The New Criterion

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, introduces a handful of noteworthy pieces from the March 2020 issue and reads from its opening pages.

Jay ends this episode with the beloved theme song to “The Jeffersons,” “Movin’ on Up.” It was co-written and sung by Ja’net DuBois, who died recently. Also in this episode you have two arias by Handel; a piano piece by Ravel, miraculously played; some little-known Mozart, which is knockout; and yet more. Take a break away, as Jay says. Tracks played: Handel, “Bel piacere,” from “Agrippina” Galuppi, Andante from the Keyboard Sonata No. 5 in C major Handel, “Pensieri, voi mi tormentate,” from “Agrippina” Ravel, “Une barque sur l’océan,” from “Miroirs” Mozart, Chaconne from the ballet music to “Idomeneo” DuBois-Barry, “Movin’ on Up”

Jay Nordlinger, the music critic for The New Criterion, joins James Panero for a discussion of the classical music world and the life of a critic today.

James Panero, the executive editor of The New Criterion, discusses the architectural history of one of New York’s artistic treasures, all the way up to the ill-advised renovations being undertaken today.

This episode begins with a song by Giuseppe Martucci, sung by Rosa Feola, the young Italian soprano. It ends with an aria by Giacomo Puccini, sung by Mirella Freni, the legendary Italian soprano who died in recent days. In between is a smorgasbord, including Haydn, Mozart, and a couple of British songs that Jay and others love. Tracks played: Martucci, “Maggiolata” Haydn, Cello Concerto in C major Mozart, Great Mass in C minor Dunhill, “The Cloths of Heaven” arr. Britten, “Down by the Salley Gardens” Mozart, Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat Puccini, “Vissi d’arte,” from “Tosca”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, introduces the magazine’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference held in Washington, D.C.

John O’Sullivan, an editor at large at National Review, shares his thoughts on the importance of a national consensus and recent factors undermining it. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. A form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue under the title, “The Left v. the nation.”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights in this month’s issue and reads from its opening pages.

Mariss Jansons, the great Latvian conductor, born in 1943, died toward the end of last year. Jay talks about him, relating stories both from him and about him. (Jay interviewed Jansons twice, ten years apart.) And, of course, we hear music—from Jansons and his orchestras. Tracks played: Bizet-Shchedrin, from “Carmen Suite” Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 2 in C minor Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor Mahler, Symphony No. 7 in E minor Brahms, Symphony No. 2 in D major

Michael Anton, a scholar and former staffer for the National Security Council, discusses the notion of a “liberal international order” and its place in the present-day war of ideas. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “The enemy is an idea.”

Angelo M. Codevilla, a professor emeritus of international relations at Boston University and a fellow at the Claremont Institute, discusses the notion of liberty as it relates to American history and self-governance. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “Liberty: collective and individual.”

John Fonte, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the author of Sovereignty or Submission: Will Americans Rule Themselves or be Ruled by Others? (Encounter), offers his thoughts on “transnational progressivism” and the forces abetting it.

Victor Davis Hanson, who is the 2019–20 Visiting Critic for The New Criterion, discusses the notion of citizenship as understood in the twenty-first century. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “Pre- and post-citizens.”

Jay begins with a Schubert work, and some singers and pianists who have performed it. He moves on to a funky, frenetic thing called “Techno-Parade.” Later, there is some Wagner by a great new singer. There is some immortal Rachmaninoff. And, at the very end, a song by the late Jerry Herman: “It’s Today,” from “Mame.” A diverse, appetizing musical menu. Tracks played: Schubert, “Winterreise,” Schäfer and Schneider Schubert, “Winterreise,” Hotter and Raucheisen Schubert, “Winterreise,” Schreier and Eschenbach Connesson, “Techno-Parade” “The Lark in the Clear Air” (arr. Michael McHale) Wagner, “Dich, teure Halle,” from “Tannhäuser” Rachmaninoff, “Let Now Thy Servant Depart in Peace,” from “Vespers” Herman, “It’s Today,” from “Mame”

James Piereson, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, discusses the genesis of the American nation-state. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “The idea of an American nation.”

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights in this month’s issue and reads from its opening pages.

Jay plays his favorite Christmas tracks: from Bach to gospel to jazz and beyond. Performers include Hermann Prey, James Cleveland, George Shearing, Heidi Grant Murphy, and Leontyne Price. A gift of a podcast. Tracks played: Bach, “Grosser Herr, o starker König” from the Christmas Oratorio “The First Nowell” (Schwarzkopf et al.) “I Saw Three Ships” (Schwarzkopf et al.) “Ding Dong Merrily on High” (George Shearing and his quintet) “Long Ago in Bethlehem” (Murphy and Murphy) “The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” (Murphy and Murphy) “Oh, What a Pretty Little Baby” (James Cleveland et al.) “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (Sutherland et al.) “O Holy Night” (Leontyne Price et al.) “Jerusalem in the Morning” (Chanticleer)

James Panero on the legacy of John Simon (1925–2019), the inimitable critic and longtime contributor to The New Criterion.

Jay went to the ballet in Kyiv, for “Carmen Suite” and “Scheherazade.” He said, “It was the most erotic evening you could ever spend alone.” He plays some music from “Carmen Suite” in this episode, plus Bach, Scriabin, and Glass. And Frank Bridge, that half remembered and estimable English composer. There is much beauty, and much of interest, in this episode. Tracks played: Bach, Toccata in F-sharp minor Bizet-Shchedrin, Carmen Suite Scriabin, Piano Concerto Scriabin, Etude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12 Glass, Funeral Music of Amenhotep III from “Akhnaten” Bridge, “Love Went A-Riding”

James Hankins, a Professor of History at Harvard, joins James Panero to discuss the monumental Leonardo exhibition at the Louvre and the artist’s legacy five hundred years after his death.