The Morgan Library & Museum in NYC is presenting an exhibit of Mozart's personal items (letters, instruments) on loan from Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg thru May 31. See WETA Classical's Classical Score for my blog about my visit -- a tangible way to experience the real Mozart!

Les Français on display today on WETA Classical, honoring the birthdays of 19th century French composers Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré (below), whose lovely violin/piano piece is featured during 7am hour. Plus, Debussy's Fantasy for Piano & Orchestra at 9:00am. Bon jour!

Celebrating the birthday today of two preeminent Romantic-era composers: Johannes Brahms (b. 1833) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (b. 1840). Feted this morning @WETAClassical. Bring a morning beverage and enjoy with us.

A nod to May Day, a celebration of Spring and cultural festivities like the May Pole, this morning on WETA Classical, including Classical Sunrise 6:12am; part of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony 6:18am; Schumann's 1st Violin Sonata 7:41am; and Fauré's 1st Piano Trio 8:48am. Enjoy it with us.

A few highlights on WETA Classical this morning include Classical Sunrise at 6:14am accompanied by Bach's 3rd Brandenburg Concerto; Mendelssohn's 3rd string quartet 7:08am; a serenade for string quintet, oboe, bassoon and 2 horns 7:39am; and Faurés 2nd Piano Quartet 8:56am. Join us.

The heartfelt 3rd movement of R. Schumann's Piano Quartet accompanies this morning's sun for Classical Sunrise 6:41am on WETA Classical, a Mozart flute quartet 6:47am, followed at 9:00am by Beethoven's innovative "Kreutzer" Violin Sonata (1st mvt). And Identify the Composer 8:26am. Enjoy!

The opening of Beethoven's monumental Ninth (Choral) Symphony sounds murky and formless. But that was purposeful. The innovative LvB described it as "awakening of immense forces." Hear it this morning on WETA Classical at 7:00am. Bring coffee and join us. 🌤️🎵

Cherry blossoms now in peak bloom at Washington, DC's Tidal Basin. Here's a link to the Bloom cam to view them live: www.bloomcam.org

Celebrating the birthday of Franz Joseph Haydn today (b 1732) on WETA Classical, an important and influential Classical-era figure who helped establish the string quartet and symphonic forms. His chamber music and piano sonata during 6am hour and his energetic Clock symphony 9:16am.

Birthday today of conductor Arturo Toscanini (b 1867) head of NY Phil, Met Orchestra, NBC Orchestra and conductor of premiere of Puccini's Turandot! And birthday of composer Béla Bartók (b 1881). WETA Classical sunrise at 7:05am greets sun with Mendelssohn chamber music. Bring coffee and join us.

We'll get an early jump on Spring this morning (Equinox 10:46am ET) on WETA Classical with cello/piano combo for Classical Sunrise at 7:12am, and cello/piano combo of JS Bach at 8:35am, whose birthday we celebrate this month. And 1st day of DC's Cherry Blossom Festival.☀️🌺

A concerto grosso from GF Handel's great Op. 6 collection accompanies this morning's sun at 7:16am for Classical Sunrise on WETA Classical. Plus, a piano quartet of Gabriel Fauré at 8:38am and Dvorak's Violin Sonata 8:52am. Bring coffee and join us.

Spotlight on chamber music -- small ensemble -- this morning on WETA Classical with Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn and Louise Farrenc during 6am hour; Schumann's Piano Trio #1 greets the sun for Classical Sunrise at 7:26am; and Prince Louis Ferdinand's charming piano quartet 8:25am. Join us.

Some highlights this morning at WETA Classical include Classical Sunrise at 6:34am; Chopin cello/piano duo at 7:19am; charming chamber music of Schubert at 8:46am; and an "imaginary" symphony based on music by Baroque composer Rameau at 9:40am. Daylight Saving starts this Sunday!

Antonio Vivaldi, Baroque composer born on this day in 1678, influential to his peers, early creator of program music, the "red priest" who served as maestro at the Ospedale della Pietà for poor and orphaned children, is feted today with his oboe concerto, 7:47am on WETA Classical.

