
From the Archives is a curated tour of the world’s greatest composers, conductors and performers, captured in distinctive and memorable audio recordings.
Building on a lifetime of collecting recordings, host Frank Byrne shares the best performances he knows, each with a special element that sets it apart. A lifelong student of classical music, Byrne’s love of collecting classical music is only eclipsed by his joy in sharing it with friends.
Thanks to the wealth of recorded classical music available today, we have the opportunity to explore and consider performances that the average listener may never have heard. Listening together on From the Archives, we will gain insights to those great musicians who truly bring this music to life. Please join us.
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In this new periodic series, explore different perspectives on a great musical work. This time it’s Bach’s miraculous Passacaglia and Fugue in C BWV 582. We have four different versions, each revealing new insights into the music.
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We continue the series of outstanding recordings from the large catalog produced for 'Reader’s Digest' in the 1960s. Not only were these excellent performances, but the sonics were among the best out there. Hear fine recordings of music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Manuel de Falla.
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The passing of Queen Elizabeth II last year prompts reflection on the first Queen Elizabeth, who reigned from 1558-1603. We’ll hear music from her time and also modern orchestral settings inspired by her fascinating and turbulent life.
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Franz Schubert either intended his eighth symphony to have only two movements, or he never finished it, as is often thought. We’ll hear the efforts of scholars to complete the other two movements of Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 and also what might have been the first movement of Beethoven’s tenth symphony. Good or bad idea? We’ll find out together.
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We continue our remembrance of the great pianist Radu Lupu, who passed away in April 2022. He was “a pianist’s pianist” who earned the highest praise from his professional colleagues. We’ll hear his incredible musicality in two contrasting works by Johannes Brahms.