Classical Music: The Stories
By Carl Roewer
Every week, I choose one piece from one composer to pick apart and look at in detail. I look at the stories behind it, I examine the composer and what inspired him/her to compose that music and of course offer my own opinion on the piece! New episode every Sunday. Find me on Instagram: @classicalmusic_insta, Facebook: Classical Music Stories and email: classicalmusicstories@gmail.com
Spotify playlist of all the pieces on the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/51oLhez68efe05JZtycdYG?si=EV1-f2u9Sji6AFiUliAhqA&utm_source=copy-link
Classical Music: The StoriesMay 30, 2021
00:00
22:18
R. Wagner 'Liebestod' from Tristan und Isolde
In the final episode before the summer, Carl looks at a pivotal moment in musical tonality; Wagner's 'unplayable' Tristan und Isolde.
May 30, 202122:18
L. v Beethoven String Quartet no. 14 in C# minor
This weeks episode focuses on Beethoven's intense work scored for 2 violins, viola and cello.
May 23, 202121:58
G. Holst 'The Planets Suite: Mars, The Bringer of War'
In this extra-terrestrial episode, Carl discusses the piece that British composer Gustav Holst is most famous for: his tribute to the planets!
May 16, 202123:53
'E strano... Sempre Libera' G. Verdi
This week's episode focuses in on an aria from Giuseppe Verdi's groundbreaking opera La Traviata.
May 09, 202124:25
Academic Festival Overture op. 80 J. Brahms
What would you do if you were asked to write music for a prestigious awards ceremony? Brahms clearly took it to mean 'Write music for a student party'. Which is exactly what he did. Here is his Academic Festival Overture.
May 02, 202126:52
G. Faure Requiem VI Libera me and VII In Paradisum
This week's episode focuses on Faure's requiem which has a completely different mood and tone to Mozart's requiem in how it views the topic of death.
Apr 25, 202120:50
A. Marcello Oboe Concerto in D minor AND JS Bach Keyboard Concerto BWV 974 in D Minor
It's two for the price of one this week. Or is it? Alessandro Marcello may have written a beautiful oboe concerto, but it's Johann Sebastian Bach we have to thank for it's popularity!
Apr 18, 202120:46
R. Schumann Symphony no. 2 in C major IV: Allegro Molto Vivace
Back from his break, Carl looks at Robert Schumann's Symphony in C major which he wrote at a particularly painful time of his life.
Apr 11, 202124:25
'Bess you is my woman now' from Porgy and Bess - G. Gershwin
On a completely different note (and tone and genre), Carl looks at American Composer George Gershwin's opera 'Porgy and Bess'.
Mar 28, 202119:08
'Ma Vlast' II. Vltava - B. Smetana
This week, the longest river of the Czech Republic is the subject, thanks so Bedrich Smetana's gripping tone poem all about his homeland.
Mar 21, 202128:52
Scheherazade I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship - N. Rimsky-Korsakov
This week, Carl talks about Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite based on the Middle Eastern tales 'One Thousand and One Nights'.
Mar 14, 202122:52
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5 'Emperor' 2nd Mvt.
This week, Piano concertos are back on the menu, this time written by Beethoven. It's his 5th and last Concerto, entitled 'Emperor'.
Mar 07, 202124:29
Variations on an original theme 'Enigma' XIV (Finale) 'E.D.U'
Elgar's beloved orchestral work is the subject of this weeks episode in which Carl explores the last segment - the composer's self-portrait.
Feb 28, 202119:10
Liebestraum no. 3 in Ab major - Franz Liszt
This week, solo piano is on the repertoire, as Carl looks at the music revolutionary, Franz Liszt.
Feb 21, 202120:42
F. Mendelssohn Symphony no. 5 'Reformation' Finale
A relatively unrecognised work when it was performed, Mendelssohn's 5th symphony was written in honour of the Confession of Augsburg, a pivotal moment in the life of Martin Luther.
