Classical Breakdown

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life was kind of complicated. His childhood as a musical prodigy was filled with practicing, writing music, and performing for royalty throughout Europe. He later struggled at times finding suitable employment and wanted to find his own path. It was a life lived under the watchful eye of his father, Leopold Mozart, and cut short at the age of 35.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get into the new year with a work that has music for every month! Tchaikovsky's The Seasons also includes poetry and gives us a glimpse into Russian life, month by month in 1876.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waving a baton is just a small part of being a conductor. Michelle Merrill tells what it's like to prepare a concert with an orchestra, from the year before to the downbeat of the concert.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delve into Handel's Messiah to explore intriguing aspects like bringing swords to the premiere, hidden meanings behind key signatures, musical theft, and Handel's penchant for adapting his own music. Discover the transition from somberness to comfort in the opening of Handel's Messiah and the various versions of 'Rejoice greatly'. Explore the themes of loneliness in the crucifixion scene and the dramatic portrayal of shame and spitting. Uncover the theft between Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Requiem. Journey through the vivid imagery and standing ovations of Handel's music and analyze the third part's themes of eternal life and judgment. Lastly, discover the impact and power of the soprano's statement in Handel's Messiah and its significance in Christian gospel music.

Discover one of the more colorful genres of classical music, the Symphonic Poem, which can depict animals, landscape, literature, and even football players!Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz demonstrates musical terms on the violin, we talk about bringing sheet music to life and a special guest joins for an experiment with foreign language.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Abeo Quartet performs Moonshot, a new work by Alistair Coleman. Alistair talks about the inspiration for this piece, and after the performance, we talk with the quartet about putting this piece together, new playing techniques, and space travel!Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kian talks about bringing people together in music, changing tempos, karate, and more. He is one of today's most celebrated young cellists and has risen the ranks as one of today's great cello soloists. His collaboration with conductor Daniel Barenboim has taken him around the world, he's performed with some of the worlds greatest orchestras. and records for Deutsche Grammophon.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Symphony has been one of classical music's biggest genres. But, have you ever wondered what makes a symphony, a symphony? The origins take us back to the 17th century with symphonies that lasted only a few minutes, and we explore its development up to Beethoven's blockbuster Symphony No. 9.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.