The New Criterion Podcasts

On October 24, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at The Players with David Dubal for a special version of his beloved piano evenings, featuring Cecile Licad performing Frédéric Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the October 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.

On September 5, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from D. J. Taylor in celebration of his new books, “Orwell: The New Life” (Simon & Schuster) & “Who is Big Brother?” (Yale University Press).

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the September 2024 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Werner Hink, who for many years was a concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, has died. Jay interviewed him some years ago and found him memorable. This episode ends with some playing by Hink (Bach). There is also some Schubert by Isaac Stern, whom Hink prized. There’s a little Broadway, a little rap. A nice buffet of music. Mozart, Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” Beethoven, Piano Sonata No...

Jeremy Black, author of “The Holocaust: History and Memory,” and James Panero, Executive Editor of “The New Criterion,” discuss the misplacing of blame for the Middle East’s instability.

Jay begins this episode with Paul Hindemith, who in 1921 combined his interest in ragtime with his love of Bach. There is also a minuet by Ravel, glancing back at Haydn. There is a song by Zemlinsky, setting Langston Hughes. There are wonders and curiosities in this episode—which, by the way, has a sponsor: Michael Lohafer, who, as Jay says, is “a particular authority on Mozart.” Mr. Lohafer says,...

In this episode, Jay begins with a shout—“Carolina Shout,” the classic jazz number by James P. Johnson. There are songs by Schumann, Puccini, and Porter (Cole). There are piano preludes—starter pieces by their composers. At the end, there is a sunburst of calypso. Enjoy this smorgasbord. Johnson, James P., “Carolina Shout” Schumann, “Röseleine, Röseleine!” Bonds, Margaret, “Young Love in Spring” S...

The Friends of The New Criterion recently gathered for an evening in celebration of Peter Vertacnik, whose “The Nature of Things Fragile” won the magazine’s twenty-third poetry prize. Listen to hear Peter read a number of poems from this new collection.

Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn’t want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson et Dalila” Schumann, “Er ist’s” Hoiby, “Always It’s...

On March 14, the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion gathered at the magazine’s headquarters to hear remarks from Dr. Alexander Chula on his new book, “Goodbye, Dr. Banda: Lessons for the West From a Small African Country.”

Recently, Carnegie Hall hosted a John Williams gala. The program was all-Williams and the composer himself conducted most of the concert. In this episode, Jay hosts his own little Williams gala. All by John Williams: “The Mission” Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” Olympic Fanfare and Theme Main Title from “Catch Me If You Can” Raiders March from “Indian...

On February 29, the Galliard Society joined the Friends and Young Friends of The New Criterion at The Players in New York for remarks delivered by Dominic Green.

Rossini was born on February 29, 1792. So Jay doffs his cap to him. We also hear Schubert, Brahms, Ravel, and worthy others (including Dvořák, who knew how to swing). Rossini, Overture to “La gazza ladra” Schubert, Symphony No. 5, first movement Ravel, Piano Concerto in D for Left Hand Alone Dvořák, Symphony No. 7, Scherzo Chopin, Étude in A flat, Op. 25, No. 1, “Aeolian Harp” Brahms, Piano Concer...

On the River Thames, the rise of cities & the future of history. A conversation occasioned by Jeremy Black’s essay in our February 2024 issue.

A Valentine’s Day special—with music by the likes of Strauss, Poulenc, and Barber, sung by the likes of Jessye Norman, Arleen Auger, and Leontyne Price. A bouquet, a box of candies—a musical present for you. Trad., arr. Quilter, “Over the Mountains” Strauss, “Traum durch die Dämmerung” Strauss, “Amor” Poulenc, “Fleurs” Koechlin, “Si tu le veux” Prokofiev, Amoroso, from “Cinderella” Fusté, “Háblame...

Some rare Prokofiev, some common Prokofiev. An operatic blast from the past (Price and Tucker). A tribute to Colette Maze, a French pianist who has died at 109. Another tribute to Ewa Podleś, the great Polish contralto. A mixture of music, and thoughts, in this episode. Tchaikovsky, “Miniature Overture” from “The Nutcracker” Prokofiev, Symphony No. 2 Puccini, Love Duet, “Madama Butterfly” Prokofie...

Jay offers tracks of various types—appropriate to the season. From William Byrd on through spirituals and George Shearing. Merry Christmas. Bach, Christmas Oratorio Handel, “Messiah” Byrd, “This Day Christ Was Born” Niles, “I Wonder as I Wander” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” with George Shearing and his quintet Gounod, “Noël” Leontovych, “Carol of the Bells” Trad.?, “Long Ago in Bethlehem” Rutter,...

Mussorgsky was inspired by some pictures at an exhibition. Mendelssohn, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky, among others, were inspired by their sojourns in Italy. In this podcast, Jay leads an enjoyable and enriching tour. Mussorgsky, “Pictures at an Exhibition” Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4, Saltarello Strauss, “Aus Italien,” “Neapolitan Folk Life” Tchaikovsky, “Capriccio italien” Verdi, “Va, pensiero,” fro...

Executive Editor James Panero sits down with Visiting Critic Wilfred M. McClay to discuss “The burden of the humanities,” the fifth annual Circle Lecture of The New Criterion. The full text of the speech will be available in the November 2023 issue. For more information about the Circle of The New Criterion, visit newcriterion.com/circle.

A phrase has crept up into our political discussion: “to know what time it is.” Jay begins this episode with a Rodgers & Hart song: “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.” Then we have Mozart, Boccherini, Rachmaninoff, Donizetti—a slew of interesting items. The episode ends with Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five. Rodgers & Hart, arr. Riddle, “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” Mozart, String Quartet in C, K...

Frederica von Stade—known all over as “Flicka”—is an American mezzo-soprano and one of the greatest singers of our time, or any. Last month, Jay recorded a podcast with her, a “Q&A”: here. She is one of the most versatile singers. What Jay presents here is a sampler. Mozart, “Ah, perdona al primo affetto,” from “La clemenza di Tito” Fauré, “La rose” Trad., arr. Britten, “O Waly, Waly,” “Come You N...

Several composers have written “moments musicaux,” or “musical moments,” including Schubert and Rachmaninoff. So has a contemporary American, Joshua Nichols. Jay plays a “moment” from each composer. (Actually, Rachmaninoff gets two.) He also plays music from Brazil, etc. The episode ends with a souvenir of the late André Watts. Rachmaninoff, Moment musical in C major, Op. 16, No. 6 Villa-Lobos, Ar...

A program of American, or American-ish, music, in honor of Independence Day. Trad., “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” Dvorak, String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American,” final movement Puccini, “ Dovunque al mondo ,” from “Madama Butterfly” Joplin, “Gladiolus Rag” Gershwin, “Summertime,” from “Porgy and Bess” Gershwin-Wild, Virtuoso Étude on “Liza” Copland, “Going to Heaven!” Wheeler, “Isolatio...

Yes, June is bustin’ out, and so is a new episode. Jay plays that song and several others, known and less known. There’s also piano music, a violin piece—a tasty musical meal. Rodgers & Hammerstein, “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” from “Carousel” Kern & Harbach, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” from “Roberta” Albéniz, “Evocación,” from “Iberia,” Book 1 Strauss, Adolf, “Ich weiß bestimmt, ich werd' dich...