Classical Breakdown

By WETA Classical

John Banther takes classical music fans behind the scenes with interviews, deep dives, and analysis. Episodes released bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Produced by WETA Classical in Washington, D.C.

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4.7

221221 ratings

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FAQs about Classical Breakdown:

How many episodes does Classical Breakdown have?

The podcast currently has 148 episodes available.

Classical Breakdown episodes:

November 25, 2025 Clara Wieck Schumann's Piano Concerto; a teenage work of genius
This, the only orchestral output from Clara Wieck, might be one of the few 19th-century concertos written by a teenager that still occupies the concert stage today, and its popularity is only increasing. Join hosts John Banther and Linda Carducci to explore its youthful origins, characteristics of her writing, the size of her hands, and her big concert premiere.
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39min
November 18, 2025 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs Hailstork's An American Port of Call
For a limited time, we can enjoy a recent live performance of Adolphus Hailstork's An American Port of Call. Ken David-Masur conducts the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in this performance, and after this you can find more on the MSO YouTube page!
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11min
November 11, 2025 Adolphus Hailstork, an American composer writing for our time
Hailstork has been writing music and teaching for over 5 decades, and his work has documented in music major American moments, from the bicentennial, 9/11, George Floyd, and even infrastructure. John Banther and Evan Keely explore his life, studies with Boulanger, his military experience, and look at 3 works from orchestral to choral that demonstrate his style.
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55min
October 28, 2025 Death in music! 10 works that explore life’s final question
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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48min
October 21, 2025 Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist Xuefei Yang
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!). In this episode, we hear:John Williams (guitarist/composer) - When The Birds ReturnChangjun Xu - Sword DanceJerome Kern - Smoke gets in your eyes
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13min
October 14, 2025 Xuefei Yang performs Erik Satie and shares insight into her new album!
She is one of today's great living guitarists, and in this episode, she tells us all about her new album Chapeu Satie. Xuefei explains how she approaches transcribing and arranging for the guitar, why she chose to include flute and voice, and performs a work from her new album at the end, too!
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42min
September 30, 2025 Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 "Eroica", Rejecting Napoleon and Charting a New Path!
Beethoven pushed the symphonic form in a new direction with this heroic work that sounds larger than the sum of its parts. John Banther and Evan Keely show you what to listen for, how it pushed boundaries in 19th-century music, the famous Napoleon dedication, and more!
Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefm
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1h 5min
September 16, 2025 The Great World of Percussion with Chris DeChiara: From bones and war drums to symphonies!
Think you can play the triangle? Think again! In our biggest episode yet, we explore the big world of percussion with Chris DeChiara. Using composers from Beethoven to Ozzy Osborne, he demonstrates over a dozen instruments and shares insider secrets as to what goes on in the back row.
Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefm
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1h 45min
September 09, 2025 Bonus episode! A performance of a suite from the ballet Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel
Who doesn't love more music? Starting this season, we'll be releasing occasional bonus episodes. We kick it off with a great performance of a suite from Ravel's ballet Daphnis and Chloe.
Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefm
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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17min
September 02, 2025 Maurice Ravel at 150: celebrating his life, music, and influence!
This composer had way more impact on the 20th century than you realize! Join us as we celebrate his life at 150 and look at how he achieved this unique sound, why he was kicked out of school twice, and enjoy a performance of his string quartet.
Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefm
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1h 24min

FAQs about Classical Breakdown:

How many episodes does Classical Breakdown have?

The podcast currently has 148 episodes available.

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