Cello abounds this morning at WETA Classical! A Baroque cello concerto of Leonardo Leo at 7:55am; Saint-Saëns cello/violin duo at 9:00am; and Victor Herbert's Cello Concerto #2 at 9:31am. Plus Classical Sunrise -- Dvorak String Quartet #13, at 6:40am. Enjoy!🌄

It's Mardi Gras, and festive music at WETA Classical this morning. A Brahms cello sonata at 6:53am, Handel's Organ Concerto musically greets the sun for Classical Sunrise at 6:58am; the opening mvt of Beethoven's Eroica at 7:13am; and Mozart's PC #23 at 9:15am. Bring a beignet and join us.,

Good morning! Highlights this morning on WETA Classical include a Baroque recorder concerto 6:55am; Part 2 of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique for Classical Sunrise 7:05am; the finale of Beethoven's String Quartet #9 "Razumovsky" 7:47am; and Liszt's 2nd Piano Concerto 9:24am.

Some highlights on WETA Classical this morning (Feb 5) include vivacious chamber music by American Arthur Foote for Classical Sunrise 7:11am, a viola concerto 7:55am, Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Brahms's 2nd violin sonata 8:18am, and Rachmaninoff's grand Rhapsody on Paganini 9:19am. Join us!☀️🎵

Birthday today of Felix Mendelssohn (b. 1809) from early Romantic era, influential composer of music inspired by 18th century Classical models while infused with expressive, free style emerging in the 19th century. His Violin Sonata in F at 8am today at WETA Classical. Join us. 🎁

All eyes on Pennsylvania's Groundhog Phil today for his prognostication -- more winter or an early spring? Based on medieval Candelmas: "If Candelmas be fair and bright, winter has another flight; if Candelmas brings clouds and rain, winter shall not come again". WETA Classical.

A birthday nod to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who unfailingly captures us with beauty, elegance, depth and wit. Born on this day in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria, as vital today as ever. His statue in Salzburg:

Today's Classical Sunrise at WETA Classical is the finale of Florence Price's innovative String Quartet #2 (comp. 1935) at 7:25am. Plus, the opening movements of two youthful and inventive piano concertos: Rachmaninoff's First at 7:29am and Clara Wieck's at 8:35am. Bring coffee and join us! 🎵☕

A cup of hot tea -- it's National Hot Tea Month -- is perfect this cold Friday morning in DC. WETA Classical has 18th century trumpet for Classical Sunrise 7:25am, traditional Irish tunes performed by guitar combo 7:17am and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue 9:00am. Join us.🌄

Here is a photograph of Robert Schumann circa 1850, just a few years before his death, always pondering, always deep in thoughts of music.

Here is a photograph of Robert Schumann circa 1850, just a few years before his death, always pondering, always deep in thoughts of music.

Today (Jan 13) is Public Radio Broadcasting Day! Thank you for your support to WETA Classical. 🙏

Good morning! A few highlights this morning on WETA Classical include two violin/piano combos: a cheerful one by 19th century violinist Emile Sauret for Classical Sunrise at 7:27am, and a passionate one by American Arthur Foote at 8:13am. Plus, Mozart and Florence Price. Join us.

Wishing everyone a healthy new year filled with peace. Thanks for supporting WETA Classical. Continuing our Classical Countdown Rewind today through 7pm (a surprise #1 this year!). And it's the start of National Hot Tea Month, so welcome these cold winter morns. 🙏☮️

Today (NY Eve) and tomorrow (NY Day), WETA Classical rewinds Classical Countdown, music selected by you, from #100 to #1 (a nice surprise this year!). And we waltz into the new year with a tribute to Waltz King Johann Strauss, Jr., 11pm-Midnight tonight, hosted by James Jacobs.🍾

International Cello Day today celebrates the rich sonorities of this beautiful instrument and commemorates the birthday of the renowned cellist, Pablo Casals (b. 1876). Enjoy it in chamber and orchestral music today on WETA Classical.

Birthday today of Ludwig van Beethoven (b. 1770), innovator, pioneer, fierce, forging his own path, triumph over deafness. His music featured each hour this morning on WETA Classical.

Downright cold this AM in Washington, DC. But it's International Tea Day! Legend says tea was first discovered over 4,000 years ago in China when tree leaves blew into a pot of boiling water over a fire. The rest is history. Baroque Classical Sunrise 7:23am @WETAClassical🌤️

The elegant waltz from Tchaikovsky's great opera, Eugene Onegin, welcomes the sun for Classical Sunrise this morning 7:16am @WETAClassical. Other highlights: a symphonic poem by Liszt at 7:54am, Mozart flute quartet 8:02am and Schumann's Cello Concerto 9:19am. Enjoy!

