Classical Breakdown - WETA Classical

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Death in music! 10 works that explore life’s final question

Season 7 · Episode 139

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • Duration 47:52

Death has been depicted in music to console, frighten, warn, and entertain for over 400 years. In fact, the most quoted motif about death is also the oldest, and you know it intimately whether you realize it or not! John Banther and Evan Keely take you on a deathly trip over 10 works and a bonus.

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Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist Xuefei Yang

Season 7 · Episode 138

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 • Duration 12:45

I'm excited to bring you more from Xuefei Yang with these three performances taken from her YouTube channel (where you will find plenty more performances!).

Verdi's Rigoletto: Unforgettable tunes, tragedy, and a new concept in opera

Season 6 · Episode 131

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 • Duration 01:10:13

Verdi considered this character worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy, and he delivers just that! John Banther and Linda Carducci explore Verdi's masterpiece and show you what to listen for, intricacies of the characters and plot, the banned origin story, and so much more.

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The Life of Johannes Brahms

Season 2 · Episode 43

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 • Duration 37:41

He's considered one of the greatest composers of the 19th century. But can you hum a tune by Brahms? We dive into the life and music of Brahms to better understand what set him apart from others, how his personality affected his music, and how he still appears in popular music and commercials today.

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What is a Concerto?

Season 2 · Episode 42

Tuesday, May 4, 2021 • Duration 34:24

Where did the concerto come from and how did it evolve? We explore its origins, development through Haydn and Mozart, some of the most challenging concertos of the 19th century, and a couple of "hidden gems."

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Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. A masterpiece and tribute to a friend.

Season 2 · Episode 41

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 • Duration 42:02

This masterpiece, originally for piano, was inspired by the tragic loss of a friend, and Ravel's orchestration is a work of art in itself. While roughly half of the original pictures have been lost, we do have descriptions of the originals that give insight to Mussorgsky's music and Ravel's orchestration.

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What is a Bassoon? Sue Heineman, Principal Bassoon of the NSO, tells us everything!

Season 2 · Episode 40

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 • Duration 40:58

How does a bassoon make a sound and what is its purpose? Principal Bassoonist of the National Symphony Orchestra Sue Heineman doesn't just tell us; she also plays her favorite moments and discusses how it all fits together in the orchestra.

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Appalachian Spring, an American classic by Aaron Copland

Season 2 · Episode 39

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 • Duration 36:26

There is so much to discover about this masterpiece, like its collaborative and ballet origins, Copland's inventive use of an unknown folk tune, and even how it got its name.

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The Life of Bach

Season 2 · Episode 38

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 • Duration 48:16

Today we know him as one of the greatest and most influential composers, but that wasn’t always the case. Learn how a teenager became responsible for Bach’s revival, how is music changed from job to job, and even how he wound up in jail for nearly a month!

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The life of Florence Price

Season 2 · Episode 37

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 • Duration 50:18

Dr. Karen Walwyn discusses the life and music of Florence Price, the first woman African American composer to have a symphony played by a major orchestra in the United States.

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Classical Breakdown – Details, episodes & analysis

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Classical Breakdown – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Spotify

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