Ravel's Bolero with Joshua Weilerstein: A conductor's insight

Ravel's Bolero with Joshua Weilerstein: A conductor's insight

Episode 64 May 3, 2022

It seems simple on the surface, but there is a lot to discover in Ravel's most famous work (much to his dismay!). Joshua Weilerstein, one of today's in-demand conductors, joins John Banther to offer his perspective on the music and all the details that need to be addressed to pull it off in performance.
George Walker: He wants you to play his music

George Walker: He wants you to play his music

Episode 58 February 8, 2022

DC native composer, George Walker, was one of the great American composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. His close friend and colleague, Dr. Mickey Terry, joins John Banther to discuss his life, challenges, and three works you need to listen to.
The life of Florence Price

The life of Florence Price

Episode 37 February 23, 2021

Dr. Karen Walwyn discusses the life and music of Florence Price, the first woman African American composer to have a symphony played by a major orchestra in the United States.
The Planets by Holst

The Planets by Holst

Episode 12 January 14, 2020

Discover music by Holst that was inspired by the gods our planets are named after in our solar system. This seven-movement orchestral suite includes the terrifying sounds of war, the comfort of peace, jollity, and so much more.
The Life and Music of Amy Beach, an American pioneer

The Life and Music of Amy Beach, an American pioneer

Episode 16 March 10, 2020

She was America's first woman composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra and the first American composer fully educated in the United States. She was praised and recognized but her journey to success was an uphill battle with obstacles and challenges.
Debussy's La Mer - Part 1

Debussy's La Mer - Part 1

Episode 18 April 7, 2020

An orchestral staple today, this work about "the sea" wasn't well received at it's premiere. Audiences may have expected a Strauss-esque symphonic poem to bring the sea to life, but Debussy was more interested in the abstract. This is part 1 of our 3 part series on Debussy's enchanting orchestral work, La Mer.
Debussy's La Mer - Part 2

Debussy's La Mer - Part 2

Episode 19 April 21, 2020

The trumpet shines through in Jeux de Vagues, (Play of the Waves), the second movement of Debussy's La mer. This is part 2 of our 3 part series on Debussy's enchanting orchestral work, La Mer.
Debussy's La Mer - Part 3

Debussy's La Mer - Part 3

Episode 20 May 5, 2020

Debussy's La Mer is as imaginative and playful as it was in 1905, and while the original audience wasn't as receptive, it's become an orchestra staple over the last century. The final movement is called "Dialogue du vent et de la mer" (Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea) and features a theme originating in the oboe. We'll hear from Nicholas Stovall, Principal Oboe of the National Symphony Orchestra, on what this passage means to him and why he had to play it during Principal Flute auditions.