without words:
classics that speak for themselves, as chosen for you by our invited guests
ninety minutes of wwclassic music radio, ohne worte, without words
a musical key to our guest's individuality.
John Axelrod
John Axelrod, conductor, presents his without words selection for wwclassics.
His profession keeps him quickly moving from repertoire to repertoire but there are a
few monumental works that cling to his heart throughout his international career.
‘Unconventional’ is most likely John’s middle name, yet his choices for wwclassicsonline listeners are indeed classics,
if in an Axelrod-unconventional recipe.
Catch up with John Axelrod via his website, complete with the great reading that his blog provides.
On Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Dances Axelrod writes: ‘This is the first piece I studied with this giant of music and of life.
Whenever I hear it I cannot help but dance and sing. And I played the lead role of Riff in my High School musical version!
(wwc has added a sparkling rendition of America just for fun!)
Wagner, the ultimate love opera: Tristan und Isolde, the Prélude and Liebestod: ‘without this music, I doubt I would have been a conductor.
It was the catalyst on a dark night in Napa Valley while I worked for the Robert Mondavi Winery that I had an epiphany after hearing this music. Next thing I knew I was Christoph Eschenbach’s assistant in Bayreuth.
The Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky:
‘there is no other work as important and revolutionary as this, while still giving audience’s a shock even today.’
(wwc has added an encore shock in Valery Gergiev’s performance of Scriabin’s Poème d’Extase.)
And last but certainly not least, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, the Pastorale:
‘Despite its programmatic history and titles, this wonderful work is my favorite of the Beethoven Symphonies:
for me, a deep exploration into the nature of loss, both that of Beethoven’s loss of hearing and losses in our own existence.
Discovery, Sadness, Denial, Anger and Acceptance: those are the stages of loss and Beethoven captures this in his music
on an autobiographical level, without ever letting people really know it thanks to the romantic titles he uses for the movements.
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Track list
Los Angeles Philharmonic/ Leonard Bernstein: Bernstein, West Side Story Symphonic Dances
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/ Leonard Bernstein: America
DGG 471 737-2
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra/Yakob Kreizberg: Wagner, from Tristan und Isolde, Prélude,
Liesbestod
Pentatone Classics PTC5186041
Valery Gergiev/Orchestra of the Kirov Ballet and Mariinsky Orchestra: Stravinsky, Sacre du Printemps and Scriabin Poème de L’Éxtase
Philips 468 035-2
David Zinman/Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich: Beethoven, Symphony no. 6 ‘Pastoral’ opus 68,
Allegro ma non troppo;
Andante molto moto - Szene am Bach;
Allegro - Lustiges Zusammensein des Landleute;
Allegro - Gewither. Sturm;
Allegretto - Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm.
Arte Nova Classics 74321 49695 2
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