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How Teresa Carreño Inspired Generations of Pianists, Composers, and Conductors Worldwide
Explore the life and legacy of Teresa Carreño, a Venezuelan virtuoso known as "La Valquiria" and "La Leona del piano". Discover her impact on music as a pianist, soprano, composer, and conductor.
Clara Schumann Returns to the Limelight
Explore the life of Clara Schumann, a leading pianist of the Romantic era, who defied norms, balanced family and career, and whose work is gaining recognition.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Frédéric Chopin, Pt. I
Who’s on the Chopin block? This week, someone poetic, pianistic, and Polish-ed.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Johann Sebastian Bach, Pt. I
When there's a family fugue, keep your temperament in check... and don’t forget to bring a good counterpoint. This week, we’re taking things Bach!
A Heroic Piece in Hard Times: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto
Explore the history of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto, nicknamed "Emperor", composed during Napoleon's invasion of Vienna in 1809, reflecting the composer's resilience amidst chaos.
WATCH: SKY Concert Featuring Jake Heggie
On May 30th, 2024 our evening host and resident artist pianist Lara Downes welcomes two longtime friends and musical collaborators: the legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and San Francisco’s own legend-in-the-making Jake Heggie, considered one of the world's most popular 21st-century opera and art song composers.
Classical Californians: Garrick Ohlsson
This week's Classical Californian is concert pianist Garrick Ohlsson
The Piano
The sounds of an entire orchestra in just two hands... High and sparkling on top, low and bossy on the bottom.
Classical Californians: Lincoln Jones
Lincoln Jones, artistic director of the American Contemporary Ballet, is this week’s Classical Californian.
Beethoven’s Quartet of ‘Thanksgiving’
Beethoven's String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132, features a movement expressing gratitude for recovery from illness. It alternates between prayerful chorales and lively sections, reflecting his mortality.
The Story Behind “Appalachian Spring,” the Ballet
Explore the history of Appalachian Spring, a ballet commissioned by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, composed by Aaron Copland, and choreographed by Martha Graham.
The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord
Explore the life of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, his obsession with the occult, and his creation of the "mystic chord" used in his compositions.
Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”
Explore the intriguing history of Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, composed in 1898-99. Discover how this piece, inspired by Elgar's friends and personal experiences, established his fame.
Classical Californians: Rodney Sauer
This week’s Classical Californian is Rodney Sauer, pianist and director of the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
