Shows
Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #37: I Used to Think...
Chris and Sridhar discuss the latter's upcoming audition, their dislike of the classical saxophone, and things about which they have changed their minds (including Aaron Copland, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, and Beethoven's even symphonies).
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Useful links:
Kate Clark - an introduction to the Baroque flute
Telemann - Fantasia for Solo Flute in E Minor
Jed Wentz - Blavet Flute Sonatas
Saxophone quartet plays Bach's Italian Concerto
2023-02-1456 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #36: Rehearsal Rules
Chris and Sridhar discuss the New York Philharmonic’s new concert hall, TikTok’s influence on the music industry, and rules to make rehearsals run smoothly.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolite2listen
Useful Links:
New York Philharmonic's new David Geffen Hall
Stella Katherine Cole
Hank Green - So...TikTok Sucks
Willem de Fesch - wikipedia
Willem de Fesch: Concerto Grosso in B-Flat Major - Bremer Barockorchester
Online Tone Generator
Tu...
2022-11-2252 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL#35: The Lenny Special
Chris and Sridhar share some thoughts on YouTube Music before discussing the life, art, and legacy of Leonard Bernstein. Then, in true Lenny fashion, they (night)cap it off by naming some of their favorite Bernstein YouTube videos.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolite2listen
Useful Links:
YouTube Music - App Store
Netherlands Bach Society
Bernstein plays and conducts Rhapsody in Blue
Bernstein - Ravel Piano Concerto
Bernstein - Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1
2022-09-201h 24Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #34: Conservatory Blues
Chris and Sridhar discuss their favorite Victor Borge bits, the ins and outs of concert attire, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's acquisition of the record label Pentatone.
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Useful links:
Victor Borge documentary
Victor Borge performs at the White House
White House Steinway
Victor Borge & Anton Contra play Monti's Czardas
Victor Borge as Franz Liszt
Victor Borge & Michala...
2022-07-111h 08Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #33: Music of the Plains
Chris and Sridhar discuss session gigs, band education, Chris’ dream of becoming a piano salesman, Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2, Gerard Schwarz, the Seattle Symphony, and the art of conducting.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitemedia
Useful links:
Pierre Boulez with hula girls
Karajan conducts Sibelius: Finlandia
Karajan conducts Smetana: The Moldau
Karajan conducts Wagner: Overture to Die Meistersinger
Wayne Bergeron
Malcolm McNab
Movies Jim...
2022-05-3141 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #32: From Kyiv With Love
ITL is back with a 100% topical episode: after a quick review of the new West Side Story movie, Chris and Sridhar chat about the politics of music as it pertains to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. They discuss the cancellation of Russian music and musicians in wartime, music as propaganda, musicians who enable and benefit from Putin, and much more.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitemedia
Useful links:
West Side Story 1961 Opening
West Side Story 2021...
2022-04-131h 01Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #31: Stirred, Not Shaken
In this cocktail of an episode, Chris and Sridhar discuss the theme from HBO’s Succession, naming a chamber music group, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, whether or not music theory should be mandatory, and the merits of a theoretical perspective of music. They also get distracted and shop for domain names.
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Useful links:
Succession - theme and opening credits
Nicholas Britell explains the Succession theme
Sa...
2022-02-221h 06Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #30: Whiplash
Chris and Sridhar play a game of Overrated/Underrated/Properly Rated with the Cleveland Orchestra, seats behind the orchestra in a concert hall, Mahler's 5th Symphony, and standing ovations. Then, for another edition of ITL At the Movies, they discuss Damien Chazelle's 2014 film "Whiplash," which prompts a conversation about abusive teachers and "old school" teaching methods.
(Disclaimer--in the spirit of "Whiplash," this episode is uncensored.)
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Useful links:
Mahler Symphony...
2022-01-241h 11Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #29: All I Want for Christmas
After an obligatory chat about The Nutcracker, Chris and Sridhar reveal their musical Christmas wishlists. They discuss vocal training, baroque instruments, ballet orchestras, music festivals, entertainment in the metaverse, and the growing number of pops concerts. Will Santa give them what they want?
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Useful links:
Staatsballett Berlin (not Munich!) on the Nutcracker
ITL #13: The Christmas Special
Billie Holiday - I'm a Fool to Want You
...
