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Garth Knox shows off an unexpected side of the viola on his new album Saltarello, weaving together medieval music and folk fiddling styles. He and his trio will play live in the studio.  

Last year marked the first-ever Spring for Music Festival – a Carnegie Hall-hosted celebration of orchestras who’ve brought unusual and imaginative programs to the stage. The series returns this May, as does the festival’s “Fantasy Program Contest” – when anyone can submit an idea and vote for the program of their dreams. (Last year’s crowd-chosen winner paired Strauss’s “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” with John Williams’ “Superman.”) Joining us to discuss is Tom Morris, the artistic director of Spring For Music.

What type of program would get you to come to see an orchestra at Carnegie Hall - or any venue, for that matter? New York Magazine music critic Justin Davidson joins us for this focus group-like approach to programming classical music - and filling concert halls.

The renowned Emerson String Quartet plays late quartets by Mozart and Beethoven at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday night. Download the first movement of Mozart’s Quartet in D.

The Brooklyn Philharmonic's Alan Pierson reinvents the orchestra one neighborhood at a time.

Spain’s Catalonia region has produced some household names of the art world, including Pablo Casals, Salvador Dali and Joan Miró. But it also gave us lesser-known artists, like composer Xavier Montsalvatge, who belonged to a “lost generation” of artists that worked in the shadow of the Franco regime. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine and pianist Jenny Lin join us to perform the Catalan composer’s work live in our studio.

Jay Hunter Morris has become a surprise hit as Siegfried, the Norse hero in Wagner's Ring Cycle — widely considered one of the most challenging roles in opera.

Hear some of the world premiere recording of Philip Glass' Ninth Symphony.

Indie classical guitar outfit Threefifty Duo performs with Dither, Andrew McKenna Lee and Twi the Humble Feather at Le Poisson Rouge on Thursday night. Download the Brooklyn act's rock-tinged single "Circles" here. 

The Dutch artist was a hugely influential conductor, harpsichordist, organist and one of the grandfathers of today's early music movement.

The struggling company says it's surviving "one day at a time." But after failed mediation with its unions and a lockout in place, the clock is running out.

A new album by Cappella Amsterdam uncovers rarely heard music by the quirky Czech master.

The dynamic pianist escaped the Nazis to build a brilliant career.

German conductor Wilhelm Furtwaengler is regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, but his legacy was affected by his decision to stay in Germany during WWII. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz looks at how Furtwangler is seen today.

The centenarian still wakes up every morning eager to write a new piece of music.

Layer smoky baritone vocals on top of Spanish guitar licks, electronic samples and backing beats and you'll get close to the music of Federico Aubele. Download "No One," a track on his fourth studio album Berlin 13, here.

The quartet Béla Fleck & the Flecktones plays Town Hall Wednesday night. Download a little blu-bop from the group with the song "Life in Eleven."

For nearly two decades, the electric chamber music ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars has been creating a rich tapestry of experimental instrumental and mechanical sounds. Download its new unreleased track, "Instructional Video," here.

Check out González playing at a Thelonius Monk tribute on Tuesday, or download the pianist's "Gitanerias" from the album Adios A Cuba here, which was nominated this year for a Latin Grammy in the "Best Classical Album" category.