Conducting New York’s Legacy

Conducting New York’s Legacy

Author: The New York Historical March 16, 2026 Duration: 26:46
From his childhood in Venezuela’s famed El Sistema music education program to his rise as one of the world’s leading conductors, Gustavo Dudamel reflects on the experiences that shaped his musical life. In conversation with David M. Rubenstein, Dudamel recounts conducting his first orchestra at age eleven, discusses the collaborative art of leading musicians, and shares how he prepares scores entirely from memory. Looking ahead to his tenure as music and artistic director of the New York Phil...

David M. Rubenstein sits down with some of the most insightful historians and writers working today for conversations that feel less like a lecture and more like a discovery. For the Ages: A History Podcast, from The New York Historical, digs into the events and figures that define not just the American experience, but world history. Each episode is built around a genuine dialogue, where presidential legacies, the ideas of the founding era, and the often-overlooked individuals who propelled change are examined with fresh perspective. You’ll hear stories that challenge simple narratives, finding the unexpected connections and human complexities behind the dates and names. This podcast thrives on the depth and nuance that these expert guests bring, moving from broad societal shifts to intimate personal histories. It’s for anyone who believes the past is never truly settled and that understanding it requires listening to those who have dedicated their lives to its study. The production emphasizes clarity and substance, allowing the conversations to unfold at a pace suited for thoughtful reflection, whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just curious about how we got here. Tune in for a series of engaging discussions that make history feel immediate and remarkably relevant to our contemporary world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

For the Ages: A History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Mourning the Presidents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
In an incisive analysis of national mourning following the deaths of presidents across US history, historian Lindsay Chervinsky joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss how such losses and the subsequent expressions of grief…
The Age of Lincoln [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
The arc of Abraham Lincoln’s political career existed in the context of the ideologically tumultuous 19th century. From a period of cultural pessimism in the 1840s and 1850s alongside the Millerites’ prediction of a Seco…
Coolidge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
In the wake of a pandemic and amidst deep partisan divisions and a looming budgetary crisis, Calvin Coolidge faced monumental challenges when he assumed the presidency following the abrupt death of his predecessor Warren…
John Quincy Adams: His Presidency and Final Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:50
Biographer James Traub continues the story of John Quincy Adams. Drawing on the sixth US president’s diaries, letters, and writings, Traub discusses Adams’ ascendance to the White House, his numerous achievements and fai…
John Quincy Adams: Early Life and the Road to the Presidency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:53
As the son of a Founding Father and with a political career that lasted until his death in 1848, John Quincy Adams was eulogized by many of his peers as one of the last links between the founding generation and the Unite…
Morgenthau: Power, Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:44
Described by former mayor Ed Koch as “the closest we’ve got to royalty in New York City,” the Morgenthau family immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1866 and went on to build a powerful real estate empire and…
Conflict: The Evolution of Modern Warfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:35
The conflicts that have marked the past 60 years have seen new weapons, new strategies, and complex new webs of alliance, enmity, and proxy violence. However, the evolution of warfare shows that certain challenges and so…