Highlights this morning on WETA Classical include the graceful 3rd movement of Dvorak's Symphony #8 for Classical Sunrise at 7:10am; Emanuel Ax plays Chopin's dramatic 2nd Scherzo at 8:01am; and woodwinds on display all morning. Stay warm and join us.

WETA Classical's annual Classical Countdown starts this morning, counting down the top 100 Classical music pieces as selected by listeners. Sporadic countdowns through Wednesday and all day Thanksgiving, with the #1 piece Thanksgiving night -it's not always Beethoven's 9th!

Cellist Amid Peled provides Classical Sunrise this morning 6:58am @WETAClassical with Baroque music of Couperin. Also on the bill: Telemann's Baroque flute quartet at 7:58am and chamber music of Mendelssohn and Dvorak during 8am hour. Thanks for starting your day with us. 🙏

It's Apple Cider Day, a nice accompaniment to music @WETAClassical this morning, including Classical Sunrise at 6:54am, a harp concerto by Handel 7:14am, Rimsky-Korsakov's ode to Spain 7:22am, Mozart flute concerto 8:18am and JS Bach mandolin concerto 8:46am. Enjoy!

A fine list of musician birthdays today (Nov 14): Leopold Mozart (1719), Johann Nepomuk Humel (1778) and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805). And Aaron Copland (1900), whose Buckaroo Holiday we'll hear 9:48am @WETAClassical. Bring coffee and join us.

Highlights this Veteran's Day @WETAClassical include Chopin for Classical Sunrise 6:47am, a charming violin concerto by Haydn 7:00am and an 18th century viola concerto 7:36am, plus Scriabin's late-Romantic piano concerto 9:17am (contemporary of Rachmaninoff). And you, I hope.

A large, bright, low moon in DC skies this morning, not yet the full supermoon scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday, but beautiful! Then the sun rises 6:38am with a cello sonata for Classical Sunrise on WETA Classical. Plus Scriabin and Bruch during 8:00am hour. Enjoy with us.

Spotlight on piano this morning @WETAClassical! Litolff's delightful confection, Concerto symphonique, at 7:47am; Brahms 1st Piano Concerto at 8:20am; Beethoven Piano Sonata #28 at 8:49am and Liszt's 2nd Piano Concerto at 9:18am. Plus Tchaikovsky does Classical Sunrise 7:31am!

National Chocolate Day today! The history of chocolate dates to when cacao tree was domesticated in Mexico, more than 5,000 years ago. Enjoy it with delicious Classical music this morning on WETA Classical, including a piano caprice for Classical Sunrise 7:31am.

Baroque instruments on tap this morning @WETAClassical! Classical Sunrise greets the sun at 7:24AM with viola da gamba, violone (like a double bass) and 2 oboes. Plus, Baroque solo lute at 8:43am and solo guitar at 8:57am. Bring a beverage and join us.

A clarinet trio welcomes this morning's (Oct. 15) sun for Classical Sunrise at 7:17am @WETAClassical. Plus, the opening movement of Beethoven's masterful Kreutzer violin sonata at 8:01am and Chausson's piece for piano, violin & string quartet at 8:28am. You're always invited.

Giuseppe Verdi incorporated ballet segments within his great opera, Otello, for the Paris stage, featured today 7:54am @WETAClassical in honor of his birthday (b. 1813, Italy). And a birthday nod to pianist Evgeny Kissen (b. 1971, Moscow) -- he plays Schubert at 8:39am.

Happy birthday to Camille Saint-Saëns (b. 1835, Paris), brilliant pianist, organist, composer, avid traveler, student of astronomy and archaeology. Hear his Third Piano Concerto 9:18am today @WETAClassical.

Highlights this morning @WETAClassical include a violin & piano concerto of Mozart at 6:50am, incomplete at his death but reconstructed in the 20th century; Classical Sunrise spotlighting horns at 7:11am; and Chopin's variations on a Polish song, for piano & orchestra, 8:16am. 🎵

It's interesting to see and hear the progress of Johannes Brahms during his career. Today's Classical Sunrise 7:09am @WETAClassical is the graceful 3rd movement of his Symphony #2, composed when he looked like this, before he cultivated his famous beard and avuncular style.

I second John Banther's post below -- thank you to all who contributed to WETA Classical's Fall Pledge Drive to keep us strong and always available. 🙏