The New Criterion

Sometimes Jay indulges in hyperbole—but the hyperbole is not far off. In this episode, he calls Dawn Upshaw’s 1989 recording of “No word from Tom” (Stravinsky) “just about the best thing ever.” You may well agree. He begins the episode with another “just about the best thing ever”: Leontyne Price in “Summertime” (Gershwin), live in Munich, 1968. Also on the menu are Mozart, Bridge, Medtner, and Szymanowski. A winning line-up. Gershwin, “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess” Mozart, String Quartet No. 2 in D major, K. 155 Medtner, Fairy Tale No. 3 Bridge, “Allegro appassionato” Szymanowski, Violin Concerto No. 2 Stravinsky, “No word from Tom” from “The Rake’s Progress”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the June 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Jay begins and ends with Simon Preston, the English organist, who recently passed away. He also pays tribute to Alexander Toradze, the Georgian-born American pianist who also passed away in recent days. There is a little piece by Chopin, with which Jay is in love. And more. You remember Mitch Miller, from “Sing Along with Mitch”? Well, he began his career as an oboist. And Jay has him in a concerto by Vaughan Williams. It is a wide, wonderful world, this world of music. Bach, Fugue from Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Vaughan Williams, Oboe Concerto, second movement Chopin, Étude No. 2 in A flat from “Trois nouvelles études” Rossini, Inflammatus, Stabat Mater Shostakovich, Piano Concerto No. 2 in F, first movement Boulanger, Georges, “American Vision” Widow, Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5

James Panero reads “The obtuse bard,” his article on Winslow Homer in the June 2022 issue of The New Criterion. https://newcriterion.com/issues/2022/6/the-obtuse-bard

Douglas Murray discusses his latest book, “The War on the West,” during an event for the Friends of The New Criterion with an introduction by James Panero, Executive Editor.

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the May 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

A couple of weeks ago, Alexei Lubimov, a Russian pianist, was playing at an anti-war concert in Moscow. Police burst in to stop the concert. Lubimov kept playing until he had finished his piece (a Schubert impromptu). At the end of this episode, Jay plays a recording by Lubimov (Chopin this time). There is also Bach, Granados, Kapustin, Glass—a fine assortment. Bach, Sinfonia, Easter Oratorio Granados, “Canciones amatorias” Kapustin, Prelude No. 10 in C-sharp minor Berg, “Die Nachtigall,” from “Seven Early Songs” Glass, Etude No. 6 Vaughan Williamson, “Silent Noon” Chopin, Berceuse

A conversation between Larry P. Arnn, the president of Hillsdale College and the 2022 Edmund Burke Award winner, and Executive Editor James Panero on the future of education in America and the salvation of free government. https://newcriterion.com/gala

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the April 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

New Criterion Poetry Editor Adam Kirsch & Executive Editor James Panero discuss the April 2022 poetry issue; in celebration of The New Criterion Poetry Prize, Bruce Bond & Nicholas Pierce read from their winning books.

On February 24, Kelly Jane Torrance, Op-Ed Editor of the New York Post, addressed a gathering of the Young Friends of The New Criterion in New York. Listen to her remarks on the recent invasion of Ukraine and working on the front lines of journalism during a crisis. Torrance is introduced by Roger Kimball, Editor of The New Criterion, with prefatory remarks by Executive Editor James Panero.

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the February 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

That’s the title of a Bernstein song: “I Hate Music” (“but I like to sing”). In this episode, Jay has Barbara Bonney sing it. There’s also music by Mozart and other familiar composers. And music off the beaten path: Catoire? And a brand-new work by the American Scott Wheeler. And more. The episode ends as the previous one did: with a piece by Leroy Anderson. After Phil Smith and some of his friends played this piece at Lincoln Center, Smith said, “Well, that was a gasser.” For sure. Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel, “La complaisante” Bernstein, “I Hate Music” Catoire, “Étude fantastique” Mozart, “Deh vieni non tardar,” from “The Marriage of Figaro” Wheeler, Scott, Adagietto from “Birds of America”: Violin Concerto No. 2 Trad., arr. Carl Davis, “Shenandoah” Anderson, “Bugler’s Holiday”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the January 2022 issue and reads from its opening pages.

This episode begins with a Vivaldi concerto and ends with a seasonal favorite: “Sleigh Ride,” by Leroy Anderson. In between, there is music by Bruch, Grieg, Stephen Foster, and others. In the mix is a spiritual, “Hold Out Your Light.” An eclectic, refreshing, and interesting program of music. Vivaldi, Flute Concerto in D, Op. 10, No. 3 Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Bell, Joshua, cadenza for first movement of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto Grieg, Finale from String Quartet in G minor Bristow, Symphony No. 4, “Arcadian” Trad., “Blow the Wind Southerly” Trad., “Hold Out Your Light” Foster, “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” Anderson, “Sleigh Ride”

In this episode, Jay does his annual Christmas show—this year featuring E. Power Biggs, Heidi Grant Murphy, Oscar Peterson, Marilyn Horne, and other worthy performers. A glad season, with glad music. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” Handel, “And He Shall Purify,” from “Messiah” “Angels We Have Heard on High” “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” “Long Ago in Bethlehem” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” “In dulci jubilo” “O Come, All Ye Faithful” “Last Month of the Year” “O Holy Night” Handel, “Worthy is the Lamb” and “Amen,” from “Messiah”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights of the December 2021 issue and reads from its opening pages.

This episode begins with the “Chinese Dance” from “The Nutcracker”—a ballet that has been banned in Berlin. Wokeness has hopped the pond. Jay also plays an excerpt from an old, old opera based on the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice; and an excerpt from a new opera based on the same. In addition, there is music by Franz Schubert, Daniel Asia, and Stephen Sondheim—who passed away on November 26, at ninety-one. A striking menu of music, this episode has. Tchaikovsky, “Danse chinoise,” from “The Nutcracker” Gluck, “Che farò senza Euridice,” from “Orfeo ed Euridice” Aucoin, “This is what it is to love an artist,” from “Eurydice” Asia, “Halleluyah,” from Symphony No. 2 Schubert, arr. Dietz, “Ave Maria” Sondheim, “A Little Priest,” from “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

James Panero, the Executive Editor of The New Criterion, sits down with Robert Erickson, Assistant Editor, to discuss the Histories of Herodotus and other major works in ancient Greek.

Nelson Freire, who passed away this month, said that pianists ought to play with joy. He did. There is a lot of joy in this episode, and sublimity, ethereality, and other qualities to savor. From Wagner to Errol Garner. Trad., arr. Schindler, “Jasmine Flower” Puccini, “Signore, ascolta,” from “Turandot” Wagner, “Selig, wie die Sonne meines Glückes lacht,” from “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” Albéniz-Godowsky, Tango in D major Kern-Garner, “The Way You Look Tonight”