Listening all day to Classical Music by Women, here are some highlights: Florence Price (1887-1953): Symphony No. 1 in E minor youtu.be/9s4yY_A2A2k #ClassicalMusic #symphony #MusicWomenWednesday

Enormous congratulations to Marc-André Hamlin for making @npr.org’s Top 25 Songs of the Year list with his recording of John Oswald's fascinating multiplicity of quotes from the classical, jazz and pop canons, 'Tip' 👏👏👏

To celebrate the birthday of French composer César Franck (1822 - 1890), I’ll be listening to these recordings by two of my favorite musicians in the Cello Sonata and his sublime piano music. Thank you, Sir Stephen Hough and Steven Isserlis.

Boston College looks at how Laura Carlo, who is here in the Blue, became a Boston radio icon by building connection with listeners like me. She’s still connecting with us here. bcheights.com/225146/featu...

Launch Day! "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" is now officially streaming on Prime Video! My co-producers and I hope that this holiday season you, your families and friends enjoy this entertaining, deep dive into a one-of-a-kind jazz legacy and a one-of-a-kind city.

Finlandia! - Today is the birthday of Finland’s native son Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). I am celebrating by listening to his brief tone poem Finlandia, Op.26. In the 80-plus hours of music he wrote, it occupies just eight minutes, yet distills Finland's bold, proud essence.

Pletnev Returns - The renowned pianist and conductor's pianism isn't every critic's cup of tea. No matter. I love his playing and am excited that Deutsche Grammophon is releasing his first piano recording for the label in years. It features the Chopin Op. 28 and Scriabin Op. 11 Preludes.

Stopped at the New Harmony (IN) Gallery of Contemporary Art this weekend for the Filled Up 6: Ceramic Cup Show. Go see it before it ends December 20.

Happy Positivity Monday. Enjoy life.

In this outtake from Pat Metheny's interview for "The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit," the superstar guitarist explores the quality of human connection that links Detroit musicians across genres. The film premieres Dec. 9 on Prime Video. Don't miss it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAZJ...

Congratulations to @jessicaduchen.bsky on having her new book “Myra Hess, National Treasure” named Book of the Year by Presto Music. This well-researched book is full of insights on the great pianist and features a foreward by her student Stephen Kovacevich. What a great holiday gift idea!

This album by the late George Winston was released for Christmas in 1983. Filled with piano solos that evoke the season, it became my favorite holiday recording. It still is. New Age, Folk? I don't know what to call it. I just know it is special. Nothing puts me in the spirit like December.

Making His Point – Today is the birthday of French Post-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat (1859-1891), who pioneered Pointillism. His masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (Art Institute of Chicago), inspired the 1983 Sondheim musical, “Sunday in the Park With George.”

"The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit" officially premieres on Prime Video in just over a week on Dec. 9.

Happy Positivity Monday. This is how it works, even in retirement.

Remembering with fond admiration the late Romanian pianist Radu Lupu (1945-2022). He understood Brahms’ late piano music like few pianists and played the Intermezzi Op.117 – 119 as encores to his piano recitals. The other pianist to give us these works' essential truths is Sir Stephen Hough.

Thoughts from Alex Ross on the great #RaduLupu, who would have turned 80 today. therestisnoise.com/for-radu-lupu/

Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih explore the rich tradition of cello playing in the Czech Republic this evening with a programme including striking works by Janáček, Martinů and Dvořák 💫 🕰️ 7.30pm 🎶 Czech Gems 🎟️ https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202511291930

Without question.

Celebrating the birthday of great Romantic composer, conductor, teacher and piano virtuoso Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) with his Piano Concerto No.4 in D, Op.70 of 1864/72. Playing are virtuoso pianists Shura Cherkassky (on Decca in 1994) and Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion 2005).

Placing this snowy Motawi tile on its stand always signals the start of the holiday season for me.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. A day to be as grateful as they are not to be on your table. 

Happy 46th birthday to violinist Hilary Hahn. Wishing her good health and a speedy return to performing.

American pianist-composer Earl Wild (1915-2010) was born 110 years ago today. From the LA Times: "Wild had to be 'the world’s only pianist to have composed for Sid Caesar, toured with Eleanor Roosevelt, and been ranked in dexterity with Vladimir Horowitz,' the Washington Post pointed out in 1986."

