Classical Music Happy Hour

WNYC
  • 4.8 (370)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Join renowned pianist and host Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with an eclectic lineup of composers, performers, and creative voices from the world of classical music and beyond. Each episode explores the guest’s life and career, dives into their favorite classical gems, includes music-inspired games, and folds in questions from listeners. The result is a podcast that feels like a relaxed gathering of friends who love classical music and want others to join the party. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music!

  1. Ray Chen - superstar violinist wants you to practice

    4d ago

    Ray Chen - superstar violinist wants you to practice

    Violinist and social media guru Ray Chen wraps up this season of Classical Music Happy Hour with an in-studio live performance. He chats with Manny about video games, performance anxiety, and his practice app Tonic. In our game, he joins Manny in our game called Is It a Composer or Is it Cheese? Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Ray Chen performed an excerpt from JS Bach’s Chaconne from Partitat No. 2 for Solo Violin, BWV 1004. Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O14: III. Allegro molto vivace Felix Mendelssohn  Mariko Honda & Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Keith Clark  Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2 Andante teneramente Brahms Performed live in-studio by our host, Emanuel Ax Le sorcier: Overture François-André Danican Philidor  Prague Sinfonia Orchestra & Christian Benda  Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  2. Paquito D’Rivera -Beef, Beans and Benny (Goodman)

    May 20

    Paquito D’Rivera -Beef, Beans and Benny (Goodman)

    Paquito D’Rivera is composer, saxophonist and clarinetist whose work spans classical, jazz and latin music.  Born in Havana, Cuba,  D’Rivera started his career playing with the National Theater Orchestra at the age of 10 and has been on stage for seven decades.  During their  chat, Paquito and Manny discuss what beef and beans have to do with Benny Goodman playing Carnegie Hall, what kind of music teacher his father was, and all things clarinet. He also joins Manny for an in-studio performance of one of his compositions. In our game, Manny and Paquito decide if a sound is made by a musical instrument or an animal.  Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. The piece Paquito D’Rivera and Emanuel Ax perform is Contradanza for Bb Clarinet and Piano, composed by our guest, Paquito D’Rivera. 3 Movements from Petrushka: No. 3, La Semaine grasse Stravinsky Antonii Baryshevskyi, piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14, H.48, Ronde du Sabbat Berlioz Orchestre National de Lyon & Leonard Slatkin Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  3. Yefim Bronfman - master of the keyboard

    May 13

    Yefim Bronfman - master of the keyboard

    Pianist Yefim Bronfman, “Fima,” chats with Manny about their decades-long friendship, their love of sports, their surprising anxiety around live broadcast performances.  They’ll answer listeners’ questions about recovering from injuries and picking repertoire, even the stuff no one heard of!  Fima and Manny work together in our Newly Dead game to identify odd ways composers have died. Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8: II. Adagio Szymanowski Martin Roscoe, piano  Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Sinfonia avanti il Barcheggio for Trumpet, 2 Violins and Continuo Stradella Niklas Eklund & Wasa Baroque Ensemble & Edward Tarr Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Armide, Act III Scene 4: Je responds a tes voeux Lully Stephanie Houtzeel & William Sharp Opera Lafayette Chorus & Opera Lafayette Orchestra & Ryan Brown Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Solomon, HWV 67: Pt. III: Air. Ev’ry sight these eyes behold Handel Nicola Wemyss & Barockorchester Frankfurt & Joachim Carlos Martini Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc   Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. The piece Paquito D’Rivera and Emanuel Ax perform is Contradanza for Bb Clarinet and Piano, composed by our guest, Paquito D’Rivera. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    33 min
  4. Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke

    May 6

    Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke

    Comedian Isabel Hagen is a classically trained violist, and a filmmaker. As a comedian, she has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was a New Face of Comedy at the Just for Laughs festival in Montréal. She talks to Manny about how the viola can be funny and make people love classical music by making them laugh! Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Harold en Italie, S. 472/R. 138: I. Harold aux montagnes Berlioz Philip Dukes & Piers Lane  Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: I. Allegro non troppo Brahms Jenő Jandó & Brussels Philharmonic & Ali Rahbari  Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio Beethoven Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra & Richard Edlinger Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. The Star-Spangled Banner John Stafford Smith Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy & Keith Brion Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    32 min
  5. Nicholas Britell - more than that one viral theme song!

