New Book Praises Met Opera Maestro James Levine’s Deep Humanity
Symphony at Seven 
Host:John Rittmeyer
Classical 101 Afternoon Announcer and Host of Symphony at 7.
Nikolaus Harnoncourt Honored by Royal Philharmonic Society
The Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in London on Sunday, April 22 for his pioneering role in period-instrument performance practices of Baroque and Classical works, both in the instrumental and choral repertoire, and for his continuing contributions as a conductor, cellist, teacher, and author.
Mozart, Beethoven and Marriner on Symphony @ 7
Mozart’s final symphony from Salzburg before moving on to Vienna and a Beethoven piano concerto performance celebrating the opening of the 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra will be featured this evening on Symphony @ 7.
Well Tempered Beethoven: Even-Numbered Symphonies Featured
Beethoven in 1803, painted by Christian Horneman
On Symphony @7 for the rest of this week, we’re continuing our short series of the even-numbered symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. We started with No. 2 on Tuesday, and we’ll finish with No. 8 on Friday.
There have long been discussions about the “even-odd” dichotomy of Beethoven’s symphonies. The odd-numbered ones have been called the great revolutionary works, particularly the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth, while the even-numbered ones are nice but not as important.
A Bear of a Symphony by Haydn: No. 82 in C
Brown Bear in Norway
This evening on Symphony @ 7 we have a “bear” of a symphony by Franz Joseph Haydn–a dancing bear, that is. His Symphony No. 82 in C is nicknamed “The Bear.” It’s one of the six “Paris Symphonies,” first performed in that city in 1787.
A Musical Delirium from Berlioz on Symphony @ 7
A cartoon of Hector Berlioz conducting a choir published in "Journel pour rire," June 27, 1850. (Photo: Gustave Dore)
Join us this evening for the story of an imaginary opium-induced journey in the Symphonie fantastique of Hector Berlioz. As noted in a previous post, it’s a wild ride from one of the great Early-Romantic French composers.
Mondays with Mahler Concludes with Symphony No. 1
Gustav Mahler, at the time of his First Symphony
Our countdown of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler concludes with his Symphony No.1 this evening on Symphony @ 7. We’ve been presenting the nine completed symphonies in the order of number of releases available on CD, from the fewest to most.
Mahler’s Fifth on Symphony @ 7
Mahler's second composing hut at Maiernigg.
In Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, we hear one of the most intense and dramatic expressions of the Romantic notion of music as a struggle from darkness to light, from despair to victory.
Mahler’s Fourth Symphony on Symphony @ 7
Allegorical painting by Rubens of Roman goddess Abundantia with a cornucopia.
At the end of Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony we are presented with a child’s vision of heaven in a song for soprano and orchestra. This is surely one of the most unusual endings for any symphony.
Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony on Symphony @ 7
Gustav Mahler in 1907
Our Monday with Mahler series continues with Symphony No. 2 in c minor, the Resurrection. After the poignant farewell to life in the Ninth Symphony we heard last week, this one has one of the most uplifting (no pun intended) and inspiring conclusions of any symphony.
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9 on Symphony@7
Our series of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler continues this evening on Symphony at 7. We are now halfway through this cycle presenting the nine completed symphonies in the order of number of released recordings available. At 101 releases, we have Mahler’s last completed symphony, No. 9 in D.
