Naxos Blog » Raymond Bisha

Podcast: William Schuman - Prayer in a Time of War

Raymond — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:41 +0000

When he graduated from high school, William Schuman enrolled in New York University with every intention of doing a commerce degree. Then his sister took him to a New York Philharmonic concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini. That very night, he decided to become a composer. Schuman went on to become one of the most important American composers and composition teachers of the 20th century. He was president of Julliard School, President of Lincoln Centre in New York, and the composer of eight major symphonies. This podcast looks at a new recording of his Symphony No. 6, Prayer in a Time of War, and New England Tryptich, with the Seattle Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.559625

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: Bohuslav Martinu’s Piano Concertos

Raymond — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:00:47 +0000

Czech-born composer Bohuslav Martinu was born in a church tower in Policka, Bohemia in 1890. He became a student in the Prague Conservatory, and played with the Czech Philharmonic before moving to Paris to study composition. When World War Two broke out, he fled Europe and moved to the United States where he taught at the Mannes School of Music in New York. All the while, he composed incessantly - including the two piano concertos on this disc. Performers include pianist Robert Kolinsky, conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Sinfonieorchester Basel.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Ondine ODE 1158-2

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: Le Voyage Dans La Lune

Raymond — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:10 +0000

Between 1902 and 1904, French film director Georges Melies made Le Voyage Dans La Lune, the world’s first science fiction film. In this CD + DVD project, composer/conductor Robert Ian Winstin has asked four different composers including himself, “Professor Louie Hurwitz, James Guymon and Don Myers to each write their own original soundtracks for this film. The result is four soundtracks that couldn’t be more different - and more effective.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: ERM Media Film

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: Don Giovanni … for string quartet

Raymond — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:00:44 +0000

Since the first performance of Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, there has been a steady stream of arrangements of the piece. By the end of the 19th century, there were already more than 600 published arrangements. Some were note very good, but others, such as the music featured in this podcast, were excellent. On this CD, Quatour Franz Joseph performs an arrangement of Don Giovanni for string quartet, made sometime around 1800.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: ATMA ACD22559

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: Carlo Gesualdo, composer, murderer

Raymond — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:23 +0000

Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, was one of the more colorful characters among Italian Renaissance composers. He wrote unusual and highly emotional music, and he was a murderer. This podcast looks at both his personal life (sometimes gruesome) as well as his music. Music by Gesualdo’s fellow composers Pomponio Nenna and Luzzasco Luzzaschi is also included. The featured artists in this podcast, and on the CD are Concerto Italiano conducted by Rinaldo Alessandrini.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naive OP30486

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: The Masses of Joseph Haydn

Raymond — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:44 +0000

Over the course of his 73 years, Franz Joseph Haydn wrote a huge amount of music, including more than a dozen Masses. This podcast looks at those masses, and a new recording by Trinity Church Choir, REBEL Baroque Orchestra, J.Owen Burdick and Jane Glover.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.508009

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* enhanced version of the podcast contains chapter markers and cover art.

About Raymond Bisha

Podcast: Spotless Rose - Hymns to the Virgin Mary

Raymond — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:00:23 +0000

In 2008 the Phoenix Chorale won a Grammy Award for the newest recording.

This podcast looks at their brand new recording of Hymns to the Virgin Mary.

The interesting thing about this CD is that all of the music was written in the 20th century, including music by four composers who are still very much alive and composing.

Album details…
Catalogue No.: CHSA 5066

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* enhanced version of the podcast with chapter markers and cover art.

Review: Naxos Classical Music Spotlight Podcast

Vinko — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:30:20 +0000

A review from Anne is a Man! by Anne Frid de Vries

Naxos Classical Music Spotlight Podcast… bring great music with explanations on the side which touch upon music and the biographies of the musicians and composers. As a consequence, this can turn into a veritable history podcast…

… the marvels of her life are narrated and must stand on their own…

Are you ready to Bach on the Beach?

Vinko — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:11:26 +0000

An article from StarNewsOnline by David Srebnik

Bach is everywhere - appearing in movies from Spider-Man 2 and 3 to one of the more grisly scenes in Silence of the Lambs. He made a recent TV appearance on the deeply superficial Nip and Tuck….

… Bach recordings spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s classical charts…

There are ample reasons for Bach’s ubiquitous presence. We can connect with its craftsmanship that is so immediately identifiable and appealing. There’s the harmony and joy that’s spoken in a universal language…

Comments: Chris Freud

Admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:57:48 +0000

Comment received on April 17, 2008, 12:57

Comment from podcast listener: Chris Freud
Not a question, but a comment. I just wanted to thank Raymond of Naxos podcasting fame for his fun and informative shows. I’m a big classical music fan, but the podcast has really opened my eyes to some works which are now an important part of my collection.

Thanks for doing such a great job with the podcast and keep it up. I look forward to it every week.