A: What is classical music?

B: Carolyn Kuan on music as meditation

C: Video game music IS art music

The term "classical music" includes a wide variety of music and artists. This hour we take a look at what that category really means. We celebrate the form and help you figure out how to start listening to the genre.

Plus, how video game music is bringing new listeners to classical music and live orchestras.

GUESTS:
Matthew Aucoin: American composer, conductor, writer, pianist, and a 2018 MacArthur Fellow. He is author of “The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera” and is co-founder of the American Modern Opera Company. His opera “Euridyce” was produced by the Metropolitan Opera in 2021, making him the youngest composer in nearly a century to have an opera produced by The Met
Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch: Author of “Declassified: A Low-Key Guide to the High-Strung World of Classical Music”. She is also a violinist who has performed in venues around the world
Carolyn Kuan: Music Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, she led the acclaimed world premiere of Huang Ruo’s "The Monkey King" at San Francisco Opera. Her recording of Huang Ruo’s "An American Soldier" with the American Composers Orchestra received a 2026 Grammy nomination
J. Aaron Hardwick: An internationally active professional conductor, professor of music at Wake Forest University, and Director of the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra, recognized for his work in classical and contemporary repertoire and innovative orchestral programming, including video game music

MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
Symphony No. 5 I. Trauermarsch – Gustav Mahler, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic
21 Hungarian Dances No. 5 – Johannes Brahms, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic
Revolucion Diamantina Act IV: Speaking the unspeakable – Gabriela Ortiz, Gustavo Dudamel, LA Phil
Don’t Look Down I. Hammerspace – Christopher Cerrone, Sandbox Percussion
Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” IV. Molto Allegro – W.A. Mozart, Seiji Ozawa, Mito Chamber Orchestra
String Quartet No. 8 II. Allegro molto – Dmitri Shostakovich, Dover Quartet
6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet III. Allegro grazioso – Gyorgy Ligeti, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Felix Mendelssohn, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra
An American Soldier Act II Scene 1: Hey Danny – Huang Ruo, Carolyn Kuan, American Composers' Orchestra
Hi – Caroline Shaw CUT FOR TIME
The Monkey King Act II Scene 3 – Huang Ruo, Carolyn Kuan, San Francisco Opera
Tears of the Kingdom Main Theme – Manaka Kataoka
Temple of Time Theme Montage – The Legend of Zelda

NES (1986) Style – Loeder Music
Ocarina of Time (1998) – Koji Kondo
Breath of the Wild (2017) – Yasuaki Iwata
Planetrise – Inon Zur (Starfield)
Lumiere – Lorien Testard (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) CUT FOR TIME
Atsu’s Theme – Toma Otowa (Ghost of Yōtei) CUT FOR TIME
The Perfect Wave – Austin Wintory

The term "classical music" includes a wide variety of music and artists. This hour we take a look at what that category really means. We celebrate the form and help you figure out how to start listening to the genre.
Plus, how video game music is bringing new listeners to classical music and live orchestras.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Matthew Aucoin:&nbsp;American composer, conductor, writer, pianist, and a 2018 MacArthur Fellow. He is author of &ldquo;The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera&rdquo; and is co-founder of the American Modern Opera Company. His opera &ldquo;Euridyce&rdquo; was produced by the Metropolitan Opera in 2021, making him the youngest composer in nearly a century to have an opera produced by The Met</li>
<li>Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch:&nbsp;Author of &ldquo;Declassified: A Low-Key Guide to the High-Strung World of Classical Music&rdquo;. She is also a violinist who has performed in venues around the world</li>
<li>Carolyn Kuan:&nbsp;Music Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, she led the acclaimed world premiere of Huang Ruo&rsquo;s "The Monkey King" at San Francisco Opera. Her recording of Huang Ruo&rsquo;s "An American Soldier" with the American Composers Orchestra received a 2026 Grammy nomination</li>
<li>J. Aaron Hardwick:&nbsp;An internationally active professional conductor, professor of music at Wake Forest University, and Director of the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra, recognized for his work in classical and contemporary repertoire and innovative orchestral programming, including video game music</li>
</ul>
MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/9IfCeFvhyH8">Symphony No. 5 I. Trauermarsch</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Gustav Mahler, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/PyCHVikkt-E">21 Hungarian Dances No. 5</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Johannes Brahms, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6bWRrJNL0">Revolucion Diamantina Act IV: Speaking the unspeakable</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Gabriela Ortiz, Gustavo Dudamel, LA Phil</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCCASCzBBPY">Don&rsquo;t Look Down I. Hammerspace</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Christopher Cerrone, Sandbox Percussion</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/_3LLUMhDOA8">Symphony No. 41 &ldquo;Jupiter&rdquo; IV. Molto Allegro</a>&nbsp;&ndash; W.A. Mozart, Seiji Ozawa, Mito Chamber Orchestra</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/Vv3ghWE2txg">String Quartet No. 8 II. Allegro molto</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Dmitri Shostakovich, Dover Quartet</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/-GKDmftmBzs">6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet III. Allegro grazioso</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Gyorgy Ligeti, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra of Europe</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=out0FCQWBak">Overture to A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Felix Mendelssohn, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/mAB6JEXgEoM">An American Soldier Act II Scene 1: Hey Danny</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Huang Ruo, Carolyn Kuan, American Composers' Orchestra</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw73HvHik78">Hi</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Caroline Shaw&nbsp;CUT FOR TIME</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/02barYCv-lk">The Monkey King Act II Scene 3</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Huang Ruo, Carolyn Kuan, San Francisco Opera</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/UkyQAn7tJSE">Tears of the Kingdom Main Theme</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Manaka Kataoka</li>
<li>Temple of Time Theme Montage &ndash; The Legend of Zelda 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/XGUmp13dEuE">NES (1986) Style</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Loeder Music</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/n66LMxSH3ZM">Ocarina of Time (1998)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Koji Kondo</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/L1igglghRW8">Breath of the Wild (2017)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Yasuaki Iwata</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/phB7K7xpphU">Planetrise</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Inon Zur (Starfield)</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/LpNVf8sczqU">Lumiere</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Lorien Testard (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)&nbsp;CUT FOR TIME</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/iKh3nGP_7QI">Atsu&rsquo;s Theme</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Toma Otowa (Ghost of Yōtei)&nbsp;CUT FOR TIME</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/f7LCum-qq9Y">The Perfect Wave</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Austin Wintory</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.