Feb 14, 202123:08
A. Dvorak Symphony no. 9 'From the New World' 1st movement
This week, Carl looks at Czech Composer Antonin Dovrak's infamous work, his 'New World' Symphony.
Feb 07, 202122:19
'Ombra mai fu' from 'Xerxes' - G. F. Händel
This week comes the 'Händel Largo' with which Carl talks about the raw beauty of something so simplistic.
Jan 31, 202119:55
'The Boatswains Mate' Overture - Ethel Smyth DEB
This week, Carl talks about the music of Dame Ethel Smyth, regarded as the 'Forgotten Woman of Classical Music'.
Jan 24, 202116:29
Requiem in D minor: Lacrimosa - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozarts prime time from the last episode gives way to his darkest hours in this episode where Carl looks at the last piece he ever wrote.
Jan 17, 202117:46
Mahler Symphony no. 1, 3rd mvt. - 'Feierlich und langsam, nicht schleppen'
This week, Carl chooses a movement from Mahler's 1st symphony with a very familiar tune.
Jan 10, 202126:06
Overture to La Gazza Ladra - G. Rossini
In the first episode of 2021, Carl talks about classical music's greatest foodie, Rossini. And talks about his energetic opera overtures!
Jan 03, 202123:36
![J. S. Bach Christmas Oratorio - 'Jauchzet Froh Locket' [Christmas Special]](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_episode400/9208164/9208164-1611141194798-608f5d241672c.jpg)
J. S. Bach Christmas Oratorio - 'Jauchzet Froh Locket' [Christmas Special]
In the final episode of 2020, Carl finds himself back where he started - at J. S. Bach, and has chosen his vibrant opening chorus to the Christmas Oratorio. Insta: @classicalmusic_theinsta, Email: classicalmusicstories@gmail.com
Dec 20, 202020:19
'Tosca' - Tre Sbirri... Una carozza by G. Puccini
For this week, Carl has chosen an incredibly powerful moment from one of Giacomo Puccinis most well known operas.
Dec 13, 202021:00
S. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no. 2 with C. Galvin
This week, Carl brings on his first guest, Conor Galvin, and they discuss Conor's favourite piece of all time - the 2nd piano concerto by Rachmaninov.
Dec 06, 202026:14
C. M. v Weber: Andante and Hungarian Rondo for Bassoon and Orchestra
This week, Carl chooses a piece that relates to him easily as a piece of music he likes to play himself by German Composer C. Weber.
Nov 29, 202022:12
Symphony no. 7 IV: Allegro Con Brio - L. van Beethoven
This week, Carl looks at his favourite work by the music revolutionary, Ludwig van Beethoven.
Nov 22, 202021:05
'Beim Schlafengehen' - R. Strauss
Moving on from Mozart, Carl talks about his favourite composer Richard Strauss and his work 'Four Last Songs' as well as outlining the life of the late great singer Jessye Norman.
Nov 15, 202021:14
'Madamina, il catalogo e questo' - W. A. Mozart
Moving to a revolutionary figure in the world of classical music, Carl discusses an Aria from Mozart's late masterpiece 'Don Giovanni'.
Nov 08, 202022:27
Danse Macabre - Camille Saint-Saens
For Halloween week, Carl chooses a well known piece all about the antics of the dead on Halloween night.
Nov 01, 202023:36
Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, 3rd movement 'Scherzo'
This week, Carl moves away from Orchestral Music and focuses on a pinnacle of Romantic era Chamber Music by Johannes Brahms.
Oct 25, 202022:03
Bach BWV 174: Ich Liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte 'Sinfonia'
This week, to start off his podcast, Carl chooses a lesser known work by the baroque composer J. S. Bach.
Oct 11, 202021:20
Classical Music: The Stories Official Trailer
Every week, Carl Roewer picks one piece of classical music to examine in further detail, bringing a new side to classical music that is full of fun and enjoyment. New episode every Sunday starting the 11th October 2020.
Oct 03, 202000:29