The New York Times has called Nicholas Brittel: “The composer at the frontier of film music.” Britell has written scores for Hollywood movies including:The Big Short, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could talk. Listeners might best recognize his work from the theme of the HBO series “Succession” for which he’s won the Emmy for the iconic theme song. He’ll talk about writing for the big screen and he’ll play one of his most recognizable pieces live-in studio.  

Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.

Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Var. I (C.A.E.)
Elgar
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & George Hurst
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

The Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War
Holst
CSR Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava & Adrian Leaper
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176: Introduction
Strauss
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Zdeněk Košler
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13, Pathetique”
Beethoven
Alessio Bax, piano
Live recording at The Greene Space
 

Fantasia in C minor, K. 475
Mozart
Péter Nagy, piano
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86
Debussy
The Knights
Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell

Symphony No. 64 in A Major, Hob. 1:64 (Tempora mutantur)
Haydn
The Knights
Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell

Le Sacre du Printemps
Stravinsky
Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107; II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam
Bruckner
Linz Bruckner Orchestra & Mark Poschner
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

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Credits

Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.

Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.

Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.

Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.