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A monthly review of the arts and intellectual life. Interviews, poetry readings, musical criticism, and more. newcriterion.com

The New Criterion


    • Apr 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 337 EPISODES

    4.8 from 94 ratings Listeners of The New Criterion that love the show mention: music, great.



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    Latest episodes from The New Criterion

    Music for a While #101: A Frenchman's birthday, etc.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 47:56


    This year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth. So we have been hearing a lot of him. Jay plays two pieces by him—two of his best, and most typical. There are also Spanish songs, by Obradors and Rodrigo. Some Schumann, some Vaughan Williams, and so on. Plus several stories—personal ones. An enriching, smile-making program. Obradors, “Del cabello más sutil” Rodrigo, “De ronda” Bernstein, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Beethoven, “Leonore” Overture No. 3 Vaughan Williams, “Linden Lea” Ravel, “Pavane for a Dead Princess” Schumann, Sonata in D minor for Piano and Violin Handel, “Son nata a lagrimar,” from “Giulio Cesare” Ravel, “The Fairy Garden” from the “Mother Goose” Suite

    Music for a While #100: Old Hundredth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 50:08


    This is Episode No. 100 of “Music for a While.” To mark the occasion, Jay presents music associated with that number: 100. So, we can consider this a centennial celebration. Bach, “Darum wir billig loben dich,” from the Cantata BVW 130 Dvořák, Scherzo from Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Op. 100 Bach, “Er ist mein Licht, mein Leben,” from the Cantata BVW 100 Haydn, Presto, from Symphony No. 100 in G major, “Military” Beethoven, “Merkenstein” Prokofiev, Allegro marcato, from Symphony No. 5 Mozart, Serenade No. 1 in D Brahms, Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A major Schumann, “The Bride of Messina,” Overture in C minor Shostakovich, “Little Stars” from “Spanish Songs” arr. Vaughan Williams, “Old Hundredth Psalm”

    Dominic Green & D. J. Taylor discuss “What would Orwell do?”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 75:07


    On March 19, Friends of The New Criterion gathered in New York to hear a conversation between the New Criterion contributors D. J. Taylor and Dominic Green on the question “What would Orwell do?”

    Music for a While #99: Charity, malice & more

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 38:51


    An appetizing, eclectic program. Charity is represented by a sturdy American song: “If I Can Help Somebody.” Malice is represented by a movement from Walton's Symphony No. 1, marked “Presto con malizia.” Much to listen to and absorb. Shostakovich, “A Spin through Moscow” from “Moscow, Cheryomushko” Fauré, “Clair de lune” Beethoven, “Abscheulicher!,” from “Fidelio” Walton, Symphony No. 1, Scherzo: Presto con malizia Ruby (?), “I'm Against It” Hoiby, “Winter Song” Hoiby, “There came a wind like a bugle” Androzzo, “If I Can Help Somebody” Gubaidulina, “Glorious Percussion”

    Music for a While #98: Paeans, poems, etc.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 35:05


    This episode begins with Pärt's “Hymn to a Great City.” (That would be New York.) Elsewhere, there are songs, setting Langston Hughes and Mark Van Doren. Oscar Peterson plays a pop song, adding various musical ingredients. Finally, there is a tribute to Edith Mathis, the Swiss soprano, who has died at eighty-seven. Much to listen to, and maybe even think about. Pärt, “Hymn to a Great City” Wheeler, “If I Had a Wife” Tchaikovsky/Wild, Pas de quatre (“Dance of the Cygnets”) from “Swan Lake” Bonds, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Prokofiev, Sonata for Solo Violin Modugno, “Volare” Wood & Mellin, “My One and Only Love” Bach, “Alleluja” from “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”

    Music for a While #97: Beach music

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 41:01


    In this episode, three pieces by the American Amy Beach—two piano pieces and a song (to a poem by Robert Browning). Also, a piece by Bach's cousin. And other worthy numbers. Walther, “Lobe den Herren” Beach, “A Hermit Thrush at Eve” Dvořák, “Goin' Home” Beach, “A Hermit Thrush at Morn” Beethoven, Triple Concerto Beach, “Ah, Love, but a Day” Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major, Op. 96

    Music for a While #96: Ring out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 41:22


