The Piano Puzzler

Everyone responds differently to a particular musical work. A close friend of Jean Sibelius described his Symphony No. 2 as "the most broken-hearted protest against all the injustice that now threatens to deprive the sun of its light and our flowers of their scent." That was one person's interpretation. What's yours? On today's show, join us at a concert in Taipai to hear Sibelius's second symphony.

Erin Keefe is the concertmaster and the first violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra. She's fantastic in smaller ensemble settings as well. Today, we'll take you to La Jolla's Summerfest to hear Erin Keefe, Jay Campbell, and Joyce Yang play Fanny Mendelssohn's Piano Trio.

Conductor Cristian Macelaru says that Wynton Marsalis is the most important American composer… ever. He says, "No one has focused (as) much on showing America's history and identity in both classical and jazz." We'll hear the world premiere of a new piece by Wynton Marsalis on today’s episode.

Deborah Borda has helped orchestras and the classical ecosphere grow into the 21st century. She has served as the CEO of the New York Philharmonic, the LA Philharmonic, and several other orchestras. Borda approaches her work with an unwavering love of music, clear vision, and determination. On today’s show, our 2024 Classical Woman of the Year, Deborah Borda, joins Fred Child as co-host for a special hour.

Erin Keefe is the concertmaster and the first violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra. She's fantastic in smaller ensemble settings as well. Today, we'll take you to La Jolla's Summerfest to hear Erin Keefe, Jay Campbell, and Joyce Yang play Fanny Mendelssohn's Piano Trio.

Maria Duenas is a 22-year-old violinist and composer. She grew up in Spain and went to school in Germany and Austria. Although she's still a student, she already has a couple of major label albums, and she gave her Carnegie Hall debut in October to rave reviews. Duenas plays Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D minor on today's show, with Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducting the Philharmonia symphony orchestra.

In 2007, Composer Errollyn Wallen wrote a piece to mark the anniversary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade. She says, ‘It is human instinct to be free, just as it is for the river to rush headlong to the sea.’ We'll dive into Errollyn Wallen’s Mighty River on today's show.

Dora Pejačević was a trailblazer. She became the first Croatian composer to write a concerto in 1913. Then, while serving as a nurse in World War One, she wrote what is considered to be the first modern symphony in Croatian music. On today's show, we'll hear Pejačević's Piano Quartet in D minor from a concert presented by the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival.

In 1928, Maurice Ravel spent some time hanging out with George Gershwin in Harlem jazz clubs. The sounds Ravel heard in Harlem made their way into some of his subsequent compositions. On today’s show, pianist Inon Barnatan joins the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra to play Ravel's jazz-influenced Piano Concerto in G Major.

Celina Anna Kintscher grew up in Germany, attended high school in South Africa, and is now studying composition at UCLA. This mix of cultures informs her work. Today, we'll hear a piece Kintscher wrote last year during ECI, the Emerging Composers Intensive in Carmel Valley, California.