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Offstage, On Air Through the Night

Offstage, On-Air is a weekly show highlighting central Virginia's vibrant classical music community. We will air some of our favorite episodes from the last three years.

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Ballad of a Fireman: Dmitri Shostakovich

2025 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, whose career began in the heady days of the post-revolutionary Futurist movement but mainly played out under… More2025 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, whose career began in the heady days of the post-revolutionary Futurist movement but mainly played out under the thumb of a repressive regime. Possessed of a distinctive musical voice and masterful skills in scoring and orchestration, Shostakovich's life work is illuminating, engaging and demonstrates the will of an indomitable creative spirit. Less

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1. "Polka from The Age of Gold" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Boston Pops, Arthur Fiedler - Slaughter on Tenth Avenue [RCA Red Seal: 1959]
   Notes: used as theme
2. "Symphony No. 1, Op. 10, ii" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 [Command Classics: 1972]
3. "Russian Dance from The Age of Gold" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, Julius Erlich - A Program of Modern Russian Music [Columbia: 1931]
4. "War from The New Babylon" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky - Shostakovich: The New Babylon [Melodiya: 1976]
5. "Tahiti Trot" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly - Shostakovich: The Jazz Album [London: 1993]
6. "Piano Concerto No. 1 mvts, iii-iv" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Evgeny Kissin, Moscow Virtuosi, Vladimir Spivakov - Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 [RCA Red Seal: 1989]
7. "Suite from Katerina Ismailova i-ii" {Dmitri Shostakovich - Jean Perret} - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi - Shostakovich: Five Ballet Suites [Chandos: 1994]
8. "Au devant de la vie" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Chorale A.E.A.R., C.O.T.S.F., Paul Cribeillet - 78 rpm Single [Le voix du peuple: 1936]
9. "Symphony No. 7 i" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Leningrad USSR Symphony Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 [Melodiya/Angel: 1968]
10. "String Quartet No. 8 ii" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Kronos Quartet - Black Angels [Elektra Nonesuch: 1990]
11. "Prelude & Fugue in D Major Op. 87/5" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Dmitri Shostakovich - Shostakovich Préludes et Fugues Op. 87 [Columbia: 1958]
12. "Quintet for Piano & Strings, Op. 57, ii" {Dmitri Shostakovich} - Borodin Quartet with Lyubov Edlina - Shostakovich: Quintet [Melodiya/Angel: 1968]

1 HZ Sharp

UVA student chamber quartet 1 HZ Sharp (Phoebe Hall, violin; Amina Sibay, violin; Luke Benfer, viola; Jacob Daniels, cello) will perform from Dvorak's American quartet followed by individual works.

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Music for the Stars: Astronomers' Delight

What is it about astronomy that attracts composers?  Is it the mysteries of the unknown?  Is it the fascination with mythology that is relevant to space?  Join Penelope and Thann… MoreWhat is it about astronomy that attracts composers?  Is it the mysteries of the unknown?  Is it the fascination with mythology that is relevant to space?  Join Penelope and Thann as they investigate which composers fall into this category. Less

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1. "Neptune - from "The Planets"" {HOLST} - The Philharmonia Orchestra - Holst: The Planets & The Perfect Fool [Nimbus Records: 1988]
2. "Symphony No. 53 "The Star Dawn"" {HOVHANESS} - The Ohio State Concert Band - Hovhannes: Star Dawn [Delos International: 1994]
3. "The Heaventree of Stars" {HODDINOTT} - BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra & Hu Kun - Hoddinott: Orchestral Music [Nimbus Records: 1993]
4. "Europa, Leda, & Io from "Jupeter's Moons"" {ZAIMONT} - Elizabeth Moak - Art, Fire, Soul: Piano Works of Judith Lang Zaimont [MSR Classics: 2011]
5. "Ganymede & Callisto - from "Jupiter's Moons"" {ZAIMONT} - Elizabeth Moak - Art, Fire, Soul: Piano Works of Judith Lang Zaimont [MSR Classics: 2011]
6. "Saturn - from "The Planets"" {HOLST} - The Philharmonia Orchestra - Holst: The Planets & The Perfect Fool [Nimbus Records: 1988]
7. "Symmetry Break Terrace/Black Hole Terrace" {GANDOLFI} - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Gandolfi: The Garden Of Cosmic Speculation [Telarc: 2008]
8. "Venus, Mercury, Jupiter - from "The Planets"" {HOLST} - The Philharmonia Orchestra - Holst: The Planets & The Perfect Fool [Nimbus Records: 1988]
9. "The Moons Swiim in Orbit" {ZAIMONT} - Elizabeth Moak - Art, Fire, Soul: Piano Works of Judith Lang Zaimont [MSR Classics: 2011]
10. "March: Venus" {SOUSA} - Razumuvsky Symphony Orchestra - Sousa: Vol. 3: "On Wings of Lightning" [Naxos: 1995]

Women of Note

Women composers! Spotlighting cross-era and global talents. Includes FB Price, F. Mendelssohn, L. Boulanger, C. Schumann, Tailleferre, Amy Beach, and more.

