Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Author: Joshua Weilerstein Language: English Episodes: 100
There’s a particular kind of curiosity that draws people to classical music, but the sheer scale of the repertoire can feel overwhelming. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast, hosted by conductor Joshua Weilerstein, meets that curiosity right where it is. Think of it as a series of open conversations about the music itself, designed to be equally engaging for someone hearing a symphony for the first time and for a lifelong devotee. Episodes might feature a thoughtful interview with a performing artist, offering a glimpse behind the curtain, or they could focus entirely on a single piece, peeling back its layers to explore why it resonates. Weilerstein guides these explorations with clarity and enthusiasm, moving seamlessly from foundational concepts to more nuanced details about different musical eras. The entire premise of this podcast is built on a genuine belief that this music belongs to all of us. It’s about replacing any sense of intimidation with connection and understanding. While past seasons are gradually being re-released, each episode stands as its own invitation to listen more deeply.
Episodes
Fast, Furious, Fortissimo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:31
Very often, when I tell people that I'm a classical musician, I am told, "wow, I love classical music! It's so relaxing!" I think almost all classical musicians have heard that before, and you know what? Sometimes, it's…
Copland Symphony No. 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
There has always been a debate about "The Great American Symphony." By the time most prominent American composers got around to writing large scale symphonic works, the symphony had very nearly gone out of fashion. To ma…
An Exploration of Klezmer Music w/ Abigale Reisman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
Klezmer music has always been very close to my heart, even as a classical violinist. During the pandemic I attempted to learn Klezmer clarinet, and soon I began collaborating with the great Klezmer(and classical!) violin…
Schumann Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:36
In 1850, Robert Schumann accepted a position as the new Music Director in Dusseldorf. This job had a lot of responsibilities, including conducting the city orchestra. Schumann, along with his wife, the legendary pianist…
Beethoven String Quartet, Op. 59, No. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:38
In 1806, the 36 year old Beethoven received a commission from the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count Andreas Razumovsky. Razumovsky wanted a set of string quartets for what would soon be his house string quartet which i…
Ethel Smyth Serenade in D [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:09
I've mentioned Ethel Smyth a few times in the past on this show. This is partly because of her music, and partly because she remains one of the most interesting people who ever lived. She was a composer of course, but sh…
Dvorak Cello Concerto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
When you think of the genre of the concerto, you might be thinking of something like this: virtuoso fireworks, perhaps over romantic gestures designed simply to show the soloist off, and a rather pedestrian orchestral pa…
Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from Westside Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:37
We're back! Welcome to Season 10! Leonard Bernstein to his wife: "These days have flown so -- I don't sleep much; I work every -- literally every -- second (since I'm doing four jobs on this show -- composing, lyric-writ…
Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:21
Throughout the history of Western Classical Music, folk music has imprinted itself as an invaluable resource for composers from all over the world. In fact, it's easier to make a list of composers who never used folk mus…