Felix Mendelssohn: A prodigy, inventor, and visionary!

Felix Mendelssohn: A prodigy, inventor, and visionary!

Author: WETA Classical May 27, 2025 Duration: 1:07:29

Join us to explore Felix Mendelssohn's life through 4 different aspects of life that separated him from nearly every other composer. John Banther and James Jacobs explore his life, what made him different, and enjoy a full performance of one of his iconic works too!

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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: 100

Classical Breakdown
Podcast Episodes
3 Composers lost to Tyranny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
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…
Emilie Mayer; Rediscovering a celebrated 19th-century composer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:04
She didn't have a typical upbringing like other composers, and forged her own way with private teachers and determination. John Banther and Evan Keely explore the wide range of repertoire she composed, from symphonies to…
Clara Wieck Schumann's Piano Concerto; a teenage work of genius [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:30
This, the only orchestral output from Clara Wieck, might be one of the few 19th-century concertos written by a teenager that still occupies the concert stage today, and its popularity is only increasing. Join hosts John…