Classical Classroom Short: Dis-concerted

04/27/15 • 11 min

What’s it like to be a classical music novice at a classical music performance? Host Dacia Clay goes to a rock show and a classical concert and compares the experiences. The parallels are telling. The disparities are despairing. What’s the deal??

We hope you’ll become part of this discussion! Email your concert experiences to [email protected].

PS, To read more about the history of applause at classical concerts, check out this essay by Alex Ross: “Applause: A Rest Is Noise Special Report.“

We hope you’ll become part of this discussion! Email your concert experiences to [email protected].

PS, To read more about the history of applause at classical concerts, check out this essay by Alex Ross: “Applause: A Rest Is Noise Special Report.“

Previous Episode

Classical Classroom, Episode 84: JoAnn Falletta Shares Scheherazade

Conductor JoAnn Falletta walks through Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic poem.

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, music advocate, and all around amazing lady, JoAnn Falletta.

Music in this episode from the Buffalo Philharmonic’s recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Sheherazade,” conducted by JoAnn Falletta.

Conductor JoAnn Falletta. Photo by Mark Dellas, courtesy of JoAnn Falletta.

Audio production by Todd “Twister” Hulslander with high kicks by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio.

For more about JoAnn Falletta: www.joannfalletta.com

*We still don’t know what’s up with the two names thing.

Next Episode

Classical Classroom, Episode 85: Mandolin Man, Avi Avital

According to Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Avi Avital, while the bass is not bad, it’s more about that mandolin. Which is also what this whole episode is about! Avi tells all: Where did the mandolin come from? Who composes for it? Why does he advocate for such a strange instrument? And how much did he play that one REM song in high school? Learn all of this and more right here!

Audio production by Todd “Terrific” Hulslander with electric slides by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio.

Music in this episode:

The Music of Brazil / Jacob do Bandolim, Vol. 1 / Recordings 1949 – 1958. “Choro de varanda”.
Mike Marshall and Chris Thile: “Fisher’s Hornpipe”. From Into the Cauldron.
Hamilton ee Holanda: Choro Caprice for Caprichos.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatina for Mandolin and fortepiano in C Major. Diego Fasolis and Duilio Galfetti.
Domenico Scarlatti: Mandolin Sonata in D minor Allegro. Camerata Mandolinos Classico.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni, “Deh vieni alla finestra”.
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Mandolin Concerto in G major, S. 28.
REM: “Losing My Religion” from Out of Time.
Antonio Vivaldi, from Avi Avital’s CD Vivaldi:
Concerto in A minor RV 356
Largo from Converto in C major RV 443
Concerto in G minor RV 315 “Summer” from The Four Seasons.