The Principal chair in a professional orchestra is a tremendously competitive and difficult accomplishment. Yet bassoonist Andrew Brady — who has been Principal Bassoon in The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra since the 2022-23 season — held that high profile job in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for six years, and for two years before that with […]

Reginald Mobley is a countertenor. It’s a male vocal range comparable to a female mezzo-soprano. And Reginald Mobley is one of THE top countertenors in the world! Nowadays, countertenors often sing baroque music roles that would have been sung by castrati singers in the past. and great countertenors use their artistry to sing many different

Mahan Esfahani has said that he wants to, ” … rehabilitate the harpsichord in the mainstream of concert instruments.” The Iranian American harpsichordist has a huge repertory that includes contemporary music and commissions, in addition to being devoted to baroque music. Today’s Beautiful Music is a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #5 that

In 1968, Wendy Carlos released SWITCHED-ON BACH, a collection of music by Johann Sebastian Bach played on the Moog synthesizer. The multiple Grammy award-winning album introduced people to the synthesizer AND to classical music. Today’s Beautiful Music features selections from SWITCHED-ON BACH. You can also use the link below to a 1989 BBC interview with

Composer Ethel Smyth lived from 1858 to 1944, and was an accomplished and respected musician. In 1888 she composed The Songs of Love, Op. 8, for soprano and tenor, chorus and orchestra, and the work remained unpublished. Only recently, THE SONGS OF LOVE received its first performance. Today’s Beautiful Music features Christ Church Cathedral’s world

I always find it fascinating when musicians show their talents in many different genres of music. Today’s Beautiful Music features internationally acclaimed French classical pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet with American singer and pianist Michael Feinstein. They collaborated on a program called TWO PIANOS: WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE? It features a variety of music by

Recently, the dynamic young conductor Klaus Mäkelä became Music Director-Designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and will begin his tenure with the 2027-28 season. The 28 year old Finnish conductor and cellist has also been Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic since their 2020-21 season, and they are providing today’s Beautiful Music. This is their

Brass instruments are frequently associated with big, bold musical statements. But brass instruments can also be tender, gentle, and contemplative. Today’s Beautiful Music highlights the latter. Jennifer Montone is Principal Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and she is featured with pianist Kiyoko Takeuti from a February 2021 performance. They are playing an arrangement of SONG