Classical Music Happy Hour

Manny in the Hot Seat

Producer Lauren Purcell-Joiner puts Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax in the hot seat with the tough questions: What’s his favorite drink? The best book about musi

Why Manny Loves Aida: A Special from Aria Code

Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax and producer Lauren Purcell-Joyner bring you a special episode from Aria Code, diving into Verdi’s Aida, which is one of Manny’s

A Special Live Edition of Classical Music Happy Hour

Host Manny Ax is back for a very special live episode of Classical Music Happy Hour featuring highlights from the sold-out launch party this past March. Joined on stage

Manny Ax wants to hear from you!

Hi Classical Music Happy Hour listeners! I’m your host, Manny Ax. I’ve heard from so many of you over the course of this season and I’m so proud of this show and the comm

Ray Chen - superstar violinist wants you to practice

Violinist and social media guru Ray Chen wraps up this season of Classical Music Happy Hour with an in-studio live performance. He chats with Manny about video games, per

Paquito D’Rivera -Beef, Beans and Benny (Goodman)

Paquito D’Rivera is composer, saxophonist and clarinetist whose work spans classical, jazz and latin music.  Born in Havana, Cuba,  D’Rivera started his career playing wi

Yefim Bronfman - master of the keyboard

Pianist Yefim Bronfman, “Fima,” chats with Manny about their decades-long friendship, their love of sports, their surprising anxiety around live broadcast performances. 

Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke

Comedian Isabel Hagen is a classically trained violist, and a filmmaker. As a comedian, she has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was a New Face

Nicholas Britell - more than that one viral theme song!

The New York Times has called Nicholas Britell: “The composer at the frontier of film music.” Britell has written scores for Hollywood movies including:The Big Short, Moo

David Hyde Pierce - a.k.a. Niles Crane

Actor David Hyde Pierce has had a long career in film, television and the theater.  He’s best known to listeners for his portrayal of Niles Crane on the sitcom "Frasier."

Jeanine Tesori - from “Fun Home” to the Met Opera

Composer Jeanine Tesori is a two time Tony Award winner, a two time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and in 2024, she became the first woman composer to open the Metropoli

Yo-Yo Ma - 53 years of friendship and duets

Live from Tanglewood, cellist Yo-Yo Ma chats with Manny about their long musical relationship and friendship.  The two treat the live audience to a few musical performanc

John McWhorter - Lover of Language

Columbia University Professor of Linguistics John McWhorter, chats with Manny about swear words, Broadway, and tackles the conundrums of musical etymology.  McWhorter als

John Adams - not the President

Renowned American composer John Adams joins Manny to discuss his approach to opera composition, the stories behind his intriguingly titled works, and the time he was once

Gabriela Ortiz - Composer and Grammy Gal

Composer Gabriela Ortiz joins Manny to talk about her grandfather’s surprising connection to Mahler, her own compositional process, and her enduring love for works by Deb

Marc-André Hamelin - Rocks Rachmaninoff

Composer and pianist Marc-André Hamelin joins Manny to talk about growing up with a musical father, the mechanics of piano playing, and the influences behind his prolific

Yuja Wang - Superstar Pianist Plays Too Many Encores

Superstar pianist Yuja Wang joins Manny Ax to talk about bad pianos, encores, what influences her musical interpretations, and her love for Prokofiev. In our Newly Dead g

Introducing Classical Music Happy Hour with Manny Ax

Join renowned pianist Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with special guests about

Our Common Nature Recommends: Classical Music Happy Hour

Hello Our Common Nature fans, Ana González is dropping into the feed to tell you about Classical Music Happy Hour, a new podcast you might be interested in, hosted by Yo-

Hawai‘i: Yo-Yo Ma and the Whales

Yo-Yo Ma has wanted to use his cello to communicate with whales for half his life. And, in Hawai’i he got a chance. With help from the Polyneisan Voyaging Society and hul