Bonus! A performance of Handel's Water Music

Bonus! A performance of Handel's Water Music

Author: WETA Classical September 8, 2026 Duration: 49:20
Enjoy a Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra recording of the music we learned about last week, plus a listener comment that helps clarify the situation after Queen Anne's death!

Ever wondered what really goes into a symphony or what a composer was thinking when they wrote that haunting melody? Classical Breakdown is for anyone who loves the sound of an orchestra but craves a deeper connection to the music. Host John Banther, from the studios of WETA Classical in Washington, D.C., doesn't just play the great works; he opens them up, piece by piece. Each episode feels like a backstage pass, blending insightful interviews with musicians and experts alongside his own engaging analysis. You'll find yourself hearing familiar pieces in entirely new ways, discovering the stories, techniques, and historical contexts that bring the notes on the page to vivid life. This isn't a dry lecture, but a conversation about the passion and craft behind classical music. New installments of this insightful podcast arrive every other Tuesday, offering a regular dose of clarity and discovery. Whether you're a lifelong aficionado or just beginning to explore, Classical Breakdown provides the kind of rich, accessible understanding that makes every listening experience more meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Classical Breakdown
Podcast Episodes
Richard Wagner: The flawed man who changed opera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:39
This composer's life was tumultuous and sometimes straight out of a soap opera. John Banther and Evan Keely explore what led him to opera, his initial success and failures, his bigoted "Judaism in Music" essay, and how h…
Brahms Symphony No. 3: Perfection in Orchestration and Form [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:04
The first symphonies came from a place of insecurity, but his 3rd exudes confidence from the first note to the last. John Banther and Evan Keely show you what to listen for in Brahms' orchestration, how he uses compositi…
3 Composers lost to Tyranny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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A hallmark of tyranny is its desire to control and stifle creative expression. In this episode, in memory of Lubna Alyaan, John Banther and Evan Keely explore three 20th-century composers, what happened to them, and sele…
Meet Grammy-Winning Composer Jessie Montgomery! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:05
Jessie Montgomery and John Banther discuss her popular works, her time writing for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Blacknificent 7 composer group, and her early artistic influences.
Bonus episode: Ballet music from 2 operas by Verdi! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:48
Different audiences have different tastes, and you can't always serve them the same dish. If Verdi wanted his grand operas to be staged in Paris, he needed to include ballet. In this bonus episode, we'll hear two ballet…
Giuseppe Verdi: A life of drama, censorship, and even farming! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:59
This composer wrote operas almost exclusively, and his 19th-century success and popularity are hard to grasp even today. John Banther and Linda Carducci explore his life, his upward rise, the tragedies, and how he provid…