Explore The Symphony

English
71 Episodes

About the podcast

Join the National Arts Centre Orchestra's Marjolaine Fournier and one of Canada's foremost music journalists, Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer, as they explore the symphonic form from Haydn to Shostakovich.

About the host

  • host, music journalist Jean-Jacques Van Vlasselaer
  • Double Bass Marjolaine Fournier
  • Episode 40: Jean-Marie Beaudet, founding father of the NAC Orchestra

    English Mar 13, 2015 23:49

    A conversation with Josée Beaudet, the author of Jean-Marie Beaudet, l'homme orchestre. Beaudet was the very first music director at the NAC - he founded the orchestra, secured its...

  • Episode 39: Schumann and the Rhine

    English Jan 19, 2015 51:02

    Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques reveal Schumann's relationship with the Rhine.

  • Episode 38: Brahms’ Symphonies

    English Dec 09, 2014 49:49

    In this week’s Explore the Symphony, Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques dig into not one, but all four of Brahms’ symphonies! Musical Excerpt: NAC Orchestra Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 Performance...

  • Episode 37: Hindemith

    English Oct 08, 2014 46:56

    In this episode of Explore the Symphony, Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques discuss Symphonic Metamorphoses of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber by Paul Hindemith. Musical excerpts: Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Carl Maria...

  • Episode 36: Shakespeare

    English Sep 22, 2014 42:24

    In this Explore the Symphony, Marjolaine Fournier and Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer talk about Shakespeare, Nicolai, Korngold and Mendelssohn.

  • Episode 35: Fauré

    English May 06, 2014 38:55

    In this episode, Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques delve into Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, once called, “a lullaby of death” and “a Requiem without the Last Judgment” for its gentle nature and sublime...

  • Episode 34: Schoenberg

    English Mar 20, 2014 40:54

    In this Explore the Symphony, Marjolaine Fournier and Jeans-Jacques van Vlasselaer talk about the life of Arnold Schoenberg and his string sextet, Verklärte Nacht.

  • Episode 33: Bruckner (Symphony no. 2)

    English Feb 20, 2014 50:49

    Today on Explore the Symphony Marjolaine and Jeans-Jacques discuss Anton Bruckner and his second symphony.

  • Episode 32: Shostakovich and his 10th Symphony

    English Jan 20, 2014 41:59

    Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer sit down and discuss Dmitri Shostakovich and his 10th Symphony.

  • Episode 31: Hector Belioz

    English Nov 26, 2013 56:50

    Marjolaine and Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer sit down and discuss Hector Berlioz and his Symphonie Fantastique.

  • Episode 30: Richard Strauss

    English Oct 23, 2013 44:40

    Marjolaine Fournier and Dr. Jean-Jacques Van Vlasselaer dive into the 2013-2014 season with Richard Strauss. They discuss his life, and focus on "Also Sprach Zarathustra", and the suites from "Der...

  • Episode 29: Sibelius

    English Mar 04, 2013 24:12

    Marjolaine Fournier and Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer discuss Jean Sibelius, his life, his struggle with depression, alcoholism, and his 3rd Symphony.

  • Episode 28: Shostakovich

    English Jan 15, 2013 39:06

    Marjolaine and Jeans-Jacques discuss Shostakovich, his life in the Soviet Union, and his 9th Symphony.

  • Episode 22: Sibelius Symphony No. 4

    English Jan 07, 2013 47:56

    Jean-Jacques and Marjolaine give Sibelius's Symphony no. 4 the, "Explore the Symphony" treatment.

  • Episode 23: Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky

    English Jan 07, 2013 35:28

    Marjolaine Fournier and Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer discuss Prokofiev's stirring score, Alexander Nevsky. It was composed for Sergey Eisenstein's 1938 cinematic thriller and stands as a spectacular masterpiece for chorus and orchestra.