Classical Dark Arts

In December 2014, President Obama announced a historic 'thaw' between the US and Cuba. Up until then, Cuba -- and its classical music -- have been somewhat mysterious. Today on Classical Dark Arts: it's deep-cover, top-secret Cuban classical music, declassified for much of the general public for the first time.

Selling somebody on the goodness of classical music is tough. Today on the CDA podcast we're taking up the challenge. You'll hear eight bulletproof favorites -- THE SUPER 8 -- that have been battle-tested on headphones and stereos. Certified, premium-grade. If these don't win the argument for you, nothing will.

Here's a ridiculous idea: take a huge piece and completely insult the composer by breaking it down in two minutes or less. After 120 seconds you'll know the high & lowlights of some long, beastly classical piece. Bad idea? Of course. But don't let that get in your way. We’re after JUST the flavor of the piece, not the full meal. Featured piece: Marc-Antonio Consoli, "Afterimages." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA21DMj6qPg

What is it about the idea of devilry that summons fear in our hearts, and thrills us at the same time? Why do we shake at the thought of eternal damnation, but still secretly hanker for a taste of evil? Most importantly, do we make a pact with the Dark Lord when we put on certain classical records? On the very first radio episode of CLASSICAL DARK ARTS, we look at Satan’s cabal of classical composers, players and theorists -- a sleeper cell run by Liszt, Paganini, Saint-Saëns & Tartini -- lurking under the placid surface of an ancient music. By definition whatever you don’t understand is a threat. This goes for new art, political movements, unfamiliar faces and ideas of all types. If you’re not familiar you feel threatened. Get familiar. This is the music of the devil.

The CDA pod returns after a six-year hiatus! Now AI-hosted and DMCA-compliant. What could go wrong.

On the new CDA pod we’ve got a blockbuster interview with Gustavo Dudamel that was only possible thanks to AI technology. Plus we try out a long list of marketing ideas ensembles can use — Orchestra Roulette! Quartet Fight Club! good old reverse psychology! and ...... weed? — to win back recalcitrant audiences. And our AI hosts try and fail to read some advertisements. The CDA podcast is the only classical music pod hosted entirely by AI, without the intervention of human producers, human engineers, or humans, period.