Podcast
Classical Music Happy Hour
Hosted by WNYC, WQXR · EN
Join renowned pianist and host Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with an eclectic lineup of composers, performers, and creative voices from the world of classical music and beyond. Each episode explores the guest’s life and career, dives into their favorite classical gems, includes music-inspired games, and folds in questions from listeners. The result is a podcast that feels like a relaxed gathering of friends who love classical music and want others to join the party. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music!
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
John Adams - not the President
Mar 2500:37:51Summary readyRenowned American composer John Adams joins Manny to discuss his approach to opera composition, the stories behind his intriguingly titled works, and the time he was once mistaken for John Cage. Adams answers listener questions on the evolution of music and the emotional pull of minor keys. He also shares his love of Stravinsky and Handel. For our game segment, Adams puts his knowledge to the test as Manny quizzes him on outrageous performance directions. Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Music used in today’s episode includes: Italian Concerto in F Major BWV 971, III: Presto Bach András Schiff, Piano Live Recording at The Greene Space Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. 25 Bach Anne-Catherine Bucher, Harpsichord Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. 25 Bach Simone Dinnerstein, Piano Live Recording at The Greene Space Violin Sonata No. 21 in E minor, K. 304 Mozart Takako Nishizaki, Violin Jeno Jando, Piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38, I. Allegro non troppo Brahms Johannes Moser, Cello Michael Brown, Piano Liver Recording at The Greene Space Symphony No. 5, I. Trauermarsch Mahler Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, IV. Finale–Adagio lamentoso Tchaikovsky Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Tu Del Ciel Il Trionfo Del Tempo E Del Disinganno Handel Claron McFadden, Elisabeth Scholl, Joachim Carlos Martini, Junge Kantorei, Barockorchester Frankfurt, Nicholas Hariades & Peer Abilgaard Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Gnossienne No. 3 Satie Klara Kormendi, Piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Horn Concert No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 417, III. Rondo Allegro Mozart Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Michael Thompson Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
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Gabriela Ortiz - Composer and Grammy Gal
Mar 1800:39:00Summary readyComposer Gabriela Ortiz joins Manny to talk about her grandfather’s surprising connection to Mahler, her own compositional process, and her enduring love for works by Debussy and Stravinsky. Listeners call in with tricky questions about folk music’s influence on classical works, new developments in orchestral instruments, and the realities of orchestra cliques. In our game segment, Manny puts Gabriela to the test—can she identify which famous composer was panned by critics? Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Music used in today’s episode includes: Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp minor, IV. Adagietto Mahler Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Le Sacre du Printemps Stravinsky Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. La Mer, L. 109, II. Jeux de vagues Debussy Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Miroirs, M. 43 Une barque sur l'océan Ravel Francois-joel Thiollier, piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Estancia, Op. 8, Scene 5: Danza Final. Malambo Alberto Ginastera London Symphony Orchestra, Gisele Ben-Dor Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Romanian Folk Dances Bartok Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Live Recording Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 Beethoven Danish Chamber Orchestra, Ádám Fischer Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
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Marc-André Hamelin - Rocks Rachmaninoff
Mar 1100:31:14Summary readyComposer and pianist Marc-André Hamelin joins Manny to talk about growing up with a musical father, the mechanics of piano playing, and the influences behind his prolific performing and recording career. He answers listener questions about piano transcriptions and why music is written in so many different keys. In the music segment, Hamelin performs one of his favorite works by Rachmaninoff live in the studio. The piece performed by Marc-André Hamelin is Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableau op39/5 in E-flat minor. Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Music used in today’s episode includes: 53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 12 in G-Flat Major (6th Version) Leopold Godowsky Robert Helps, Piano 53 Studies on the Chopin Études: No. 45 in E Major (1st Version) Leopold Godowsky Robert Helps, Piano Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade Modest Mussorgsky Yutong Sun, Piano Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade Modest Mussorgsky Volgograd Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Serov Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major Mozart Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Michael Thompson Fantasia in C minor, K. 475 Mozart Péter Nagy, piano Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
