Huichol language. The blue deer in question is a Huichol spiritual guide that one encounters while on a quest facilitated by taking pe**te. The last six tracks of this album are "Revolución diamantina," a ballet which takes its inspiration Mexico City’s 2019 “Glitter Revolution.” This is a powerful movement in Mexico against feminicide, the murder of women, in Mexico.

16/10/2024

Streaming now, if you're up, An Introduction to Gabriela Ortiz, on Radio Free Brooklyn. (Streaming 24/7, all day and all of the night, starting Monday, October 21, at 5 AM EDT, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.)
Gabriela Ortiz was born in Mexico City in 1964, in the Coyoacán neighborhood. Coyoacán is famous as a bohemian neighborhood. Coyoacán has been home to artists, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. And Coyoacán has seen more than a smattering of political radicals and exiles, including the Chilean singer Víctor Jara, who was killed by Augusto Pinochet’s secret police just days after the coup that overthrew Chilean President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. The other 9-11. It is impossible to overestimate the effect of that event on Latin America. Ortiz keeps a photo of Jara in her studio, and she has a guitar case that he gave to her. Ortiz is classically trained, having studied in Europe. In her work, she holds close to Mexican and Latin American musical traditions. Ortiz feels that this is the path forward for classical music, and her work reflects this sensibility. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts out with "Elegía," from 1991. This work is for voices and a small chamber orchestra. That is followed by "Rio de las Mariposas," or "River of Butterflies," from 1995. Rio de las Mariposas is scored for two harps and steel drum. Rio de las Mariposas is another name for the Río Papaloapan, which originates at the altitude of 3700 meters, or 12,100 feet, in the mountains of Oaxaca, and flows into the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz state. The remainder of the program is given over to "Revolución diamantina," Ortiz’s first full album of orchestral works, recorded in 2022 and 2023. "Revolución diamantina" starts with "Altar de cuerda." Altar de cuerda, or Altar of string, is a violin concerto which Ortiz wrote for the Spanish violinist María Dueñas. Altar de cuerda is a three-movement work; the fourth work you will hear is "Kauyumari." The works title means "blue deer" in the Huichol language. The blue deer in question is a Huichol spiritual guides that one encounters while on a quest facilitated by taking pe**te. The last six tracks of this album are "Revolución diamantina," a ballet which takes its inspiration Mexico City’s 2019 “Glitter Revolution.” This is a powerful movement in Mexico against feminicide, the murder of women, in Mexico.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

10/10/2024

Streaming now, all of the time, Music to Honor Yom Kippur.
On Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
This edition starts with "Kol Nidre" from the Jüdische Gemeinde Berlin, and then goes on to Max Bruch's orchestral interpretation of "Kol NIdre." Then the listener is treated to Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 3, "Kaddish." Then John Zorn's "Kol Nidre." The program ends with Arnold Schoenberg's interpretation of "Kol Nidre."

09/10/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: Music to Honor Yom Kippur, on Radio Free Brooklyn.
(Streaming. 24/7 starting Thursday, October 10, at 5 am, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn, in time for the holiday).
Music to honor Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement: "Kol Nidre" is the prayer that starts Yom Kippur. This edition of Classical And a Bit More commences with "Kol Nidre" performed by the Jüdische Gemeinde Berlin. That is followed by Max Bruch’s orchestral interpretation of "Kol Nidre." Next up is Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3, “Kaddish.” And then John Zorn’s "Kol Nidre," followed by Ernest Bloch’s wonderful "Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque for Violoncello and Orchestra." (Schelomo is Solomon.) The program concludes with "Tal" from the Jüdische Gemeinde Berlin and Arnold Schoenberg’s "Kol Nidre" for for chorus and orchestra.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

08/10/2024

Streaming now, 24/7, Robert Schumann, Part Two.
On Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
This edition features the first recording of Robert Schumann's long lost, or rather, hidden, Violin Concerto. It's reemergence is a story of the occult, or the appearance of the occult; the probable involvement of N***s; and, crucially, the role of the great American violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who, working with a German music publisher in 1937, brought this work to the public. It had to have taken courage for a German music publisher to consult a Jewish American violinist at that point in history. Following the recording of his performance is a later discussion by Menuhin of how this work came to the listening public.
Robert Schumann may be the quintessential 19th century German Romantic composer. It’s all there: romance, devotion, mental illness, incredible skills, even a double dopplegänger. This edition of Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn then gives you Schumann's Second Symphony in C major. The program concludes with two of Schumann’s sonatas: The Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, performed by Martha Argerich (whose fierce and deeply accmplished interpretation cannot fail to move the listener); and the Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, performed by Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt.

08/10/2024

Streaming now, 24/7, Robert Schumann, Part One.
On Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, Kingdom of Saxony, on the 8th of June, 1810. His family was affluent and cultured. In fact, August Schumann, young Robert’s father, was a bookseller and a lexicographer, not to mention a writer of chivalric romances and a translator of, among others, Miguel de Cervantes. From an early age, Robert Schumann was steeped in romanticism. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts with Robert Schumann’s famous Piano Concerto in A Minor, Opus 54. This work is followed by Robert Schumann’s Piano Sonata No. 1, in F sharp minor, Opus 11. Continuing the program’s exploration of Schumann’s orchestral works, next in the program is Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, also known as the “Spring” symphony, Opus 38. The program concludes with several of Schumann’s Études Symphoniques.

