Lara Downes

Composer Richard Danielpour found musical inspiration in a sculpture made by his mother—an image of an Iranian woman breaking away from her veil. He contemplated recent protests in Iran, led by young women who want to choose whether to wear a headscarf. On today's show, we'll hear music inspired by the brave women of Iran: Breaking the Veil by Richard Danielpour.

Composer Damien Geter spent much of the pandemic reliving his love of 90s neo-soul. He says the music of Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill helped him get through. As a classical composer, he wanted to write his own music in homage to neo-soul. On today's show, we'll hear what he came up with: "Neo-Soul," the String Quartet No. 1 by Damien Geter.

Valerie Coleman's "Tzigane" is a fiery response to a classic. Inspired by Ravel's iconic piece of the same name, Coleman channeled the energy and spirit of Roma music into a composition for wind quintet. On today's show, we'll hear the Imani Winds play Coleman's Tzigane at a performance presented by the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.

Composer Richard Danielpour found musical inspiration in a sculpture made by his mother—an image of an Iranian woman breaking away from her veil. He contemplated recent protests in Iran, led by young women who want to choose whether to wear a headscarf. On today's show, we'll hear music inspired by the brave women of Iran: Breaking the Veil by Richard Danielpour.

Publishing houses in Germany initially rejected Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto. When pianist Franz Liszt played through the piece with Grieg, Liszt warmly shook his hand and said, "You have the gift. Keep on composing. Don't let them intimidate you." Liszt’s advice changed Grieg's life; that piece has become one of the most famous pieces in classical music. On today's show, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes plays Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in Switzerland.

Sure, it's a flashy showpiece for piano, but Kirill Gerstein says, "If you dig deeper, it's also a sincere expression straight from the heart." On today's show, hear Kirill Gerstein play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with conductor Hannu Lintu leading the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Composer Bohuslav Martinu spent his childhood in a bell tower, where his father was the keeper. Looking back, he said he saw "everything in miniature, and above it all a great, boundless space... it is this space that I am forever seeking in my music." On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Switzerland to hear Marinu's Cello Concerto No. 1.

French composer Maurice Ravel wrote so much wonderful music, but only once did he write a piece for two violins, viola, and cello. We don’t need to call it Quartet No. 1 by Ravel... it's the ONLY String Quartet by Ravel. Join us today—we'll take you to a concert in Portland, Oregon, to hear the Catalyst Quartet play the String Quartet by Maurice Ravel.

In the Spring of 2020, the pandemic was brand-new, isolating, and scary. American composer Jessie Montgomery wrote a short composition called Peace… and when Clarinetist Anthony McGill first heard it, he was moved to tears. On today's show, Anthony McGill and pianist Conrad Tao play music about coming to terms with sadness: Peace by Jessie Montgomery.

In many Asian cultures, a colorful festival marks the final day of Lunar New Year celebrations. People light lanterns, let go of the past and welcome new beginnings. On today’s show, we'll celebrate this time of reconciliation: the Lantern Festival.