The Return of Season 5 of Classical Breakdown

I can hardly believe we are starting Season 5 of Classical Breakdown, thank you for listening, writing in, and sharing it with friends and family! No matter how well I think I know a piece or a composer, with each episode I’m learning something new as well. I hope you have had a restful summer and were able to enjoy some of the albums we recommended in the final episode last season (#90, Summer Listening Guide: 4 albums to expand your musical horizons!) and caught up on any episodes you missed.

Some of the highlights for me from the past season include #73, Mozart y Mambo! Horn superstar Sarah Willis shows off her newest album, where I spoke with horn superstar Sarah Willis about the first Cuban horn concerto, how she combines different musical styles, taking a suitcase of German chocolate to Cuba, and more. I also enjoyed  #80, Joseph Bologne, the most interesting 18th composer?, where we learned about this composer’s made-for-movie life experiences, and #86, In conversation with Maestro Gianandrea Noseda: His journey, perspectives on music, conducting, and more!, where I had the privilege of sitting down with the music director of the NSO, learning about his early experiences in music, the importance of recordings, and other details I’ve not heard him share elsewhere.

The first episode of season 5 is on one of the most beloved piano concertos of the 20th century, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 and will feature a 1929 recording of the Rachmaninoff at the piano too. Some of the other episodes at the start of the season include a look at Ottorino Respighi’s tone poem Pines of Rome, breaking down a genre that is narrowly defined, and we’ll also be looking at the life and music of Franz Schubert.

Make sure you are subscribed in your podcast app and I’ll see you on the next episode of Classical Breakdown!