02/10/2024

Streaming now, if you're up: Robert Schumann, Part Two, on Radio Free Brooklyn, until 7 am EDT. Streaming 24/7 on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn starting Monday, October 7 at 5 am EDT.
Robert Schumann may be the quintessential 19th century German Romantic composer. It’s all there: romance, devotion, mental illness, incredible skills, even a double dopplegänger. This edition of Classical And a Bit More starts with Schumann’s almost lost Violin Concerto in D Minor and explores the odd back story, The soloist is Yehudi Menuhin, and the program includes Menuhin’s reminiscence on the rediscovery of the work.. The next piece in the program is the Second Symphony in C major. The program concludes with two of Schumann’s sonatas: The Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, performed by Martha Argerich; and the Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, performed by Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt.

Radio Free Brooklyn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit freeform internet community radio station representing Brooklyn NYC's cultures & communities.

01/10/2024

A great moment in Carroll Gardens history: Someone was blasting the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto!

01/10/2024

Streaming now, 24/7, all day and all of the night, Giacomo Puccini, Maria Callas, and Madama Butterfly, Acts Two and Three, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Giacomo Puccini was one of the great opera composers in the Italian tradtion. This edition of Classical And a Bit More continues last week’s edition with Acts Two and Three of Puccini’s great tragic opera, Madama Butterfly, with the extraordinary Maria Callas singing the role of Butterfly. Giacomo Puccini began composing Madama Butterfly just after the turn of the Twentieth Century. The libretto was written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The story is based on the short story Madama Butterfly by John Luther Long and Madame Chrysanthème by Pierre Loti. Both stories revolve around a naval officer married to a Japanese woman, but faithlessly. The American short story involves Methodist missionaries in Japan. In Act Two, Cio-Cio San, Butterfly, has been waiting for three years for the return of her husband, Pinkerton, finally sees her husband. In Act Three, Cio-Cio San learns what has really happened. This performance was recorded in 1955 at La Scala. The opera is followed by some other recordings of Maria Callas singing Puccini: hear Vissi d’arte, from Act Two of Tosca;, Senza mamma, from Suor Angelica; Sola perduta abbandonata, from Si. Mi chiamano Mimi, from La Bohème. The program ends with Callas’s fantastic 1964 recording of La Habanera, from Carmen, by Georges Bizet.

01/10/2024

Streaming now, all day and all of the night, Giacomo Puccini, Maria Callas, Madama Butterfly-Act I, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Giacomo Puccini was born on the 22nd of December, 1858, in Lucca, Italy. This edition of Classical And a Bit More features Act one of Puccini’s great tragic opera, Madama Butterfly, with the extraordinary Maria Callas singing the role of Butterfly. Giacomo Puccini began composing Madama Butterfly just after the turn of the Twentieth Century. The libretto was written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The story is based on the short story Madama Butterfly by John Luther Long and Madame Chrysanthème by Pierre Loti. Both stories revolve around a naval officer married to a Japanese woman, but faithlessly. The American short story involves Methodist missionaries in Japan. In Act One, the stage is set: An American naval officer, Pinkerton, has rented a house on hill in the then treaty port of Nagasaki. He takes a wife, a fifteen-year-old Japanese woman named Cio-Cio-San, or Butterfly. Butterfly’s family is upset by the marriage. And Pinkerton has a wife back in the USA. This performance was recorded in 1955 at La Scala. Act One is followed by is Giacomo’s Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, composed in 1880; In questa reggia from Turnadot, also by Puccini and sung by Maria Callas; and Crisantemi, a short piece for string orchestra composed by Puccini composed in memory of Puccini’s friend, the Duke of Aosta.

25/09/2024

Richard Strauss and Der Rosenkavalier – Act Three. Streaming 24/7, all day and all of the night, todas las horas en todos los días, on Classical And a Bit More-Radio Free Brooklyn.
Richard Strauss enjoyed remarkable success early in his career, and one of the capstones of that success was his opera "Der Rosenkavalier." "Der Rosenkavalier" premiered on the 26th of January 1911, in Dresden, and quickly became an international success. Act One of "Der Rosenkavalier" delves into passion, the mores of nobility, and a hint of the possibility of rising above all that. Marschallin, seeing a bad fate for her friend Sophie, a younger woman, begins to lay the groundwork to help Sophie escape that bad fate. In Act Two, Sophie’s way out of her fate begins to take shape. Sophie’s sad fate is an arranged marriage to a boorish and crude member of the nobility, Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau. Act Three completes the circle, so to speak, and everything works out beautifully. Act Three is followed by Strauss’s tone poem, "Don Quixote." The program ends with the "Dance of the Seven Veils" from "Salome."