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1. "Sonata duodecima" {Isabella LEONARDA} - Isabella Leonarda, Ingrid Matthews, Byron Schenkman - in Stil Moderno: The Fantastic Style in Seventeenth-Century Italy [Wildboar Recordings: 2011]
2. "Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum (Excerpts): No. 15, O frondens virga (Instrumental Version)" {Hildegard von BINGEN} - Hildegard von Bingen, Augsburg Early Music Ensemble - Vocal Music - Hildegard Of Bingen / Abelard, P. (Hildegard Von Bingen and Her Time) (Ensemble Fur Fruhe Musik Augsburg) [Christophorus: 1990]
3. "Nocturne (arr. for violin and harp, from Two pieces for violin and piano)" {Lili BOULANGER} - Lili Boulanger, Shannon Lee, Sonia Bize - Lili Boulanger: Nocturne [Etymology Classics: 2024]
4. "Valse lente" {Germaine TAILLEFERRE} - Germaine Tailleferre, Lang Lang - Tailleferre: Valse lente [Deutsche Grammophon (DG): 2024]
5. "Les mariés de la tour Eiffel: VI. Valse des dépêches" {Germaine TAILLEFERRE} - Germaine Tailleferre, Geoffrey Simon, Philharmonic Orchestra - French Ballet Music - L'Éventail de Jeanne & Les mariés de la tour Eiffel [Chandos: 2005]
6. "Scherzo No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 14" {Clara SCHUMANN} - Clara Schumann, Isata Kanneh-Mason - Romance – The Piano Music of Clara Schumann [Decca Music Group Ltd.: 2019]
7. "Schumann: 12 Gedichte aus Liebesfrühling, Op. 37: No. 11: Warum willst du andre fragen" {Clara SCHUMANN} - Clara Schumann, Anneleen Lenaerts, Dionysis Grammenos - Schumann & Schubert - Transcriptions for Clarinet & Harp [Warner Classics: 2016]
8. "String Quartet in E-Flat Major, H. 277: II. Allegretto" {Fanny MENDELSSOHN} - Fanny Mendelssohn, Quatuor Cobalt - String Quartet in E-flat major, H.277: II. Allegretto [GFN Classics: 2024]
9. "Andante for Clarinet and Orchestra" {Alice Mary SMITH} - Alice Mary Smith, Howard Shelley, London Mozart Players, Angela Malsbury - Smith: Symphonies [Chandos: 2005]
10. "IV. Allegro maestoso" {Alice Mary SMITH} - Alice Mary Smith, Howard Shelley, London Mozart Players - Smith: Symphonies [Chandos: 2005]
11. "La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina, Scene 4: Ballo ("Il cavalier di Spagna" by Magistro Rofino)" {Francesca CACCINI} - Francesca Caccini, Allabastrina, La Pifarescha, Elena Sartori - La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola di Alcina [Glossa: 2017]
12. "Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23" {Amy BEACH} - Amy Beach, Esther Abrami, Iyad Sughayer - Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23 [Sony Classical: 2021]
13. "Symphony in E Minor, Op. 32, "Gaelic Symphony": IV. Allegro di molto" {Amy BEACH} - Amy Beach, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Schermerhorn - Beach: Piano Concerto / 'Gaelic' Symphony [Naxos: 2003]
14. "Fantasia in G Minor" {Fanny MENDELSSOHN} - Fanny Mendelssohn, Alice Neary, Benjamin Frith - Mendelssohn, Hensel & Sterndale Bennett: Sonatas for Cello & Piano [Champs Hill Records: 2016]
15. "Love Bade Me Welcome" {Judith WEIR} - Judith Weir, Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, Geoffrey Webber - Judith Weir: Choral Music [Delphian Records: 2011]
16. "Fantasie negre" {Florence Beatrice PRICE} - Florence Beatrice Price, Lara Downes - America Again [Sono Luminus: 2016]
17. "Clairières dans le ciel" {Lili BOULANGER} - Emile Naoumoff, Isabelle Sabrie - Boulanger, Lili and Nadia: In Memoriam Lili Boulanger [Marco-Polo: 1993]

Pop Goes Classical

We’ll spend two hours listening to classical arrangements of modern pop and rock songs - how well do you know your hits?

