James Bennett II appears in the following:
Wake Up! Here’s a Little Duet for Piccolo and … Alarm Clock
Monday, September 10, 2018
Composer Tilmann Dehnhard has written quite the piece to get you going in the morning.
These Kids Are Amazed When They Meet an Opera Singer for the First Time
Monday, September 10, 2018
How do you stun a kid into a state of pure awe? Introduce them to an opera singer like Angel Blue.
On the Origin of That Iconic Nokia Ringtone
Thursday, September 06, 2018
Tárrega’s “Gran Vals” might be best known as the “Nokia Tune,” but how did the company’s sound design team choose it?
For Two NFL Players, Music Is Just As Important As Gridiron Training
Thursday, September 06, 2018
Jason Kelce and Justin Tucker are two active NFL Players and Super Bowl Champions — but music is a big part of their lives, too.
Royal Wedding Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s Summer in the Spotlight
Thursday, September 06, 2018
It’s been just over 100 days since the Royal Wedding — which means it’s also a perfect time to check in with show-stealing cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Yuja Wang’s Ultimate Warm-up: Concertos On Demand
Wednesday, September 05, 2018
Before heading out to crush some Prokofiev with the Berlin Philharmonic, pianist Yuja Wang hyped herself up by playing a few concerto themes on demand.
Musicians Need to Unwind, Too! Here’s a Handful Making the Most of Summer
Monday, September 03, 2018
Didn’t get a chance to get away this summer? Live vicariously through these musicians.
Richard Tucker Sings Puccini and Rodgers
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
For those of us who never had the privilege of seeing the operatic tenor perform live, the internet gives us the next best thing.
‘The Carnival of the Animals’ Features a Glass Harmonica. This Orchestra Forgot the Glass.
Monday, August 27, 2018
A recording of the Saint-Saëns work features a reed rather than glass harmonica. Sometimes, you’ve got to run with your mistakes.
Six Musicians and the Dogs That Make Them Happy
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Music! Dogs! What's not to love? We asked several musicians to share photos and stories about their canine friends — here's what we got!
Accordions Can Do Chopin Preludes, Too
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Accordionist Sergii Shamray put his own spin on Chopin, and the outcome is sublime.
What If We Got the Story of the 'Rite' Wrong?
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
The Rite of Spring’s riot is one of classical music’s the most enduring stories. But what if it didn’t actually happen?
Remembering Aretha Franklin With a Touch of Puccini
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Watch the Queen of Soul tackle “Nessun Dorma.”
How Long Do You Need to Play Verdi Before You’re Arrested? About 16 Years.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
One Slovakian woman, in a bitter vendetta against a neighbor, has been playing the same Verdi aria, on repeat from sunup to sundown, for 16 years.
Here's a (Likely) Bootleg of Rachmaninoff Playing Rachmaninoff
Thursday, August 16, 2018
A new — possibly bootlegged — recording of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances features the composer singing and playing his own work on the piano.
Name That Tune (And Its Associated Ethnic Stereotype)
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
James Bennett II talks about the origins of the Neapolitan Tarantalla, the Italian stereotypes it signifies, and other pieces of music that are associated with certain ethnicities.
Five of Your Favorite Operas That People Used to Hate
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Whether it was hate or lack of interest, here are a handful of operas that dominate houses today, but which initially received a chilly reception.
A ‘Cat’s Fugue’ for Your Feline Friend
Wednesday, August 08, 2018
Whether you’re celebrating International Cat Day or lazing about the house with your pet, here’s a piece to kick off a bonding session.
Every A+ Violin Needs an ‘F’: Why the Instrument Has Those Distinctive Sound Holes
Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Many string instruments have those distinctive f-holes, but how did they get that shape, and are they even necessary?
Meet Clayelle Dalferes… American Pitbull Terrier
Monday, August 06, 2018
Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter took in a dog rescued from a fire and named her after one of WQXR’s own animal-loving hosts.