    Tennyson wrote a famous poem for New Year's Day, or any day. Jonathan Dove, a contemporary English composer, set it to music. This episode begins with that piece. There is also a song from the American Revolution, sometimes known as “Chester” (“Let tyrants shake their iron rod”). Jay further includes a little-known composer from Brazil with a flavorful name: Radamés Gnattali. Then you get Brahms and others. A nice, varied menu. Dove, “Ring Out, Wild Bells” Gnattali, Guitar Concerto No. 4 Brahms, Ballade in D, Op. 10, No. 2 Billings, “Chester” (“Let tyrants shake their iron rod”) Martucci, Nocturne, Op. 70, No. 1 Verdi, Ave Maria from Otello

    Jeremy Black & James Panero discuss “The scream of steam”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 38:15


    Jeremy Black and James Panero discuss the transformative power of steam engines, the evolution of rail systems, and the cultural and social impact of railways in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They also explore the challenges of public transport systems, the importance of public safety, and Black's latest article on the history of the British Navy. Occasioned by “The scream of steam” in the January 2025 issue of The New Criterion. 

    Music for a While #95: In dulci jubilo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 33:16


    A Christmas selection: songs old and newer, performed by Leontyne Price, Luciano Pavarotti, Heidi Grant Murphy, Odetta, Mel Tormé, et glorious al. Trad., “Angels We Have Heard on High” Bach, “Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben,” from the Christmas Oratorio Trad., “Ríu ríu chíu” Trad., “Il est né, le divin Enfant” Schultz, “Ihr Kinderlein, kommet” Schubert-Melichar, “Mille cherubini in coro” Trad. (Moravian), “Long Ago in Bethlehem” Trad., “What Month Was Jesus Born In?” Martin & Blane, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Tormé & Wells, “The Christmas Song”

    Music for a While #94: Zweig & Strauss et al.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 32:44


    Lately, Jay has been writing about Stefan Zweig's memoirs, “The World of Yesterday.” Zweig was a writer of immense talent and versatility. He also knew a lot of music and a lot of musicians. Composers set poems of his to music. Strauss collaborated with him on an opera. This episode is dedicated to Zweig and music. Reger, “Ein Drängen ist in meinem Herzen” List, “Feux follets” Marx, “Ein Drängen ist in meinem Herzen” Strauss, “Die schweigsame Frau,” Act I, finale Strauss, “Die schweigsame Frau,” “Wie schön ist doch die Musik”

    Music for a While #93: Thanksgiving time

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 32:05


    As Jay explains in his introduction, he has done many Christmas podcasts. And Fourth of July podcasts. And an Easter podcast or two. And Halloween podcasts. But not until now a Thanksgiving podcast. So, here are songs of gratitude and other items appropriate to the holiday. A little feast on its own, filling but not fattening. Handel or Ochs, “Dank sei Dir, Herr” Berlin, “I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For” Strauss, “Zueignung” Chabrier, “Ballade des gros dindons” ?, “The Turkey of 29 Pounds” Valerius-Paulus, “We Gather Together” Brahe, “Bless This House” Beethoven, Andante from String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

    Music for a While #92: A few of our favorite things

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 38:45


    This episode begins with Mozart—the glorious, peppy last movement of a piano concerto—and ends with Sarah Vaughan, singing a song (“Black Coffee”). In between we have Bill Monroe, Fanny Mendelssohn, Earl Scruggs—a real variety show. But all to a purpose. Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat, K. 449, last movement Clarke, “The Cloths of Heaven” Monroe, “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Bernstein, “Some Other Time” Mendelssohn, Fanny, arr. Masur, Ken-David, “Schöne Fremde” Dunhill, “The Cloths of Heaven” Kern, “Why Was I Born?” Scruggs, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Burke, “Black Coffee”

    Music for a While #91: Theme songs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 40:18


    Jay begins with the song for which the podcast is named: “Music for a While,” by Purcell. He ends with some theme music by the late Quincy Jones, “The Streetbeater.” In between are Mendelssohn, Liszt, Sibelius, and estimable others. A nicely diverse program. Purcell, “Music for a While” Mendelssohn, “Song without Words” Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D, “Haffner,” Presto Liszt, “Chasse-neige” Strauss, excerpt from “Elektra” Sibelius, “Water Droplets” Widor, Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5 Jones, “The Streetbeater”

    Piano Evening with David Dubal & Cecile Licad

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 85:16


    On October 24, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at The Players with David Dubal for a special version of his beloved piano evenings, featuring Cecile Licad performing Frédéric Chopin's 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

    Roger Kimball introduces the October issue

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 20:51


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the October 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    D. J. Taylor on George Orwell

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 15:48


    On September 5, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine's headquarters to hear remarks from D. J. Taylor in celebration of his new books, “Orwell: The New Life” (Simon & Schuster) & “Who is Big Brother?” (Yale University Press).

