Once upon a time, classical music was pop, so today it's worth stepping back and asking: where does one genre stop and the other begin? Can classical ever be popular again? And why do only some classical tracks makes for good samples? Luckily James Bennett II of classical station WQXR is on hand to break down these and other musical conundrums, including but not limited to: killer opera clowns, Bach hip hop hybrids, and the namesake album of this very podcast.
Songs discussed:
Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra - Chaconne
Enrico Caruso - Vesti la Giubbia
Mario Lanza - Because You’re Mine
Wendy Carlos - Prelude and Fugue in C Minor
Jackie Evancho - Nessun Dorma
Jackie Evancho - Burn
Lindsay Stirling - Underground
Vitamin String Quartet - Shallow
Florence Price - Symphony 1
Nas - I Can
Black Eyed Peas - Back 2 Hip Hop
Victoria - Impropreia
Kanye West - Gone

Check out more of James's writing here: https://www.wqxr.org/people/james-bennett-ii/
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