Bill McGlaughlin describes how 19 century composer Richard Wagner and his family get caught in a terrifying storm that served as inspiration for the overture to his opera "The Flying Dutchman."

Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer: Overture
performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
with conductor Georg Solti

Full program available for streaming at exploringmusic.wfmt.com

Caught in the Rain with Wagner

A clip from Bill McLaughlin's five-hour program on Ottorino Respighi, one of the greatest modern Italian orchestral composers. 

Full program available for streaming at exploringmusic.wfmt.com

Happy 134th Birthday, Respighi!

Bill tell's a story from the premiere of Rachmaninoff's first symphony, which, due to strange circumstances, was less than well-received.

Full 5-hour program on Rachmaninoff available for streaming at exploringmusic.wfmt.com

Rachmaninoff's Premiere

New Releases, Part II Preview

Best Friends with Mozart

Ist Es War?

Corigliano Sr. Gives In

A preview of Bill's discussion of the Turangalîla-Symphonie, composed in 1948 by French composer Olivier Messiaen. The massive, 10-movement piece features an eerie electronic instrument called an "ondes Martenot," which bears resemblance to the theremin.

Full five-hour program on 20th century symphonies available for streaming beginning August 24 on http://exploringmusic.wfmt.com

Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie

In this preview from the program La Gitana, we party with Bartok, Ravel, and some Gypsy violin music that is as difficult to play as it is beautiful.

Up All Night With Bartok

Learn about what special trick Bach employed in his final piece.

Musical Codes

Exploring Music Chord Series: Petruska Chord

The Music We Carry With Us: WTTW's Eddie Arruza

The Music We Carry With Us: Listener Peter Bullock

The first part of Bill McGlaughlin’s interview with the Director of Carnegie Hall’s Archives and Rose Museum, Gino Francesconi. This audio interview takes listeners backstage for an intimate view of the hall, its history, and the legendary performers who have appeared there.

Bill McGlaughlin interviews Carnegie Hall's Archivist, Gino Francesconi

For the second part of Exploring Music’s visit to Carnegie Hall, we share with you an interview between Bill McGlaughlin and Sir Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. Sir Gillison talks to Bill about the artistic concepts, collaboration, and community outreach that he envisions and is creating for this institution that sits in the heart of New York City.

Bill McGlaughlin interviews Carnegie Hall's Executive & Artistic Director, Sir Clive Gillinson

Bill McGlaughlin interviews Amy Rhodes, who runs Ensemble Connect. A two year fellowship program that really gets into the finesse of building your entrepreneurship as a musician.

Amy Rhodes Full Interview

The second part of Bill McGlaughlin’s interview with the Director of Carnegie Hall’s Archives and Rose Museum, Gino Francesconi. This audio interview takes listeners backstage for an intimate view of the hall, its history through the 1960's, and the legendary performers who have appeared there.

Bill McGlaughlin interviews Carnegie Hall's Archivist, Gino Francesconi Part II

Bill sits down with the wickedly talented Eric Holtan, who put together an insane music schedule. To which went on without a problem. Jubilant also joins to give some perspective as the soloist of the piece itself.

Bill McGlaughlin with Eric Holtan and Jubilant Sykes

Bill sits down one on with the legendary Jubilant Sykes. They reminisce on there times on Baltimore and Kansas City. Jubilant also speaks to his range of musicality and where his career has taken him.

Bill McGalughlin with Jubilant Sykes

Yi Qun Xu – Marlboro Music Participant, cello
Passionate Chamber musician who has collaborated with Itzhak Perlman, Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Ralph Kirshbaum, and the list goes on

Yi Qun Xu

Sally Chisholm – Marlboro Music Participant, viola
Pro Arte Quartet, Professor of Viola, and artist in residence at UW, Madison

Sally Chisholm

Hsin-Yun Huang - Marlboro Music Participant, viola
Professor Juilliard School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, soloist with Berlin Radio orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Bogota Philharmonic, NCPA Orchestra in Beijing, and plus others
Lucas Amory – son of Marlboro Music participant Hsin-Yun Huang, pianist, not a participant - attended the Kaufman Center's Special Music School

Hsin-Yun Huang & Lucas Amory

Peter Wiley – Marlboro Music Participant, cello
Professor Bard College Conservatory, University of Maryland, and the Curtis Institute of Music – Guarneri String Quartet

Pete Wiley

Marcy Rosen – Marlboro Music Participant, cello
Member of the Mendelssohn Quartet, Assistant Professor of Cello at the Aaron Copland School of Music & Faculty at Mannes College of Music

Marcy Rosen

Samuel Rhodes – Marlboro Music Participant, viola
Participated in Marlboro Music Festival since 1960, past violist Juilliard String Quartet

Samuel Rhodes

Karen Kloster – Marlboro Music, Operations Director
Tour Coordinator for Columbia Artists

Karen Kloster

Alisa Belzer – Marlboro Music, Scheduling Director
Professor, Department of Learning and Teaching, Rutgers University

Alisa Belzer

Frank Salomon – Senior Administrator
Served with Marlboro for more than fifty years

Frank Salomon

Anthony Checchia – Marlboro Music, Senior Administrator Emeritus
General Manager for 50 plus years, Founding Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Chamber Society
Benita Valente - Marlboro Music Participant, soprano
Distinguished vocalist who made her debut at Marlboro with Rudolf Serkin

Anthony Checchia & Benita Valente

Christopher Serkin – President and Chair of the Board of Trustees
Grandson of Rudolf Serkin, Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School

Chris Serkin

Jonathan Biss – Marlboro Music Participant, piano, Co-Artistic Director
Piano soloist, teacher, and writer

Jonathan Biss

Mitsuko Uchida – Marlboro Music, piano, Co-Artistic Director
Pianist soloist, served as leadership for Marlboro for 25 years

Mitsuko Uchida

Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin is an exciting daily radio program that delves into a wide assortment of topics in classical music. Each five-program series builds off a single theme ranging from composer biographies to explorations of various cultures, musical styles, and time periods.

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