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1. "Never Gonna Give You Up" {Mike STOCK; Matt AITKEN; Pete WATERMAN} - Munich Symphonic Sound Orchestra - Msso Munich Symphonic Sound Orchestra - Pop Goes Classic Vol. 2 [Gini: 2008]
2. "Running Up That Hill" {Kate BUSH} - Unsecret String Quartet - Running Up That Hill [Tone Tree Music: 2022]
3. "Blinding Lights" {Abel TESFAYE; Ahmad BALSHE; Jason QUENNEVILLE; Max MARTIN; Oscar HOLTER} - Vitamin String Quartet - VSQ Performs the Hits of 2020 [Vitamin Records: 2020]
4. "Mama Mia" {Benny ANDERSSON; Björn ULVAEUS; Stig ANDERSON} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Orchestral Abba [Hallmark: 1995]
5. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" {Benny ANDERSSON; Björn ULVAEUS; Stig ANDERSON} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Orchestral Abba [Hallmark: 1995]
6. "Money Money Money" {Benny ANDERSSON; Björn ULVAEUS} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Orchestral Abba [Hallmark: 1995]
7. "Paint it Black" {Mick JAGGER; Keith RICHARDS} - London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Choral Society; Andrew Pryce Jackman, Conductor - Classic Rock Renaissance [BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.: 2023]
8. "House of the Rising Sun" {Traditional} - London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Choral Society - Classic Rock Renaissance [BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.: 2023]
9. "Another Brick in the Wall" {Roger WATERS} - London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Choral Society - Classic Rock Renaissance [BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.: 2023]
10. "Eleanor Rigby" {John LENNON; Paul MCCARTNEY} - Vitamin String Quartet - Vitamin String Quartet Performs The Beatles [Vitamin Records: 2005]
11. "All You Need Is Love" {John LENNON; Paul MCCARTNEY} - Vitamin String Quartet - Vitamin String Quartet Performs The Beatles [Vitamin Records: 2005]
12. "Yellow Submarine" {John LENNON; Paul MCCARTNEY; Arr. C. EAGAN} - Peter Callard, Guitar; Dave Holmes, Keyboard; Steve McManus, Bass; Andy Vinter, Synthesizer; Steve Socci, Drums; Neal Wilkinson, Drums; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Carl Davis, Conductor - The Beatles for Orchestra [Carl Davis Collection: 2011]
13. "Here Comes the Sun" {George HARRISON} - Peter Callard, Guitar; Steve McManus, Bass; Andy Vinter, Synthesizer; Steve Socci, Drums; Neal Wilkinson, Drums; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Carl Davis, conductor - The Beatles for Orchestra [Carl Davis Collection: 2011]
14. "River Deep, Mountain High" {Phil SPECTOR; Jeff BARRY; Ellie GREENWICH} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Classic Rock (75 Orchestral Rock Anthems) [New Horizon: 2015]
15. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" {Mick JAGGER; Keith RICHARDS} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Classic Rock (75 Orchestral Rock Anthems) [New Horizon: 2015]
16. "I Knew You Were Trouble" {Taylor SWIFT; Max MARTIN; SHELLBACK} - Vitamin String Quartet - VSQ Performs Taylor Swift [Vitamin Records: 2024]
17. "You Belong With Me" {Taylor SWIFT; Liz ROSE} - Vitamin String Quartet - VSQ Performs Taylor Swift [Vitamin Records: 2024]
18. "Love Story" {Taylor SWIFT} - Vitamin String Quartet - Vitamin String Quartet Performs Taylor Swift's Love Story [Vitamin Records: 2009]
19. "We Are The Champions" {Freddie MERCURY} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Classic Rock (75 Orchestral Rock Anthems) [New Horizon: 2015]
20. "Another One Bites The Dust" {John DEACON} - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Matthew Freeman, Bass - Symphonic Queen - The Greatest Hits [PANORAMA: 2016]
21. "Bohemian Rhapsody" {Freddie MERCURY} - London Symphony Orchestra; Royal Choral Society; Peter Straker, soloist; Andrew Pryce Jackman, Conductor - Classic Rock Renaissance [BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.: 2023]
22. "Counting Stars" {Ryan TEDDER} - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; James Morgan, Conductor - Pop Goes Classical [Decca (UMO) (Classics): 2017]
23. "I Will Always Love You" {Dolly PARTON} - Juliette Pochin, Piano; James Morgan, Piano - Pop Goes Classical [Decca (UMO) (Classics): 2017]

