Appalachian Spring, tells a simple story: A humble wedding celebration in a small, pioneer community in rural Pennsylvania. But for such a simple story the music makes a significant statement. It perfectly captures the sense of optimism in America at the end of World War 2, and provides an example of a truly united United States.

Like, share, leave your comments and support us on PATREON! 👇 https://www.patreon.com/c/classics 👇 Visit https://www.classicsexplained.com for official merch👇 Listen on 👇 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/classics-enjoyed 👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed https://www.instagram.com/classics_explained/ Composer: Aaron Copland Work: Appalachian Spring Performers: San Franciso Symphony Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas Year: 2010 Label: SFS Media Catalogue No: SFS0034

A steady beat and a catchy tune are unremarkable these days, but when Ravel wrote Boléro, repetition was radical. Did Ravel predict the future of popular music in a brilliant lightbulb moment? Or was he just being, well, a bit lazy? Is it deceptively complex or outrageously simple? Or both? What does Boléro tell us about how this eccentric French composer ticked? Let’s find out… Like, share, leave your comments and support us on PATREON! 👇 https://www.patreon.com/classics 👇 👇Visit https://www.classicsexplained.com for official merch👇 👇Listen https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/classics-enjoyed 👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed Listen to the piece in full, and enjoy Classical Music.

Composer: Maurice Ravel Work: Boléro Performer: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Pierre Boulez Year: 2010 Label: Sony

Anthem of Anthems, Symphony of Symphonies - The Ninth barely needs introduction. It is the final work of a certified genius, full of innovation and beauty, with an influence on music that is still felt to this day. And its message of brotherhood and humanity is no less relevant. But it’s not all sunshine and roses, the story of Beethoven’s Ninth is one of deep contradictions and personal struggle. Like, share, leave your comments and support us on PATREON! 👇 https://www.patreon.com/classics 👇 👇Visit https://www.classicsexplained.com for official merch👇 👇Listen https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/classics-enjoyed 👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed Listen to the piece in full, and enjoy Classical Music. Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Work: Symphony No.9 in D minor (‘Choral’), Op.125 Performer: Annette Dasch, Eva Vogel, Christian Elsner, Dimitry Ivashchenko, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle Year: 2016 Label: Berliner Philharmoniker Catalogue No: BPHR160093

What happens when a Frenchman writes a Greek tragedy, in an Italian style, about the ultimate Spanish Siren? It’s not the set up to a bad joke, it’s the set up to CARMEN - the spiciest opera ever written! Like, share, leave your comments and support us on PATREON! 👇 https://www.patreon.com/classics 👇Visit https://www.classicsexplained.com for official merch👇 👇Listen https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/classics-enjoyed 👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed Performers: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Inva Mula, Thomas Hampson, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse Conductor: Michael Plasson Year: 2003 Label: Warner Classics Catalogue No: 5574342

Tortured by a lack of confidence and an oversupply of vodka, Rachmaninoff was at rock bottom. This is the story of how he not only crawled back from the brink, but managed to drag a musical masterpiece along with him. Like, share, leave your comments and support us on PATREON! 👇 https://www.patreon.com/classics 👇Visit https://www.classicsexplained.com for official merch👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff Work: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Andre Previn Year: 1970 Label: Decca Catalogue No: 4448392

Groundbreaking, highly innovative, hugely influential, and loved by millions - But the genius of Antonio Vivaldi was almost overlooked by history. This episode tells the story of Vivaldi’s most iconic work.

Watch the episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicsExplained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👇Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.classicsexplained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for official merch👇 Follow us on Facebook for channel news and more classical music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ClassicsEnjoyed⁠⁠⁠

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi Work: Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons), RV 269, 315, 293 & 297 Performer: Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima Year: 2015 Label: Avie Catalogue No: AV2344