2021-12-241h 04Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL#28: Gone Chopin
Chris and Sridhar discuss concerts during COVID, tips for writing program notes, buying a digital piano, the International Chopin Piano Competition, and the music of Frédéric Chopin in general.
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Useful links:
International Chopin Piano Competition - wikipedia
2021 Chopin Piano Competition - full playlists
Bruce Liu, first prize winner - first round
Bruce Liu - second round
Bruce Liu - final ro...
2021-12-131h 02Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #27: What Makes Music Scary?
For this Halloween special, Chris and Sridhar ask: what makes music scary? They discuss "scary" associations with certain kinds of music, whether or not music can be intrinsically scary, classic scores for Alfred Hitchcock films, and Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre."
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Useful links:
Karl Richter - Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
German Brass - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Sideways - Why Pipe Organs S...
2021-10-3146 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #26: Concerts in Caves
Chris and Sridhar discuss Beethoven’s 10th Symphony as completed by Artificial Intelligence, the role of AI in music, a pop quiz, and some superlative questions. Shots are fired, but it’s all in good fun.
Brought to you by:
Quorum Coffee: combining the artisan flavors of family-grown, single-origin coffee with the community and vibe of a neighborhood coffee shop. Order the new Coffee to the People roast—and check out the Impolite to Listen featurette—at quorumcoffee.com
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2021-10-0559 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #25: The Jazz Loft
Chris and Sridhar discuss the documentary “The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith.” They also discuss the musical scenes and cultures of various cities and their orchestras.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Useful Links:
W. Eugene Smith - Profile (with lots of his photos!)
W. Eugene Smith - Master of the Photo Essay
W. Eugene Smith - Wikipedia
The Picture He Took When He Stood Up - Blast photo
Soldier from the Battle of Saipan
Tr...
2021-09-211h 12Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #24: I Love a Piano
Chris and Sridhar discuss big news in the classical music streaming world, Chris' first composition, composition technology, video game music, and the merits of the piano as an instrument.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Useful Links:
Primephonic statement on Apple Music
Forest Morning by Chris Arkin
Chris' website
Video game music with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Spitfire Audio
E.T. bike chase scene
...
2021-09-0749 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #23: Off the Record
Chris and Sridhar discuss some behind the scenes for Sridhar's recently released solo flute album, recording techniques, the merits of recording, and solo music in general. They also set "The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith" as homework and finish by veering into a vexillological tangent.
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Episode clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Useful...
2021-08-231h 33Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #22: Vinyl Revival
Chris and Sridhar discuss orchestras’ concert programs as America tentatively opens up. Then they pilot a segment, “Vinyl Revival,” in which they each talk about all aspects—music, artwork, liner notes, etc.—of a record that they own. Today’s records are Frank Sinatra’s “Sinatra at the Sands” and Bob Dylan’s “Bringing It All Back Home.”
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Episode clips on Instagram @impoliteliste...
2021-07-121h 19Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #21: The Grumpy Special
In this long awaited return, Chris and Sridhar discuss the ways in which classical music institutions might launch successful digital ventures, the pay what you can model, Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of West Side Story, realism in musicals, and how La La Land is, surprisingly, a breath of fresh air.
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2021-06-011h 34Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #20: Anniversary Special - Part III
Chris and Sridhar answer more questions in the final installment of the Anniversary Special: 1.) What’re your opinions on “pop” classical musicians such as André Rieu? 2.) Sridhar, have you ever played an Indian flute? 3.) Chris, how do I learn to play jazz? 4.) What is your favorite movie about classical music?
Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in over the past year, and here’s to another! Cheers!
Useful links:
André Rieu - The Beautiful Blue Danube
Chris Botti and Josh Groban - Old Devil Moon
Jame...
2021-04-2235 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #19: Anniversary Special - Part II
Chris and Sridhar answer some more of your questions in the Anniversary Special sequel: 1.) What advice do you have for performance anxiety? 2.) What are your thoughts on music competitions? 3.) Can you tell us more about Chris’ page turning days? 4.) Have you guys ever performed together? 5.) What was the most surprising part about making a podcast?
Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in over the past year, and here’s to another! Cheers!
Useful links:
Check out our website!
Impolite to Listen merch
Richard Felc...