    Roger Kimball introduces the September issue

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 21:35


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the September 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    Music for a While #90: A winning violinist, etc.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 42:24


    Werner Hink, who for many years was a concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, has died. Jay interviewed him some years ago and found him memorable. This episode ends with some playing by Hink (Bach). There is also some Schubert by Isaac Stern, whom Hink prized. There's a little Broadway, a little rap. A nice buffet of music. Mozart, Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90, second movement Schubert, “Serenade” Rodgers-Sondheim, “Hate Song” from “The Mad Show” Prokofiev, March from “The Love for Three Oranges” Ginastera, Violin Concerto, final section C+C Music Factory, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” Trad., “Shine You No More (Last Leaf)” Bach, Adagio from the Violin Sonata in G minor

    Jeremy Black & James Panero discuss “Britain & the Middle East”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 42:10


    Jeremy Black, author of “The Holocaust: History and Memory,” and James Panero, Executive Editor of “The New Criterion,” discuss the misplacing of blame for the Middle East's instability.

    Music for a While #89: Ragtime & other riches

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 49:17


    Jay begins this episode with Paul Hindemith, who in 1921 combined his interest in ragtime with his love of Bach. There is also a minuet by Ravel, glancing back at Haydn. There is a song by Zemlinsky, setting Langston Hughes. There are wonders and curiosities in this episode—which, by the way, has a sponsor: Michael Lohafer, who, as Jay says, is “a particular authority on Mozart.” Mr. Lohafer says, “My sponsorship is on behalf of all attentive listeners to Music for a While who enjoy the well-considered selections that always delight the ear.” Bach, Fugue in C minor from “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” Book 1 Hindemith, “Ragtime (Well-Tempered)” Ravel, “Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn” Schumann, “Faschingsschwank aus Wien” Zemlinsky, “Afrikanischer Tanz” from “Symphonische Gesänge” Liszt, “Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa” from “Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année: Italie” Vasks, Dolcissimo from “The Book” Prokofiev, Sonata No. 7, Precipitato Martinů, Fantasia for String Quartet, Oboe, Theremin, and Piano Gounod, “Ah! lève-toi, soleil!” from “Roméo et Juliette” Tchaikovsky-Pletnev, Pas de deux from “The Nutcracker”

    Music for a While #88: Shout it out

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 39:54


    In this episode, Jay begins with a shout—“Carolina Shout,” the classic jazz number by James P. Johnson. There are songs by Schumann, Puccini, and Porter (Cole). There are piano preludes—starter pieces by their composers. At the end, there is a sunburst of calypso. Enjoy this smorgasbord. Johnson, James P., “Carolina Shout” Schumann, “Röseleine, Röseleine!” Bonds, Margaret, “Young Love in Spring” Szymanowski, Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 1, No. 8 Gorecki, Prelude, Op. 1, No. 4 Puccini, “Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso,” from “La rondine” Puccini, “Chi il bel sogno,” from “La rondine” Young, Victor, arr., Evans, Bill, “When I Fall in Love” Porter, Cole, “Don't Fence Me In” Tanker, André, arr., Shaw, Theron, “Morena Osha”

    Peter Vertacnik reads from “The Nature of Things Fragile”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 16:51


    The Friends of The New Criterion recently gathered for an evening in celebration of Peter Vertacnik, whose “The Nature of Things Fragile” won the magazine's twenty-third poetry prize. Listen to hear Peter read a number of poems from this new collection.

    Music for a While #87: Spring forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 38:28


    Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn't want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson et Dalila” Schumann, “Er ist's” Hoiby, “Always It's Spring” Wolf, “Er ist's” Schumann, “Spring” Symphony, first movement Warlock, “Pretty Ring Time”

    Goodbye, Dr. Banda

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 17:40


    On March 14, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine's headquarters to hear remarks from Dr. Alexander Chula on his new book, “Goodbye, Dr. Banda: Lessons for the West From a Small African Country.”

