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Marin Alsop on Music In September, 2007, Marin Alsop became music director of the Baltimore Symphony, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. She was named a 2005 MacArthur Fellow, the first conductor ever to receive the award. Here, she offers commentary on a broad assortment of classical music.
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Special Series

Marin Alsop on Music

The Baltimore Symphony music director offers commentary on a broad assortment of classical music.

Saturday

Love, Lust and Drinking Stir 'Carmina'

The music itself toggles between huge forces and a single voice, juxtaposing majesty and intimacy with ease. At its largest, Carmina Burana employs a chorus of 200 or more voices, an orchestra of 100 players and a children's choir of 50 or more, plus three soloists: soprano, tenor and baritone.

Hear Alsop discuss Orff on Weekend Edition Saturday

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6470188/7685398" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday

Hearing History in Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony

For Marin Alsop, music director of the Baltimore Symphony beginning in 2007, the centennial of Dmitri Shostakovich's birth presents an opportunity to explore the complexity and lesser-known pleasures of the legendary Russian composer's music.

Alsop discusses Shostakovich on Weekend Edition Saturday

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6126580/7687320" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">