Was Beethoven always cranky? Plus, music by Mendelssohn, Delius and Tchaikovsky

By Dan Margolies,

Published November 16, 2023 at 1:20 PM CST

Emanuel Ax, Michael Stern and members of the Kansas City Symphony receive a standing ovation following a June 2023 performance of Beethoven's "Concerto No. 3 in C Minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 37."

It turns out that Ludwig van Beethoven was having a bit of fun during and following the harried premiere of his third piano concerto. Co-hosts Dan Margolies and Michael Stern recount that story and sing the praises of soloist Emanuel Ax. We'll also hear Felix Mendelssohn's puffin-inspired "Hebrides Overture," Frederick Delius' beautiful and foreboding "Walk to the Paradise Garden" and the inner struggle of Peter Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4."

An agreement with the Kansas City Symphony allows us to share audio for this program up to four weeks after the program's original air date. You can listen to currently available episodes here.

Hosts

Michael Stern
Dan Margolies

Program

Hebrides Overture
by Felix Mendelssohn
Live performance, June 2011

Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 37
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Emanuel Ax - piano
Live performance, June 2023

The Walk to the Paradise Garden
by Frederick Delius
Live performance, May 2023

Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
by Peter Tchaikovsky
Valentina Peleggi - guest conductor
Live performance, June 2023