    Music for a While #86: A Williams gala

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 36:43


    Recently, Carnegie Hall hosted a John Williams gala. The program was all-Williams and the composer himself conducted most of the concert. In this episode, Jay hosts his own little Williams gala. All by John Williams: “The Mission” Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” Olympic Fanfare and Theme Main Title from “Catch Me If You Can” Raiders March from “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” Flying Theme from “E.T.” The Imperial March, a.k.a. Darth Vader's Theme, from “Star Wars”

    Is there life after woke?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 37:52


    On February 29, the Galliard Society joined the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion at The Players in New York for remarks delivered by Dominic Green.

    Music for a While #85: Our leap baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 37:25


    Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. So Jay doffs his cap to him. We also hear Schubert, Brahms, Ravel, and worthy others (including Dvořák, who knew how to swing). Rossini, Overture to “La gazza ladra” Schubert, Symphony No. 5, first movement Ravel, Piano Concerto in D for Left Hand Alone Dvořák, Symphony No. 7, Scherzo Chopin, Étude in A flat, Op. 25, No. 1, “Aeolian Harp” Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Rondo

    Jeremy Black & James Panero in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 44:28


    On the River Thames, the rise of cities & the future of history. A conversation occasioned by Jeremy Black's essay in our February 2024 issue.

    Music for a While #84: A world of (love) songs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 42:59


    A Valentine's Day special—with music by the likes of Strauss, Poulenc, and Barber, sung by the likes of Jessye Norman, Arleen Auger, and Leontyne Price. A bouquet, a box of candies—a musical present for you. Trad., arr. Quilter, “Over the Mountains” Strauss, “Traum durch die Dämmerung” Strauss, “Amor” Poulenc, “Fleurs” Koechlin, “Si tu le veux” Prokofiev, Amoroso, from “Cinderella” Fusté, “Háblame de amores” Donaudy, “O del mio amato ben” Leoncavallo, “Mattinata” Barber, “Nocturne” Wild, Étude on Gershwin's “Embraceable You” Bridge, “Love Went A-Riding”

    Music for a While #84: Pieces & people to know

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 47:22


    Some rare Prokofiev, some common Prokofiev. An operatic blast from the past (Price and Tucker). A tribute to Colette Maze, a French pianist who has died at 109. Another tribute to Ewa Podleś, the great Polish contralto. A mixture of music, and thoughts, in this episode. Tchaikovsky, “Miniature Overture” from “The Nutcracker” Prokofiev, Symphony No. 2 Puccini, Love Duet, “Madama Butterfly” Prokofiev, Symphony No. 5 Prokofiev, Amoroso from “Cinderella” Debussy, Arabesque No. 1 Prokofiev, “The Field of the Dead,” from “Alexander Nevsky”

    Music for a While #83: Christmas carols (& other timely music)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 40:57


    Jay offers tracks of various types—appropriate to the season. From William Byrd on through spirituals and George Shearing. Merry Christmas. Bach, Christmas Oratorio Handel, “Messiah” Byrd, “This Day Christ Was Born” Niles, “I Wonder as I Wander” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” with George Shearing and his quintet Gounod, “Noël” Leontovych, “Carol of the Bells” Trad.?, “Long Ago in Bethlehem” Rutter, “Shepherd Pipe's Carol” Adam, “O Holy Night” A medley of spirituals, from Chanticleer

    Music for a While #81: Pictures, souvenirs & more

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 42:50


    Mussorgsky was inspired by some pictures at an exhibition. Mendelssohn, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky, among others, were inspired by their sojourns in Italy. In this podcast, Jay leads an enjoyable and enriching tour. Mussorgsky, “Pictures at an Exhibition” Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4, Saltarello Strauss, “Aus Italien,” “Neapolitan Folk Life” Tchaikovsky, “Capriccio italien” Verdi, “Va, pensiero,” from “Nabucco” Mozart, “Ave verum corpus” Sibelius, “The Swan of Tuonela” Mozart, “Alleluia” from “Exsultate, jubilate”

    Wilfred M. McClay & James Panero in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 45:47


    Executive Editor James Panero sits down with Visiting Critic Wilfred M. McClay to discuss “The burden of the humanities,” the fifth annual Circle Lecture of The New Criterion. The full text of the speech will be available in the November 2023 issue. For more information about the Circle of The New Criterion, visit newcriterion.com/circle.