Pianists Play Brahms

While Johannes Brahms is probably best known for his orchestral and chamber music, his music for the keyboard is equally fine. He was an excellent pianist himself, although he gave… MoreWhile Johannes Brahms is probably best known for his orchestral and chamber music, his music for the keyboard is equally fine. He was an excellent pianist himself, although he gave up performing for composing. We’ll hear some of the great pianists who were attracted to the works of Brahms, including Earl Wild, Wilhelm Backhaus, and Myra Hess, among others, in classic recordings. Join us as we explore the works of this great romantic classicist. Less

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1. "Rhapsody in B minor, Op. 79, No. 1" {Johannes BRAHMS} - A. Rubinstein - Grand Piano: Brahms [Nimbus: 1996]
2. "Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2" {J. BRAHMS} - E. Wild - Earl Wild Plays Brahms [Ivory Classics: 2002]
3. "Capriccio No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 76, No. 1" {J. BRAHMS} - A. Kuerti - Kuerti Plays Brahms [Analekta: 1998]
4. "Capriccio No. 2 in B minor, Op. 76, No. 2" {J. BRAHMS} - A. Kuerti - Kuerti Plays Brahms [Analekta: 1998]
5. "Rhapsody in Eb major, Op. 119, No. 4" {J. BRAHMS} - M. Hess - Grand Piano: Brahms [Nimbus: 1996]
6. "Intermezzi No. 1-3, Op. 117" {J. BRAHMS} - S. Hough - Brahms: The Final Piano Pieces [Hyperion: 2020]
7. "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" {J. BRAHMS} - W. Backhaus - Grand Piano: Brahms [Nimbus: 1996]
8. "Fantasias 1-4" {J. BRAHMS} - S. Hough - Brahms: The Final Piano Pieces [Hyperion: 2020]
9. "3 Intermezzi from Op. 76" {J. BRAHMS} - A. Kuerti - Kuerto Plays Brahms [Analekta: 1998]
10. "Ballade in B minor, Op. 10, No. 3" {J. BRAHMS} - C. Friedburg - Grand Piano: Brahms [Analekta: 1998]

Inspired by the Bard

Shakespeare has long inspired artists of many stripes, and over 425+ years, classical music has embraced his poetry and drama. Composers, right up to this day, continue to write music… MoreShakespeare has long inspired artists of many stripes, and over 425+ years, classical music has embraced his poetry and drama. Composers, right up to this day, continue to write music to his words, and operas around his plays. Listen in as Paula plays pieces by Verdi, Prokofiev, Matthew Locke, Korngold, Purcell, Sibelius, Schubert and many others. Less

