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PODCAST

Classical Breakdown

John Banther takes classical music fans behind the scenes with interviews, deep dives, and analysis. Episodes released bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Produced by WETA Classical in Washington, D.C.

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:24:06

Bonus! 2 Opera preludes by Richard Wagner

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/04/07

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01:18:39

Richard Wagner: The flawed man who changed opera

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/03/31

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00:14:32

Bonus! 3 Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tampered...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/03/24

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00:44:21

The Well-TAMPERED Clavier: A rhythmic reimagining of...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/03/17

JS Bach was experimental, and that spirit has carried on into the 21st century with composers and pianists like Sam Post and Ralitza Patcheva. While Bach was experimenting with using all 12 major and minor keys at a single keyboard, Sam Post's rhythmic reimagining brings together elements that didn't exist in Bach's time.

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00:51:04

Brahms Symphony No. 3: Perfection in Orchestration...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/03/03

The first symphonies came from a place of insecurity, but his 3rd exudes confidence from the first note to the last. John Banther and Evan Keely show you what to listen for in Brahms' orchestration, how he uses compositional tools to create new melodies, sonata form basics, and the rivalry that took place the night of the premiere.

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00:43:15

3 Composers lost to Tyranny

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/02/17

A hallmark of tyranny is its desire to control and stifle creative expression. In this episode, in memory of Lubna Alyaan, John Banther and Evan Keely explore three 20th-century composers, what happened to them, and select works that demand your attention.

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00:40:05

Meet Grammy-Winning Composer Jessie Montgomery!

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/02/03

Jessie Montgomery and John Banther discuss her popular works, her time writing for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Blacknificent 7 composer group, and her early artistic influences.

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00:25:35

A performance of Carnival of the Animals featuring...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/01/27

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01:02:54

Carnival of the Animals, a work of genius kept hidden...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/01/20

One of the most endearing works in music was also hidden for years because the composer worried about his reputation. John Banther and Evan Keely explore the world of animals, how Saint-Saëns brings them to life, and why you have to play bad to sound good!

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00:17:48

Bonus episode: Ballet music from 2 operas by Verdi!

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/01/13

Different audiences have different tastes, and you can't always serve them the same dish. If Verdi wanted his grand operas to be staged in Paris, he needed to include ballet. In this bonus episode, we'll hear two ballet sections from two different operas, sometimes composed decades later.

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00:57:59

Giuseppe Verdi: A life of drama, censorship, and even...

Classical Breakdown ·

2026/01/06

This composer wrote operas almost exclusively, and his 19th-century success and popularity are hard to grasp even today. John Banther and Linda Carducci explore his life, his upward rise, the tragedies, and how he provided the sound for Italy's "Risorgimento!"

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00:52:04

Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, one of the most...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/12/23

This concerto is one of the most daunting in the repertoire, and almost every big soloist aims to lay down their interpretation. But what makes this work so difficult? Is it the written music or is it something else? John Banther and Evan Keely show you what to listen for, how Sibelius does things differently, a moment from a masterclass, and what went wrong in the premiere.

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00:28:07

A performance of Emilie Mayer's Cello Sonata in D...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/12/16

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00:45:04

Emilie Mayer; Rediscovering a celebrated 19th-century...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/12/09

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00:38:30

Clara Wieck Schumann's Piano Concerto; a teenage work...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/11/25

This, the only orchestral output from Clara Wieck, might be one of the few 19th-century concertos written by a teenager that still occupies the concert stage today, and its popularity is only increasing. Join hosts John Banther and Linda Carducci to explore its youthful origins, characteristics of her writing, the size of her hands, and her big concert premiere.

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00:10:21

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs Hailstork's An...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/11/18

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00:54:25

Adolphus Hailstork, an American composer writing for...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/11/11

Hailstork has been writing music and teaching for over 5 decades, and his work has documented in music major American moments, from the bicentennial, 9/11, George Floyd, and even infrastructure. John Banther and Evan Keely explore his life, studies with Boulanger, his military experience, and look at 3 works from orchestral to choral that demonstrate his style.

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00:47:52

Death in music! 10 works that explore life’s final...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/10/28

Death has been depicted in music to console, frighten, warn, and entertain for over 400 years. In fact, the most quoted motif about death is also the oldest, and you know it intimately whether you realize it or not! John Banther and Evan Keely take you on a deathly trip over 10 works and a bonus.

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12:45

Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/10/21

I'm excited to bring you more from Xuefei Yang with these three performances taken from her YouTube channel (where you will find plenty more performances!). In this episode, we hear: John Williams (guitarist/composer) - When The Birds Return Changjun Xu - Sword Dance Jerome Kern - Smoke gets in your eyes Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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00:12:45

Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist...

Classical Breakdown ·

2025/10/21

I'm excited to bring you more from Xuefei Yang with these three performances taken from her YouTube channel (where you will find plenty more performances!).

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161 results

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