    Music for a While #80: Telling the time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 41:31


    A phrase has crept up into our political discussion: “to know what time it is.” Jay begins this episode with a Rodgers & Hart song: “I Didn't Know What Time It Was.” Then we have Mozart, Boccherini, Rachmaninoff, Donizetti—a slew of interesting items. The episode ends with Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five. Rodgers & Hart, arr. Riddle, “I Didn't Know What Time It Was” Mozart, String Quartet in C, K. 465, first movement Boccherini, Quintet No. 4, “Fandango” movement Rachmaninoff, Serenade in B-flat minor, Op. 3, No. 5 Donizetti, excerpt from “Poliuto” Rachmaninoff, “Lilacs,” arranged by the composer for piano Rachmaninoff, “Lilacs” (song) Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Quintet in F major, Op. 143, first movement Atkins, “Heebie Jeebies”

    Music for a While #79: Flicka-fest

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 41:30


    Frederica von Stade—known all over as “Flicka”—is an American mezzo-soprano and one of the greatest singers of our time, or any. Last month, Jay recorded a podcast with her, a “Q&A”: here. She is one of the most versatile singers. What Jay presents here is a sampler. Mozart, “Ah, perdona al primo affetto,” from “La clemenza di Tito” Fauré, “La rose” Trad., arr. Britten, “O Waly, Waly,” “Come You Not from Newcastle?,” “Oliver Cromwell” Rossini, “Bel raggio lusinghier,” from “Semiramide” Trad., arr. Canteloube, “Baïlèro,” from “Chants d'Auvergne” Hall, “Jenny Rebecca” Berlioz, “L'île inconnu,” from “Les nuits d'été” Mahler, Symphony No. 4, last movement

    Music for a While #78: Musical moments

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 41:35


    Several composers have written “moments musicaux,” or “musical moments,” including Schubert and Rachmaninoff. So has a contemporary American, Joshua Nichols. Jay plays a “moment” from each composer. (Actually, Rachmaninoff gets two.) He also plays music from Brazil, etc. The episode ends with a souvenir of the late André Watts. Rachmaninoff, Moment musical in C major, Op. 16, No. 6 Villa-Lobos, Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 Villa-Lobos, “A prole do bebê” (complete) Oswald, Elegy Nichols, Joshua, Moment musical, “A great slide with a side of funk” Offenbach, Barcarolle from “The Tales of Hoffmann” Rachmaninoff, Moments musicaux, Op. 16 (complete) Verdi, “Non so le tetre immagini,” from “Il corsaro” Schubert, Moment musical in F minor, Op. 94, No. 3

    Music for a While #77: 'Tis of thee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 44:03


    A program of American, or American-ish, music, in honor of Independence Day. Trad., “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” Dvorak, String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American,” final movement Puccini, “ Dovunque al mondo ,” from “Madama Butterfly” Joplin, “Gladiolus Rag” Gershwin, “Summertime,” from “Porgy and Bess” Gershwin-Wild, Virtuoso Étude on “Liza” Copland, “Going to Heaven!” Wheeler, “Isolation Rag” Bernstein, “Mambo,” from “West Side Story” Harbison, “Standards” Lowry-Copland, “At the River”

    Music for a While #76: Bustin' out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 43:41


    Yes, June is bustin' out, and so is a new episode. Jay plays that song and several others, known and less known. There's also piano music, a violin piece—a tasty musical meal. Rodgers & Hammerstein, “June Is Bustin' Out All Over,” from “Carousel” Kern & Harbach, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” from “Roberta” Albéniz, “Evocación,” from “Iberia,” Book 1 Strauss, Adolf, “Ich weiß bestimmt, ich werd' dich wiedersehen” Bloch, “Nigun,” from “Baal Shem” Romberg & Hammerstein, “Stout-hearted Men,” from “The New Moon” Lehrer, “Alma” Respighi, “Notturno”

    Roger Kimball introduces the June issue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 18:12


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the June 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    Music for a While #75: A coronation, a swan & more

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 47:45


    “Zadok the Priest” is the musical hit of British coronations, and has been since the 1720s. “The Swan” is a hit too, and is never more magical than in Godowsky's piano arrangement. These are two of the selections in this episode. Others are by Mozart, Leroy Anderson, and other worthies. An appetizing, eclectic menu. Handel, “Zadok the Priest” Mozart, Serenade from “Don Giovanni” Anderson, Piano Concerto in C Handel, “Ah, mio cor, schernito sei,” from “Alcina” Saint-Saëns-Godowsky, “The Swan” Bacewicz, String Quartet No. 4 Cilea, “Poveri fiori” from “Adriana Lecouvreur” Bach-Godowsky, Andante from the Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor

    The meaning of ballet with Lincoln Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 40:47


    On May 11, 2023, The New Criterion welcomed Lincoln Jones, the director of the American Contemporary Ballet, Los Angeles, alongside the dancer Hannah Barr for a discussion and demonstration of ballet at a Friends and Young Friends spring soirée in the editorial offices, with an introduction by Executive Editor James Panero. To become a Friend or Young Friend of The New Criterion, follow this link: https://newcriterion.com/friends.

