The New Criterion Podcasts

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the June 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

“Zadok the Priest” is the musical hit of British coronations, and has been since the 1720s. “The Swan” is a hit too, and is never more magical than in Godowsky’s piano arrangement. These are two of the selections in this episode. Others are by Mozart, Leroy Anderson, and other worthies. An appetizing, eclectic menu. Handel, “Zadok the Priest” Mozart, Serenade from “Don Giovanni” Anderson, Piano Co...

On May 11, 2023, The New Criterion welcomed Lincoln Jones, the director of the American Contemporary Ballet, Los Angeles, alongside the dancer Hannah Barr for a discussion and demonstration of ballet at a Friends and Young Friends spring soirée in the editorial offices, with an introduction by Executive Editor James Panero. To become a Friend or Young Friend of The New Criterion, follow this link:...

Isaac Sligh & James Panero discuss the Republic of Georgia, Crusaders, travel writing, audiophiles & more. To read Isaac's article on Crusaders and the Caucasus in The Critic, visit https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/march-2023/land-of-ghosts-and-legends/. To learn more about the Ralston Listening Library, which Isaac used to curate, visit https://new.sewanee.edu/ralstonlisteninglibrary/.

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the May 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Jay concludes this episode with “Speak Low,” the Kurt Weill song (lyrics by Ogden Nash). Before that, you have any number of other interesting things. Well, a specific number: six. A very tasty menu of music. Handel, “The Harmonious Blacksmith” Strauss, “Malven” Boccherini-Berio, “Ritirata notturna di Madrid” García Lorca, “Sevillanas” Wagner, “Lohengrin,” Prelude to Act III Wolf, “Die Spröde” Wei...

A program of music, by a slew of composers. Bach, “Preis und Dank,” from the Easter Oratorio Bach, “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein,” from the St. Matthew Passion Mascagni, Easter Hymn, from “Cavalleria rusticana” Trad., arr. Bonds, “You Can Tell the World” Handel, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” from “Messiah” Rimsky-Korsakov, “Russian Easter Festival Overture” Fauré, Pie Jesu, from Requiem East,...

Adam Kirsch & James Panero discuss the April poetry issue, the New Criterion Poetry Prize, and more. Brian Brodeur reads selections from his winning book, Some Problems with Autobiography (Criterion Books).

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the April 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

A smorgasbord of music, from the light and Viennesey to the angular and modern. Bacewicz, Overture for Orchestra Vustin, “Lamento” Sæverud, “Ballad of Revolt” Johnston/Burke, “Pennies from Heaven” Escaich, “Nun komm” Helmesberger, “Entr’acte Valse” Mussorgsky, Serenade, from “Songs and Dances of Death” Strauss, Eduard, “Mit Extrapost — Polka schnell” Giordano, “Amor ti vieta,” from “Fedora”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the March 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Robert Erickson and James Panero discuss Plutarch, plays, pastrami, and more. The second of our podcasts on the Hilton Kramer Fellowship. The texts used in the New Criterion classics reading group are as follows: —Histories, Herodotus, Landmark Edition, tr. Andrea L. Purvis, ed. Robert B. Strassler —Persians, Aeschylus, tr. Janet Lembke & C. J. Herrington —Theogony and Works & Days, Hesiod, tr. M....

Paul Johnson, the great English historian and journalist, passed away last month. Music was important in the life of Paul Johnson. Jay has arranged a little program, in tribute. Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, first movement Bruckner, Scherzo from Symphony No. 9 Brahms, Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2 Mozart, Ave verum corpus Nelson, “Crazy” Mozart, Clarinet Quintet Schumann, Finale from “Fa...

Benjamin Riley and James Panero discuss the Hilton Kramer Fellowship, the bridges of Robert Adam, and what it takes to write for The New Criterion. This is the first podcast in a series celebrating the tenth anniversary of the magazine’s Hilton Kramer Fellowship.

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the February 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Remarks from Harry Mount on the publication of his new book Et Tu, Brute? The Best Latin Lines Ever.

This episode features the “Nokia tune”—which actually comes from a Spanish guitar piece. We also have tributes to two late-greats: the clarinetist Stanley Drucker and the organist Frederick Swann. And music by Handel, Berkeley, Guillaume Connesson (b. 1970), et al. A wonderful assortment. Poulenc, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, last movement Debussy, “La plus que lente” Handel, “No, no, I’ll take...

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the January 2023 issue and reads from its opening pages.

A Christmas podcast: with carols, songs, and other things from all over. Various musical presents under this Tannenbaum. Bach, “Grosser Herr, o starker König,” from the Christmas Oratorio Trad., “The First Noël” Trad., “Joy to the World” Rinker & Huddleston, “December” Trad., “O du fröliche” Trad., “Balulalow” Trad., “Everywhere I Go, Somebody Talkin’ ’Bout Jesus” Gruber and Mohr, “Silent Night” T...

As our heading suggests, Jay fills this episode with preludes and other short pieces, and songs—by Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Shostakovich, and others. A wonderful, filling assortment. Shostakovich, Fugue in A major, from Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 Debussy, “La fille aux cheveux de lin” Debussy, “Minstrels” Shostakovich, arr. Tsyganov, Prelude in D flat, Op. 34 Shostakovich, arr. Tsyganov, Prelude in...

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the December 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

James Panero reads “A library by the book,” his article on the politicization of the American library in the December 2022 issue of The New Criterion. https://newcriterion.com/issues/2022/12/a-library-by-the-book

This episode begins with “Early in the Morning,” the song by Ned Rorem (who just turned ninety-nine). It proceeds with “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.” Later on, there is “Sunday Morning,” one of the “Sea Interludes” from Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes.” Jay was not going for a morning theme. It just happened that way. There is other music too, including a hymn, both in its straightforward choral ve...

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the November 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

The New Criterion’s Visiting Critic Joshua T. Katz discusses “The beginnings: first words, first lines, first stories.”