Novelist Ian McEwan remembers how Bach's Concerto for Two Violins helped him first to navigate selfhood as a teenager, and, later in life, the sorrow of losing his best friend.

6. Ian McEwan on What Cannot Quite Be Said

Part mixtape, part sonic love-letter, The Open Ears Project is a podcast in which people share the classical track that means the most to them and why. Created by journalist and former WQXR Creative Director Clemency Burton-Hill, each episode offers a brief and soulful glimpse into human lives, helping us to hear this music — and each other — differently. Guests from the worlds of film, books, dance, comedy and fashion as well as firefighters, taxi drivers, and teachers share cherished musical memories and remind us that extraordinary things happen when we simply stop and listen. 

Transcripts are posted to individual episode pages as they become available.  

The Open Ears Project is produced by WQXR and WNYC Studios.

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Novelist Garth Greenwell reflects on growing up in rural Kentucky and how he found hope and an example of queer love in Benjamin Britten’s music.

Garth Greenwell on Finding Refuge in the Music of Britten and Pears

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan explains what Chopin’s music taught her about writing.

Jennifer Egan on Chopin's Narrative Masterclass

The former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams reflects on how listening to Bach feels a lot like prayer.

Rowan Williams on Bach and the Daily Discipline of Silence

While covering the Iraq War, journalist Dexter Filkins witnessed impossible scenes of suffering. Here, he speaks about finding respite in the music of Ravel.

Dexter Filkins on Tension, Tenderness, and Ravel

Conductor Marin Alsop guides us through the unforgettable finale of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and how this music serves as a testament to human connection.

6. Ian McEwan on What Cannot Quite Be Said

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