2021-04-2033 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #18: Anniversary Special - Part I
To celebrate the show's first anniversary, Chris and Sridhar answer some questions they have been asked over the year in three installments. Today's questions are: 1.) What orchestras or artistic organizations have done a good job handling the pandemic? 2.) Who do you think is the most underrated composer? 3.) What was your favorite class in music school?
Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in over the past year, and here's to another! Cheers!
Useful links:
Check out our website!
Impolite to Listen merch
New York...
2021-04-1640 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #17: Kind of Baroque
Chris and Sridhar discuss famous musical families, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and his father Johann Sebastian, the magnificence of the organ as an instrument, the affinities between Baroque and Jazz music, and a mysterious instrument conceived by Leonardo da Vinci.
Also...we have merch! Go browse our wares—it’s a great way to help support the show while repping our swag. We truly appreciate it.
Impolite to Listen merch
Useful Links:
Sridhar's New York Times Crossword
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - wikipedia
Jo...
2021-03-301h 47Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #16: When in Seville
Chris and Sridhar do a live listening of Mozart’s newly discovered piece before discussing the peculiar role of Spain in Western music, operas set in Seville, and the greatness of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.”
Also...we. have merch! Go browse our wares—it’s a great way to help support the show while repping our swag. We truly appreciate it.
Impolite to Listen merch
Useful Links:
Mozart's Allegro in D
The Unknown Mozart
Previously unknown Mozart piece enthuses Mozart week
Classic FM...
2021-02-251h 29Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #15: Mostly Mozart
Chris and Sridhar discuss the premiere of a newly discovered work by Mozart, the challenges of playing Mozart, some frustrations with Mozart despite his obvious genius, and some of their favorite Mozart interpreters.
If you enjoy the show, you can “buy us a coffee,” tell your friends about us, spread the word on social media, or rate/review us on Apple Podcasts. We appreciate your support.
Buy us a coffee
Check out our new website!
Tweet us our feedback @impolitelisten
Short clips on Instagram @impolitelisten
Sp...
2021-02-021h 22Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #14: The King's Gambit
New year, new ITL: after some light banter about the rebranding, Chris and Sridhar discuss the similarities between music and chess, why it might be that there are so many musicians who are avid chess players, a poster for an old New York Philharmonic concert conducted by none other than Gustav Mahler, Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade,” and Leonard Bernstein’s affinity for Mahler.
If you enjoy the show, you can “buy us a coffee,” tell your friends about us, spread the word on social media, or rate/review us on Apple Podcasts. We appreciate your support.
Ch...
2021-01-191h 36Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #13: The Christmas Special
Chris and Sridhar say goodbye to 2020 with an epic Christmas Special. They discuss classic--and Classical--Christmas music, what makes music sound Christmassy, their favorite things to listen to around this time of year, and yes...The Nutcracker.
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Rate, review, and share us on Apple Podcasts
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Short clips on Instagram (@impolitelisten)
Check out the Impolite...
2020-12-181h 48Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #12: Talking Tango - Interview with Iona Italia
Impolite to Listen welcomes its first guest as Sridhar interviews tango dancer, teacher, and author Iona Italia. They discuss the complexity of tango music, how it evolved from immigrant influences in Buenos Aires, interpreting music through dance, the dynamics of leading and following, orchestras of tango’s Golden Age, placebo effects in dancing, Tango Nuevo, and more.
Useful Links:
Iona Italia - ionaitalia.com
Buy Iona's tango books on Milonga Press
"Our Tango World vol. 1: Learning & Community" on Amazon (also available on Kindle)
"Our Tango World vo...
2020-11-301h 54Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #11: The Vertigo Effect
Chris and Sridhar discuss Keith Jarrett’s retirement, the blurry line between composition and improvisation, late Romantic/early Modern music by Claude Debussy and Erik Satie, and the San Francisco Ballet’s new video with music from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”.
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Keith Jarrett - American pianist
Keith Jarrett Confronts a Future W...
2020-11-161h 01Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #10: Side Notes
After some John Cage follow up, Chris and Sridhar discuss the Steinway & Sons Spirio player piano, vinyl revival, the concertos of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, and how AI might affect the future of the music industry.
