Classical Breakdown
WETA Classical
John Banther takes classical music fans behind the scenes with interviews, deep dives, and analysis. Episodes released bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Produced by WETA Classical in Washington, D.C.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 10, 2019 • 55min
The Four Seasons, how Vivaldi depicts the world in sound
Explore the various elements and emotions in Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, including vivid portrayals of spring, the serious and destructive depiction of summer, and the representation of winter and its connection to the human experience. Discover how Vivaldi uses birdsong, thunderous sounds, and creepy endings in his compositions, as well as the versatility of the violin and the interpretive nature of musicians.
Sep 10, 2019 • 35min
How does a composer actually write music?
Mozart and Beethoven were genius composers, but they wrote music very differently. Renowned composer from Washington, Alistair Coleman, tells us what made Beethoven and Mozart different and describes his own music writing process.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 10, 2019 • 35min
Wu Han, pianist and cultural entrepreneur
She might be the busiest chamber musician in the United States. Wu Han is in charge of several music festivals worldwide, has an intense performing schedule, and manages a record label. In this episode, she tells us about her early musical inspirations in Taiwan, how tragedy led her to another career path, where chamber music is headed, and even how to fix wardrobe malfunctions with a stapler.Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