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1. "Act 2: Perché mi sfuggi...La luce langue" {VERDI, Giuseppe} - Shirley Verrett, Leo Nucci, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna - Riccardo Chailly - Verdi: Macbeth [Decca: 1987]
2. "Three Shakespeare Songs" {VAUGHN WILLIAMS, Ralph} - Tenebrae - Nigel Short - Music of the Spheres: Part Songs of the British Isles [Signum: 2016]
3. "From Henry VIII, Act 3 (Music: Melancholy Galliard)" {DOWLAND, John} - Ronn McFarlane, lute/Robert Aubry Davis, voice - Blame not my Lute: Elizabethan Lute Music and Poetry [Sono Luminus: 2011]
4. "Julius Caesar Overture, Op. 128" {SCHUMANN, Robert} - Vienna Philharmonic - Sir Georg Solti - Schumann: The Symphonies [Decca: 1999]
5. "Excerpt Act 2 Macbeth" - Ben Crystal, Philip Powell, Rebecca Pownell, Benjamin O'Mahony, Colin Hurley - Shakespeare's Original Pronunciation [British Library: 2012]
6. "Attendance at the Funeral/Flute of Darkness (From soundtrack of "Ran" by Akira Kurosawa)" {TAKEMITSU, Toru} - Sapporo Symphony Orchestra - Hiroyuki Ikawa - Ran: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Silva Screen: 2016]
7. "Tonight (From movie soundtrack of "West Side Story")" {BERNSTEIN, Leonard} - Jim Bryant, Marni Nixon - West Side Story: Originial Motion Picture Soundtrack [Sony: 1961]
8. "Were the World Mine" {FOGLE, Jessica/SANDUSKY, Tim} - Tanner Cohen, Nathaniel David Becker - Were the World Mine Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [PS Classics: 2008]
   Notes: Adapted from A Midsummer Night's Dream
9. "No Longer Mourn for Me from Sonnet LXXI" {TAVENER, John} - David Waterman, Chiara Enderle, Caroline Dearnley, Bartholomew LaFollette, Amy Norrington, Steven Isserlis, cellos - Tavener: No Longer Mourn for Me [Hyperion: 2020]
10. "Sonnet 29" - Judy Dench - [BBC: 2023]
    Notes: Excerpted from The Graham Norton Show, Nov. 1, 2023
11. "Take, o take those lips away" {DRING, Madeleine} - Roderick Williams, baritone/Joseph Middleton, piano - Sounds and Sweet Airs: A Shakespeare Songbook [BIS: 2023]
12. "La Coranto" {MORLEY, Thomas} - Musicians of the Globe - Philip Pickett - Shakespeare's Musick: Song and Dances from Shakespeare's Plays [Decca: 1997]
13. "An Sylvia, D. 891" {SCHUBERT, Franz} - Nicky Spence, tenor/Malcolm Martineau, piano - As You Like It: Shakespeare Songs [Resonus: 2013]
14. "The Battle of Agincourt" {WALTON, William} - London Festival Orchestra - Stanley Black - Great Shakespeare Films - Cinema Gala [Decca: 1989]
15. "The Tragedy of Coriolanus, Op. 135" {CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO, Mario} - West Australian Symphony Orchestra - Andrew Penny - Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Shakespeare Overtures, Vol. 1 [Naxos: 2010]
16. "Where the Bee Sucks" {JOHNSON, Robert} - Emma Kirkby, soprano/David Thomas, bass/Anthony Rooley, lute - The Sound of Shakespeare [Parlophone: 2016]
    Notes: From The Tempest

Verboten Voices

Music by composers banned or restricted by totalitarian regimes, especially the USSR and Nazi Germany: Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Hindemith, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, Kurt Weill, Schoenberg, Sibelius, etc...

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1. "Finlandia op. 26" {Jean SIBELIUS} - Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra - Sibelius: Orchestral Works [Sony: 1970]
2. "Symphony No. 4 in C minor op. 43" {Dimitri SHOSTAKOVICH} - Kirill Kondrashin, Moscow State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra - Shostakovich & Kondrashin: Complete Symphonies [JSC "Firma Melodiya": 2024]
3. "Quant je ne voy ma dame" {Guillaume de MACHAUT} - Orlando Consort, - Machaut: A Lover's Death [Hyperion: 2025]
4. "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Concert Overture op. 21 MWV P 3" {Felix MENDELSSOHN} - Pablo Heras-Casado, Freiburger Barockorchester - Mendelssohn: Ein Sommernachtstraum [Harmonia Mundi: 2025]
5. "Garrit gallus %u2013 In nova fert %u2013 Neuma" {Philippe de VITRY} - La Fonte Musica - Metamorfosi Trecento [Alpha: 2013]
6. "Symphony No. 1 in D major" {Gustav MAHLER} - Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic - Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major [Sony: 1967]
7. "Variations for Orchestra op. 31 (1926-1928)" {Arnold SCHOENBERG} - Sir Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - rahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn / Schoenberg: Variations, Op.31 [Decca: 1982]
8. "Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words) op. 19b MWV SD 5 (no.3, no. 5)" {Felix MENDELSSOHN} - Olga Pashchenko (Fortepiano) - Guess Who? [Alpha: 2025]
9. "Octet for Wind Instruments" {Igor STRAVINKSY} - Stravinsky: Symphony in C - Symphony in 3 Movements - Octet - Dumbarton Oaks - Robert Craft, Twentieth Century Classics Ensemble [Naxos: 2009]
10. "Symphony 'Mathis der Maler'" {Paul HINDEMITH} - Eugene Ormandy, The Philadelphia Orchestra - Hindemith: Symphony "Mathis der Maler" & Sinfonische Metamorphosen [Sony Classical: 1964]
11. "Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words) op. 167 MWV SD 32 (no.1)" {Felix MENDELSSOHN} - Annette Seiler (Fortepiano) - Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte, Rondo capriccioso & Variations sérieuses [Musik Museum: 2015]