Composers Datebook

Einstein and Glass on stage


Listen Later

Synopsis

When TIME magazine chose Albert Einstein as their Millennium Person of the Century in 1999, their profile catalogued his achievements in physics and philosophy but made no mention of Einstein’s interest in music — or music’s interest in him. That’s where we come in.


In addition to being a brilliant thinker, Einstein was a talented amateur violinist. On this day in 1934, he even performed the second violin part of Bach’s Double Concerto at a private recital in New York to raise money for scientists who had suffered at the hands of Hitler.


So, was Einstein any good? After that concert, the Musical America critic wrote, “The press had been asked not to criticize Professor Einstein’s playing. Unofficially, however, they confessed to being impressed. He played, according to their report, as all great artists play, with ‘technique,’ ‘expression’ and a complete absorption in his music.”


And Einstein himself has inspired more than a few musical works. The 1976 opera Einstein on the Beach by Philip Glass, for example, features a solo violinist dressed as Einstein who wanders in and out of scenes. Music from Glass’s opera was quoted as an in-joke during a TV commercial showing Einstein trying to choose between Coke and Pepsi.


Music Played in Today's Program

Philip Glass (b. 1937): Cadenza, from Einstein on the Beach; Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, conductor; Nonesuch 79323

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Composers DatebookBy American Public Media

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

168 ratings


More shows like Composers Datebook

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,074 Listeners

On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,129 Listeners

BirdNote Daily by BirdNote

BirdNote Daily

1,187 Listeners

All Songs Considered by NPR

All Songs Considered

3,111 Listeners

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

3,009 Listeners

Piano Puzzler by American Public Media

Piano Puzzler

500 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,692 Listeners

Marketplace Morning Report by Marketplace

Marketplace Morning Report

878 Listeners

Marketplace by Marketplace

Marketplace

8,642 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,151 Listeners

Marketplace All-in-One by Marketplace

Marketplace All-in-One

1,354 Listeners

Brains On! Science podcast for kids by American Public Media

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

13,262 Listeners

Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Gastropod

3,598 Listeners

YourClassical Daily Download by American Public Media

YourClassical Daily Download

234 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,677 Listeners

In The Dark by The New Yorker

In The Dark

27,495 Listeners

Make Me Smart by Marketplace

Make Me Smart

5,499 Listeners

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast by Joshua Weilerstein

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

2,084 Listeners

Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family by American Public Media

Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

13,448 Listeners

Garrison Keillor's Podcast by Prairie Home Productions

Garrison Keillor's Podcast

1,123 Listeners

Forever Ago by American Public Media

Forever Ago

5,870 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,941 Listeners

This Is Uncomfortable by Marketplace

This Is Uncomfortable

3,601 Listeners

Classical Breakdown by WETA Classical

Classical Breakdown

199 Listeners

The Wirecutter Show by The New York Times

The Wirecutter Show

1,076 Listeners