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4'33'' performed by a death metal band
Tabla - Indian percussion instrument
2020-10-161h 34Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #9: The Glass Cage
After issuing a correction from Episode 1, Chris and Sridhar discuss Glenn Gould's early appreciation of recording technology, the music of John Cage and Philip Glass, the phenomenon of 20th century music generally, and humans' attitudes towards the new.
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Longer clips on YouTube
Glenn Gould plays Beethoven's 6th Symphony on piano
Gould's "Acoustic Orchestrations" album
...
2020-09-2350 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #8: #Beethoven250?
After catching up on some long overdue housekeeping items, Chris and Sridhar discuss Daniel Barenboim's marathon performances and masterclasses on Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, the issue of tempo and tempo relations in Beethoven interpretations, Beethoven as a cusp composer, and yes, #Beethoven250.
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"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde
Steve Waugh, Australian cricketing...
2020-09-021h 30Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #7: The Source Code
Chris and Sridhar discuss whether or not Bach is beyond criticism, the comparisons between Bach and Shakespeare, Bach's pedagogical importance, and his influence on popular music. They then wade into the period instruments debate, and finish off by talking about performance spaces that aren't concert halls.
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Leonard Bernstein: The Creative Performer
Ira Glass thinks Shakespeare sucks
Jacques Bono plays Bach on electric bass
Elton John...
2020-08-041h 04Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #6: Remembering Ennio Morricone
Chris and Sridhar honor the passing of the legendary composer Ennio Morricone. They discuss the iconic status of his film scores, his gifts as a melodist, his use of non-orchestral instruments, his role in the evolution of Hollywood music, and his passion for chess.
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Episode clips on Instagram
Ennio Morricone: wikipedia
Watch "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" on Netflix
Watch "Cinema Paradiso" on Amazon
"The Good, the...
2020-07-1642 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #5: What is American Music?
Chris and Sridhar celebrate the Fourth of July by asking: what makes American music American? They discuss 19th century American music, jazz as the quintessential American art form, George Gershwin, the universality of West Side Story, Dvořák in the New World, the American landscape reflected in its music, California as the creative capital of the world, and (regrettably) John Philip S***a.
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Leonard Bernstein: What is American Music?
Ke...
2020-07-041h 14Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #4: YouTube Showdown
Chris and Sridhar discuss their favorite classical music YouTube videos.
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YouTube Top 5 Showdown playlist
Jacques Bono plays Bach on electric bass
Benjamin Zander: The Transformative Power of Classical Music
Gilles Apap's cadenza to Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3
Gustavo Dudamel conducts Danse Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns
Jameson Whiskey Ad - "The Hawk of Achill"
Jean-Pierre Rampal plays Bolling Suite f...
2020-06-181h 15Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #3: The Holiday Special
After doing some housekeeping, Chris and Sridhar discuss the digital world of classical music before veering off into a conversation about The Nutcracker's various innovations and difficulties, eventually finding their way back on topic by talking about Spotify, YouTube, and the Berlin Philharmonic's Digital Concert Hall.
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Overcast - our recommended free podcast player for iOS
Impolite to Listen playlist on Spotify
Russian roulette, Nutcracker Edition
...
2020-05-2155 minImpolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #2: Does Film Music Count?Chris and Sridhar discuss whether or not film music counts as classical music, the relationship between opera and film, "silent" films, iconic scores, what we can learn about film as a novel art form, composers who straddle the classical and film worlds, great director/composer collaborations, "the greatest ghost story ever told", and they both watch the documentary "Score".
USEFUL LINKS
Honk It's My Birthday
"Grizzly Man" soundtrack
Richard Thompson in "Grizzly Man" recording session
The Lumière Brothers: first films
"Hook" soundtrack
"2001: A Space O...
2020-05-011h 17Impolite to Listen: Classical Music ConversationsITL #1: Should We Ban Applause?Chris and Sridhar discuss the (de)merits of applause, the effects of applause on repertoire and interpretive choices, Glenn Gould’s recording of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony on piano, how recording technology affects concert expectations, the Netherlands Bach Society’s “All of Bach” project, and musicians/human beings extraordinaire.
USEFUL LINKS
Claudio Abbado booed at Vienna State Opera
Glenn Gould: Canadian pianist
Gould plays Beethoven's 6th Symphony on piano
Bird call cadenza in Beethoven's 6th Symphony
Netherlands Bach Society - All of Bach proje...
2020-04-1732 min