Happy Birthday (110) to the late, great American pianist-composer Earl Wild (1915-2010). He had a phenomenal technique and beautiful tone, and composed transcriptions of music from Gershwin to Rachmaninoff, which led to a late-career renaissance. He gave recitals until he was 92.

Summer Portraits is a Dream - I have listened to Ludovico Einaudi's music for over 15 years. This recent album is somewhat different, more evocative and dreamlike. With electronics in the mix with piano, it sounds more like Max Richter, and that is a good thing. Beauty through and through.

I believe this is true for anyone who creates, whether it is art, music, writing, dance – whatever art form It may be.

Happy Positivity Monday. Enjoy your present.

Striving for Equality - Happy 82nd Birthday (yesterday) to Billie Jean King, tennis champion, feminist, and activist for equal pay for professional athletes. She has been - and continues to be - an inspiration for people around the world.

Nearly every panel I spoke on this year ended with the same question: "What gives you hope?" My friends, that question expired years ago. (If you need receipts, my book Saving Us is literally a 300-page answer.) The real question is: How are you PRACTICING hope? Because Greta is right ..

Happy 64th birthday to pianist and composer Sir Stephen Hough, one of my favorite musicians. Enjoyed meeting him three years ago in Indianapolis, following his concert with the Indianapolis Symphony. The orchestra was kind in helping to arrange it.

IT’S HERE IT’S HERE IT’S HERE!!!! The very first album ever dedicated to Avril Coleridge-Taylor. This has been such a labour of love - please do listen to it, her music deserves to be heard @jkaconductor.bsky.social @tomedney.bsky.social open.spotify.com/album/6EroQD...

Wonderful composer! I'm so glad this album of music by Avril Coleridge-Taylor has finally been released. It's beautiful! 😍

Happy Fri-Yay. This is definitely a second or third cup of coffee, kind of day.

Happy birthday to Jenő Blau, whom we know as Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985). The celebrated, long-serving Music Director (42 yrs.) of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he left a long recorded legacy on Columbia and RCA. I'm grateful to Sony Classical for giving us the majority of it in beautiful sets.

Happy Positivity Monday. Laugh and love.

it means everything. Happy World Kindness Day 2025.

Happy Positivity Monday. With food insecurity happening in our community, find a way to feed a neighbor.

A dream come true: film footage of Simon Barere on TV in 1950 has surfaced and it's extraordinary. He plays an abridged version of the Gounod-Liszt Faust Waltz with his legendary dazzling technique & great lyricism - and the unmoving face of Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch & other greats. Link in comments!

Feed one. It’s a start.

An introduction to Victor Schiøler and a link to the latest recordings, with a special focus on one of the superb Chopin Preludes from his unpublished 1956 cycle; also, two tributes I prepared about the artist: www.patreon.com/posts/143141...

Danish pianist Victor Schiøler studied with Friedman & Schnabel, taught Victor Borge, and produced hours of superb recordings. His 1956 Chopin Preludes remained unpublished, and extensive searches finally uncovered a pressing uncatalogued in the archive - and WOW! Check the link in the comments!

Legendary pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) was born in Lyon, France, to German parents 130 years ago today. He was a master colorist who became closely identified with the piano music of French composer Claude Debussy. A timeless artist.

Ceramic violin 1710 At the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon. (from post by Jeanphi Lippe)

Legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette (1942-2025) passed away from congestive heart failure yesterday in Kingston, New York. He brought his fluid, versatile playing to Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and, more recently, Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. Rest in Peace.

Happy Positivity Monday. They are.

Some records stand the test of time to become classics. This one has. Verve's album from saxophonist Stan Getz, “Getz/Gilberto,” was a cultural phenomenon in the mid-1960s, fueling the popularity of Bossa-Nova music. This Impex Records SACD/1Step is its best release yet.

Enjoy your Friday morning, coffee, friends. Painting “Provence Café Morning“ by David Lloyd Glover, oil on canvas

Art today. Sharing this 1912 oil painting, “The Road to Cape Porpoise,” by artist Willard Leroy Metcalf (1858-1925), a leading American Impressionist and member of the Ten American Painters, or simply, The Ten. His best known works are of the New England countryside and shore.

Hear it?