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Yuja Wang - Superstar Pianist Plays Too Many Encores
Mar 400:34:54Summary readySuperstar pianist Yuja Wang joins Manny Ax to talk about bad pianos, encores, what influences her musical interpretations, and her love for Prokofiev. In our Newly Dead game, Yuja puts her knowledge of composer deaths to the test. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Music used in today’s episode includes: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 "La chasse": IV Beethoven Boris Giltburg, Piano Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1: I. Allegro Beethoven Boris Giltburg, Piano Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545 "Sonata facile": I. Allegro Mozart Jenő Jandó, Piano Concerto No. 2 Op 18 II Adagio Sostenuto Rachmaninoff Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano Leopold Stokowski, conductor The Philadelphia Orchestra 1924 Scythian Suite, Op. 20: II. The Enemy of God, III. Night Prokofiev Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra Theodore Kuchar, conductor Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 6: IV. Marche Funebre Scriabin Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Konstantin Scherbakov & Igor Golovschin Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica": II. Marcia funebre Beethoven Danish Chamber Orchestra & Ádám Fischer Symphony No. 44 in E minor Trauer Sinfonie Mourning III Adagio Haydn Capella Istropolitana & Barry Wordsworth Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
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Introducing Classical Music Happy Hour with Manny Ax
Feb 2500:02:47Summary readyJoin renowned pianist Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with special guests about their lives, listens to some of their favorite classical gems, plays music-inspired games, and answers questions from listeners. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music! Episode one with guest and pianist Yuja Wang drops next week. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
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Our Common Nature Recommends: Classical Music Happy Hour
Feb 1900:09:44Summary readyHello Our Common Nature fans, Ana González is dropping into the feed to tell you about Classical Music Happy Hour, a new podcast you might be interested in, hosted by Yo-Yo Ma’s friend and pianist Emanuel Ax.The show is all about the joy in chatting about music with all sorts of people, including some of Manny’s dearest friends like pianist Yuja Wang, composer John Adams, actor David Hyde Pierce, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In every episode, Manny Ax speaks with a guest about their relationship with music. We’ll hear their favorite music selections–sometimes performed live in the studio! Manny also takes listener questions, and he and his guests play music-inspired games.To Our Common Nature fans, please join Manny for music, merriment, and conversation. And to give you a taste of what you can expect, here’s just a bit of the episode with guest Yo-Yo Ma. Follow or subscribe to this show for upcoming episodes of Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.
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Ana’s Thanks, Plus the Hunt for a Long-Lost Musical Masterpiece
Dec 2400:22:52Summary readyHost Ana González is back to thank you all for sharing your amazing photos from our Common Nature! She is also sharing an episode from The Broadside Show from our friends at WUNC about the hunt for a long-lost musical masterpiece. Perhaps more than any other art form, the 20th century was shaped by jazz. And piano player and composer Mary Lou Williams was there at nearly every turn. In recent years, historians have documented and dissected her career and its big impact on American music. But the final chapter of her life—spent teaching at Duke University—was shrouded in mystery. Until now.Link to original episode here (WUNC) Transcript here Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcastsYo-Yo Ma wants to know: what place do you love most? What reminds you that you are part of the Earth? Snap a photo of your favorite place on the planet and share it on social with the tag #ourcommonnatureVisit the website at ourcommonnaturepodcast.org
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Hawai‘i: Yo-Yo Ma and the Whales