    Isaac Sligh & James Panero in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 18:00


    Isaac Sligh & James Panero discuss the Republic of Georgia, Crusaders, travel writing, audiophiles & more. To read Isaac's article on Crusaders and the Caucasus in The Critic, visit https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/march-2023/land-of-ghosts-and-legends/. To learn more about the Ralston Listening Library, which Isaac used to curate, visit https://new.sewanee.edu/ralstonlisteninglibrary/.

    Roger Kimball introduces the May issue

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 18:25


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the May 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    Music for a While #74: Speak low, speak high

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 37:08


    Jay concludes this episode with “Speak Low,” the Kurt Weill song (lyrics by Ogden Nash). Before that, you have any number of other interesting things. Well, a specific number: six. A very tasty menu of music. Handel, “The Harmonious Blacksmith” Strauss, “Malven” Boccherini-Berio, “Ritirata notturna di Madrid” García Lorca, “Sevillanas” Wagner, “Lohengrin,” Prelude to Act III Wolf, “Die Spröde” Weill & Nash, “Speak Low”

    Music for a While #73: Happy Easter

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 45:43


    A program of music, by a slew of composers. Bach, “Preis und Dank,” from the Easter Oratorio Bach, “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein,” from the St. Matthew Passion Mascagni, Easter Hymn, from “Cavalleria rusticana” Trad., arr. Bonds, “You Can Tell the World” Handel, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” from “Messiah” Rimsky-Korsakov, “Russian Easter Festival Overture” Fauré, Pie Jesu, from Requiem East, James H., “He's So Wonderful” Mahler, Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”

    Adam Kirsch & James Panero in conversation; a reading by Brian Brodeur

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 26:15


    Adam Kirsch & James Panero discuss the April poetry issue, the New Criterion Poetry Prize, and more. Brian Brodeur reads selections from his winning book, Some Problems with Autobiography (Criterion Books).

    conversations reading panero adam kirsch some problems brian brodeur
    Roger Kimball introduces the April issue

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 18:56


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the April 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    Music for a While #72: Songs, dances, laments . . .

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 40:17


    A smorgasbord of music, from the light and Viennesey to the angular and modern. Bacewicz, Overture for Orchestra Vustin, “Lamento” Sæverud, “Ballad of Revolt” Johnston/Burke, “Pennies from Heaven” Escaich, “Nun komm” Helmesberger, “Entr'acte Valse” Mussorgsky, Serenade, from “Songs and Dances of Death” Strauss, Eduard, “Mit Extrapost — Polka schnell” Giordano, “Amor ti vieta,” from “Fedora”

    Roger Kimball introduces the March issue

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 17:48


    Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the March 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

    Robert Erickson & James Panero in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 34:06


    Robert Erickson and James Panero discuss Plutarch, plays, pastrami, and more. The second of our podcasts on the Hilton Kramer Fellowship. The texts used in the New Criterion classics reading group are as follows: —Histories, Herodotus, Landmark Edition, tr. Andrea L. Purvis, ed. Robert B. Strassler —Persians, Aeschylus, tr. Janet Lembke & C. J. Herrington —Theogony and Works & Days, Hesiod, tr. M. L. West —Parallel Lives, Plutarch, tr. John Dryden, ed. Arthur Hugh Clough —Metamorphoses, Ovid, tr. Charles Martin —Aeneid, Vergil, tr. Sarah Ruden

    Music for a While #71: Music in the life of Paul Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 41:44


    Paul Johnson, the great English historian and journalist, passed away last month. Music was important in the life of Paul Johnson. Jay has arranged a little program, in tribute. Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, first movement Bruckner, Scherzo from Symphony No. 9 Brahms, Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2 Mozart, Ave verum corpus Nelson, “Crazy” Mozart, Clarinet Quintet Schumann, Finale from “Faschingsschwank aus Wien” Kern & DeSylva, “Look for the Silver Lining”

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