NPR Classical

NPR Classical is stepping away from Twitter, but you can find our stories, reviews, interviews, playlists and cartoons on the NPR Classical Facebook account and NPR Music's Instagram and Facebook accounts. NPR Classical Facebook: n.pr/classical

"His tone was so warm and cuddly, the audience could hardly 'bear' it." -- Ursus Tribune

With host Lara Downes, jazz trumpeter @T_Blanchard talks about his unexpected foray into opera and making history at the Met. npr.org/2023/04/14/116…

Terence Blanchard made history last season when his opera "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" was the first work by a Black composer staged by New York's Metropolitan Opera. Now his earlier opera "Champion" opens at the Met. npr.org/2023/04/08/116…

Breaking: New Cookie Flavor Unveiled!

This week on the Playlist, hats off to Rachmaninov, born 150 years ago. Celebrate his sweeping music with pianists Yuja Wang, Boris Giltberg and the composer himself, plus tracks from his symphonies, concertos and chamber music. npr.org/2019/06/20/526…

Check out our colleagues @WRTImusic, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov's birth by convening five pianists to play and talk about the great composer-pianist. wrti.org/wrti-spotlight…

Celebrating Rachmaninov's birth 150 years ago, April 1st, 1873. Who knew he pitched a mean "A-flat slider?!"

This week, spring is in the air and so is this bouquet of flowery music, from Rachmaninov’s “Daisies” and Puccini’s “Chrysanthemums” to Joplin’s roses and Hovhaness’ “Flowering Peach,” plus works by John Cage, Debussy and Mahler. npr.org/2019/06/20/526…

A new collection of recordings finally freed from the vaults offers a chance to hear one of opera’s greatest artists, Jessye Norman, sing Wagner, Strauss, Berlioz and more. (Hear the radio story today on 'All Things Considered.') npr.org/2023/03/24/116…

Breaking: Russian buys American helicopter!

Our friends at @WRTImusic are putting a fascinating twist on Bach's Chaconne to celebrate his birthday ... wrti.org/wrti-spotlight…

Two musical worlds collide as jazz pianist @tepferdan finds inspiration, and room for improvisation, in J.S. Bach’s Two-Part Inventions. npr.org/2023/03/17/116…

Music for the cubist lifestyle ...

This week on the Playlist, a fresh spring batch of new releases, including tracks from @YujaWang, @SteveReich and George Walker, plus ambient meditations from trombonist Kalia Vandever and cellist Gaspar Claus. npr.org/2019/06/20/526…

Now Playing: The "Flying Toupee" Overture ...

Hear the powerhouse pianist @YujaWang Wang barrel through a rambunctious bonbon written for her by Michael Tilson Thomas. #NowPlaying NPR npr.org/sections/now-p…

This week on the Playlist, celebrating International Women’s Day, hear music from composers around the globe and throughout the ages, from Australia’s Liza Lim and Iceland’s Hildur Gudnadóttir to Detroit’s Shara Nova and the 18th century’s Ana Bon. npr.org/2019/06/20/526…

Does 'Tár' tell us anything about Mahler’s Fifth Symphony? The rising conductor Rafael Payare weighs in, while he leads the symphony on tour. #Tár npr.org/sections/decep…

On a new album featuring orchestral pieces, @missymazzoli coaxes unusual sounds from a symphony orchestra. npr.org/sections/decep…