    Apr 29

    Nicholas Britell - more than that one viral theme song!

    The New York Times has called Nicholas Britell: “The composer at the frontier of film music.” Britell has written scores for Hollywood movies including:The Big Short, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could talk. Listeners might best recognize his work from the theme of the HBO series “Succession” for which he’s won the Emmy for the iconic theme song. He’ll talk about writing for the big screen and he’ll play one of his most recognizable pieces live-in studio.   Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Var. I (C.A.E.) Elgar Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & George Hurst Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. The Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War Holst CSR Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava & Adrian Leaper Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176: Introduction Strauss Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Zdeněk Košler Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13, Pathetique” Beethoven Alessio Bax, piano Live recording at The Greene Space   Fantasia in C minor, K. 475 Mozart Péter Nagy, piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 Debussy The Knights Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell Symphony No. 64 in A Major, Hob. 1:64 (Tempora mutantur) Haydn The Knights Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell Le Sacre du Printemps Stravinsky Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107; II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam Bruckner Linz Bruckner Orchestra & Mark Poschner Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  6. David Hyde Pierce - a.k.a. Niles Crane

    Apr 22

    David Hyde Pierce - a.k.a. Niles Crane

    Actor David Hyde Pierce has had a long career in film, television and the theater.  He’s best known to listeners for his portrayal of Niles Crane on the sitcom "Frasier."  He joins Manny to talk about his life and love of classical music and listen to some of their favorite recordings.  They also play a game called “Animal or Instrument.”  Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Fantasia in C Minor, Op. 80 "Choral Fantasy": Fantasia in C Minor, Op. 80 Beethoven Leon McCawley, piano  City of London Choir  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97 "Archduke": III. Andante cantabile Beethoven Xyrion Trio Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": I. Allegro Beethoven Boris Giltburg, piano  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    33 min
  7. Jeanine Tesori - from “Fun Home” to the Met Opera

    Apr 15

    Jeanine Tesori - from “Fun Home” to the Met Opera

    Composer Jeanine Tesori is a two time Tony Award winner, a two time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and in 2024, she became the first woman composer to open the Metropolitan Opera Opera season in its 139 year history. On this edition of CMHH she tells Manny about her time living in a lighthouse, about her love of Stravinsky, and why she decided not to be a doctor.  Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. 3 Movements from Petrushka: No. 1, Danse russe Stravinsky Antonii Baryshevskyi, piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Carmen, Habanera Bizet Graciela Alperyn, mezzo-soprano Slovak Philharmonic Chorus Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Alexander Rahbari, conductor Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Turandot, SC 91: Nessun dorma (Live) Puccini Mario Malagnini   Genoa Carlo Felice Theatre Orchestra & Donato Renzetti Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Carmen: Act I: Habañera: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle Bizet Marjana Lipovšek, mezzo-soprano Munich Radio Orchestra  Giuseppe Patanè, conductor Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Boléro, M. 81 Ravel Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Adrian Leaper Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.   Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
  8. Yo-Yo Ma - 53 years of friendship and duets

    Apr 8

    Yo-Yo Ma - 53 years of friendship and duets

    Live from Tanglewood, cellist Yo-Yo Ma chats with Manny about their long musical relationship and friendship.  The two treat the live audience to a few musical performances, and they take questions from the audience about their burning musical questions, like “why does a piano have three pedals?” Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Music Performed in Today’s Episode: Lieder ohne Worte (Song without Words) Mendelssohn Yo-Yo Ma, Cello Emanuel Ax, Piano Ave Maria Schubert Yo-Yo Ma, Cello Emanuel Ax, Piano Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
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4.8
out of 5
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Join renowned pianist and host Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with an eclectic lineup of composers, performers, and creative voices from the world of classical music and beyond. Each episode explores the guest’s life and career, dives into their favorite classical gems, includes music-inspired games, and folds in questions from listeners. The result is a podcast that feels like a relaxed gathering of friends who love classical music and want others to join the party. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music!

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