James Bennett II

James Bennett II appears in the following:

Wake Up! Here’s a Little Duet for Piccolo and … Alarm Clock

Monday, September 10, 2018

Composer Tilmann Dehnhard has written quite the piece to get you going in the morning.
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These Kids Are Amazed When They Meet an Opera Singer for the First Time

Monday, September 10, 2018

How do you stun a kid into a state of pure awe? Introduce them to an opera singer like Angel Blue.
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On the Origin of That Iconic Nokia Ringtone

Thursday, September 06, 2018

Tárrega’s “Gran Vals” might be best known as the “Nokia Tune,” but how did the company’s sound design team choose it?
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For Two NFL Players, Music Is Just As Important As Gridiron Training

Thursday, September 06, 2018

Jason Kelce and Justin Tucker are two active NFL Players and Super Bowl Champions — but music is a big part of their lives, too.
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Royal Wedding Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s Summer in the Spotlight

Thursday, September 06, 2018

It’s been just over 100 days since the Royal Wedding — which means it’s also a perfect time to check in with show-stealing cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
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Yuja Wang’s Ultimate Warm-up: Concertos On Demand

Wednesday, September 05, 2018

Before heading out to crush some Prokofiev with the Berlin Philharmonic, pianist Yuja Wang hyped herself up by playing a few concerto themes on demand.
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Musicians Need to Unwind, Too! Here’s a Handful Making the Most of Summer

Monday, September 03, 2018

Didn’t get a chance to get away this summer? Live vicariously through these musicians.
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Richard Tucker Sings Puccini and Rodgers

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

For those of us who never had the privilege of seeing the operatic tenor perform live, the internet gives us the next best thing.
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‘The Carnival of the Animals’ Features a Glass Harmonica. This Orchestra Forgot the Glass.

Monday, August 27, 2018

A recording of the Saint-Saëns work features a reed rather than glass harmonica. Sometimes, you’ve got to run with your mistakes.
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Six Musicians and the Dogs That Make Them Happy

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Music! Dogs! What's not to love? We asked several musicians to share photos and stories about their canine friends — here's what we got!
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Accordions Can Do Chopin Preludes, Too

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Accordionist Sergii Shamray put his own spin on Chopin, and the outcome is sublime.
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What If We Got the Story of the 'Rite' Wrong?

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The Rite of Spring’s riot is one of classical music’s the most enduring stories. But what if it didn’t actually happen?
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Comments [19]

Remembering Aretha Franklin With a Touch of Puccini

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Watch the Queen of Soul tackle “Nessun Dorma.”
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How Long Do You Need to Play Verdi Before You’re Arrested? About 16 Years.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

One Slovakian woman, in a bitter vendetta against a neighbor, has been playing the same Verdi aria, on repeat from sunup to sundown, for 16 years.
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Here's a (Likely) Bootleg of Rachmaninoff Playing Rachmaninoff

Thursday, August 16, 2018

A new — possibly bootlegged — recording of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances features the composer singing and playing his own work on the piano.
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Name That Tune (And Its Associated Ethnic Stereotype)

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

James Bennett II talks about the origins of the Neapolitan Tarantalla, the Italian stereotypes it signifies, and other pieces of music that are associated with certain ethnicities.

Five of Your Favorite Operas That People Used to Hate

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Whether it was hate or lack of interest, here are a handful of operas that dominate houses today, but which initially received a chilly reception.
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National Cat Day: A ‘Cat’s Fugue’ for Your Feline Friend

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Whether you’re celebrating International Cat Day or lazing about the house with your pet, here’s a piece to kick off a bonding session.
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Every A+ Violin Needs an ‘F’: Why the Instrument Has Those Distinctive Sound Holes

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Many string instruments have those distinctive f-holes, but how did they get that shape, and are they even necessary?
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Meet Clayelle Dalferes… American Pitbull Terrier

Monday, August 06, 2018

Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter took in a dog rescued from a fire and named her after one of WQXR’s own animal-loving hosts.
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