Nov 1900:43:46Summary readyYo-Yo Ma has wanted to use his cello to communicate with whales for half his life. And, in Hawai’i he got a chance. With help from the Polyneisan Voyaging Society and hula master Snowbird Bento, Yo-Yo learns about the ancient art of Hawaiian chant, what one local singer describes to him as their “contribution to the orchestra of the world.” Then Ana and Yo-Yo board a legendary canoe, Hōkūleʻa, with local fishermen, seafaring captains, and marine biologists. The musicians play cello for whales through the hull of the ship, all in the red glow of volcano Mauna Loa’s active eruption. Featuring music by Yo-Yo Ma and Snowbird BentoListen to the Our Common Nature EPCredits: Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings Hosted by Ana GonzálezProduced by Alan GoffinskiEditing from Pearl MarvellSound design and episode music by Alan GoffinskiMixed by Joe PlourdeFact-checking by Ena AlvaradoExecutive Producers are Emily Botein, Ben Mandelkern, Sophie Shackleton, and Jonathan Bays.Our advisors are Mira Burt-Wintonick, Kamaka Dias, Kelley Libbey, and Chris NewellEpisode photo by Austin Mann; Episode and show art by Tiffany Pai Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcastsYo-Yo Ma wants to know: what place do you love most? What reminds you that you are part of the Earth? Snap a photo of your favorite place on the planet and share it on social with the tag #ourcommonnatureVisit the website at ourcommonnaturepodcast.org
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Hawai‘i: Yo-Yo Ma on Moloka‘i
Nov 1200:44:33Summary readyOn the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaii, we trace the spiritual power of mana, from a sacred grove to the Kalaupapa colony, where music, story, and Yo-Yo Ma’s performance honor the resilience and memory of those who came before.Perched on a plateau on the southeast side of the island of Molokaʻi sits a grove of kukui trees. Mikiʻala Pescaia tells us that beneath the roots of these trees are the bones of Hawaiian spiritual leader Lanikaula. It holds his energy and power, his mana, a key concept in Hawaiian culture. On the north side of the same island, on a rugged peninsula called Kalaupapa, we explore the mana left behind by another history. It’s the site of a government-mandated colony for people who contracted Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. Historian Anwei Law tells us the story of Bernard Punikaiʻa, who came to Kalaupapa as a boy with a disease and created a life of music and community within the bounds of the colony. We reflect on how to memorialize the residents of Kalaupapa as the last remaining living residents listen to Yo-Yo play in one of the peninsula's many cemeteries. Featuring music by Yo-Yo Ma and Bernard PunikaʻiaWatch a video of Bernard performing “Where Birds Never Fly”Listen to the Our Common Nature EPCredits: Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings Hosted by Ana GonzálezProduced by Alan GoffinskiEditing from Pearl MarvellSound design and episode music by Alan GoffinskiMixed by Joe PlourdeFact-checking by Ena AlvaradoExecutive Producers are Emily Botein, Ben Mandelkern, Sophie Shackleton, and Jonathan Bays.Our advisors are Mira Burt-Wintonick, Kamaka Dias, Kelley Libbey, and Chris NewellEpisode photo by Austin Mann; Episode and show art by Tiffany Pai Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcastsYo-Yo Ma wants to know: what place do you love most? What reminds you that you are part of the Earth? Snap a photo of your favorite place on the planet and share it on social with the tag #ourcommonnatureVisit the website at ourcommonnaturepodcast.org
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West Virginia: Yo-Yo Ma and West Virginia Coal
Nov 500:45:35Summary readyWest Virginia is defined by its beauty and its coal, two things that can work against each other. Yo-Yo Ma felt this as soon as stepped foot in its hills.This episode explores how music and poetry help process the emotions of a community besieged with disaster and held together by pride and duty. We travel down the Coal River with third-generation coal miner Chris Saunders, who tells us how coal has saved and threatened his life. Poet Crystal Good shares her poetry, which channels her rage and love. And musician and granddaughter of West Virginia coal miners, Kathy Mattea, explains the beauty of belting out your home state in a chorus. The end of the episode finds host Ana floating down the New River with help from a group of high schoolers and Yo-Yo Ma. Featuring music by Yo-Yo Ma, Dom Flemons, and Kathy Mattea and poetry by Crystal Good. Listen to the Our Common Nature EP. Credits: Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings Hosted by Ana GonzálezProduced by Alan GoffinskiEditing Pearl MarvellSound design and episode music by Alan GoffinskiMixed by Joe PlourdeFact-checking by Ena AlvaradoExecutive Producers : Emily Botein, Ben Mandelkern, Sophie Shackleton, and Jonathan Bays.Our advisors are Mira Burt-Wintonick, Kamaka Dias, Kelley Libbey, and Chris NewellEpisode photo by Austin Mann; Episode and show art by Tiffany PaiThis podcast was inspired by a project of the same name, conceived by Yo-Yo Ma and Sound Postings, with creative direction by Sophie Shackleton, in collaboration with partners all over the world.Our Common Nature is made possible with support from Emerson Collective and Tambourine Philanthropies Our Common Nature is a production of WNYC and Sound Postings.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcastsYo-Yo Ma wants to know: what place do you love most? What reminds you that you are part of the Earth? Snap a photo of your favorite place on the planet and share it on social with the tag #ourcommonnatureVisit the website at ourcommonnaturepodcast.org
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