Accessibility links
Spring for Music: Oregon Symphony Hear the orchestra perform works possessed with the turbulent spirit of war, including music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, Charles Ives and John Adams.
Special Series

Classics in Concert

Established masters, emerging musicians, powerhouse orchestras and intimate chamber groups

Conductor Carlos Kalmar leads the Oregon Symphony in music inspired by war. Leah Nash/Oregon Symphony hide caption

toggle caption
Leah Nash/Oregon Symphony

Classics in Concert

Spring for Music: Oregon SymphonyWQXR-APM

Hear the orchestra perform works possessed with the turbulent spirit of war, including music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, Charles Ives and John Adams.

Editor's note on Oct. 29, 2015: The writing that initially appeared on this page has been removed because some unattributed words or phrases in it matched those in previously published sources. NPR cannot allow such work to stand. But a news organization should not hide its mistakes. We have moved the material that was on this page to another location, highlighted the words and phrases that were at issue and added links to show where the material was originally published. NPR's policy on plagiarism is clear: It is unacceptable.

Personnel

Carlos Kalmar, music director

Program

  • Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
  • John Adams: The Wound-Dresser (feat. Sanford Sylvan, baritone)
  • Benjamin Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4
[+] read more[-] less
WQXR-APM

More From Classical

Kirill Gerstein: Tiny Desk Concert

Kirill Gerstein performs at NPR's Tiny Desk, Washington, D.C. on January 28th, 2020. Max Posner/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Max Posner/NPR

Tiny Desk

Kirill Gerstein

Watch the award-winning pianist play a hit by Chopin, a premiere by Thomas Adès and a cherished song by Gershwin dressed in a virtuosic arrangement.

Mellotron Variations: Tiny Desk Concert

Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) give an all-Mellotron performance at the Tiny Desk on December, 11, 2019. (Photo by Mhari Shaw/NPR) Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Mhari Shaw/NPR

Tiny Desk

Mellotron Variations

Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) give an all-Mellotron performance, making music of magic and mystery.

Max Richter: Tiny Desk Concert

Max Richter performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Oct. 21, 2019. Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Mhari Shaw/NPR

Tiny Desk

Max Richter

The eclectic composer joins members of the ACME ensemble for some of his most affecting music, which moves the audience to tears.

Joyce DiDonato: Tiny Desk Concert

Joyce DiDonato performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Nov. 11, 2019. (Catie Dull/NPR) Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Catie Dull/NPR

Tiny Desk

Joyce DiDonato

Watch the celebrated opera star deconstruct old Italian love songs with her signature flair, backed by a crack jazz ensemble.

Bridget Kibbey: Tiny Desk Concert

Bridget Kibbey performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Oct. 24, 2019. (Catie Dull/NPR) Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Catie Dull/NPR

Tiny Desk

Bridget Kibbey

The irrepressible harpist proves that the instrument can be as tempestuous as a tango, as complex as a Bach fugue and sing as serenely as a church choir.

Igor Levit: Tiny Desk Concert

Igor Levit performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Oct. 15, 2019. (Mhari Shaw/NPR) Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Mhari Shaw/NPR

Tiny Desk

Igor Levit

The insightful pianist offers a Beethoven bonanza, ranging from the mesmerizing pulse of the popular "Moonlight" Sonata to flashes of wry humor and tender beauty.

Dan Tepfer: Tiny Desk Concert

Dan Tepfer plays a Tiny Desk concert on July 30, 2019 (Olivia Falcigno/NPR). Olivia Falcigno/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Olivia Falcigno/NPR

Tiny Desk

Dan Tepfer

The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.

Kian Soltani: Tiny Desk Concert

Kian Soltani plays a Tiny Desk Concert on March 8, 2019 (Amr Alfiky/NPR). Amr Alfiky/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Amr Alfiky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Kian Soltani

Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.

Jeremy Dutcher: Tiny Desk Concert

Jeremy Dutcher performs a Tiny Desk Concert on April 22, 2019 (Michael Zamora/NPR). Michael Zamora/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Michael Zamora/NPR

Tiny Desk

Jeremy Dutcher

There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.

Ensemble Signal Plays Jonny Greenwood: Tiny Desk Concert

Ensemble Signal performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 25, 2019 (Claire Harbage/NPR). Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Ensemble Signal Plays Jonny Greenwood

Watch members of the New York-based group give the world premiere video performances of two recent pieces by Radiohead guitarist and composer Jonny Greenwood.

Back To Top