PODCAST · arts
Beethoven walks into a bar...
by Kansas City Symphony
A brand new podcast of the Kansas City Symphony, "Beethoven walks into a bar..." features our musicians in a lighthearted exploration into the wild world of orchestral music and life in a professional symphony orchestra.
Episodes
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Michael Stern on Handing Over the Keys
Music Director Michael Stern joins Michael Gordon and concertmaster Jun Iwasaki to talk about his upcoming final season with the Kansas City Symphony. We also talk about his recently announced successor, Matthias Pintscher, and how he feels proud to hand over the keys to the hot-rod orchestra…
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How to Lie Professionally, with Jim Birdsall
In this episode we talk with Vietnam veteran, voice artist, actor, musician, and longtime host for the Kansas City Symphony’s Memorial Day Celebration at the Station, Jim Birdsall. From his humble beginnings in North Dakota, to the jungles of Vietnam, to the quiet peacefulness of his home…
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The Resilient Revisited
As Memorial Day approaches and the KC Symphony prepares for another Celebration at the Station, Beethoven Walks into a Bar revisits our conversation with Tim Donley of the band The Resilient. Tim, Mike, Stephanie, and our pal Jason Seber chat about making music in quarantine, the therapeutic…
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Finding your Coffee People with Sasha Cooke
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie are joined by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke who is town to sing Hindemith's When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd with the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus. We talk about Sasha's work with former podcast guests Caroline Shaw, Gabe Kahane,...
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Off the Podium with Teddy Abrams
Teddy Abrams makes his second appearance on Beethoven Walks into a Bar this week, joining Mike and guest hosts Joe LeFevre (tuba) and Jessica Nance (viola). Teddy recently led the orchestra in a program including former podcast guest Caroline Shaw's The Observatory, Holst's The Planets, and Missy...
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Off the Podium with Thomas Wilkins
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie chat with maestro, educator and all-around inspiring human Thomas Wilkins. The King of acronyms, he is currently artistic advisor for education and community engagement and the Germeshausen Youth and Family Concerts Conductor of the…
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Off the Podium with Matthias Pintscher
This week's episode features an off the podium chat with conductor and composer Matthias Pintscher. Stephanie, Gonzalo and return-guest John Klinghammer grill he maestro on this weekend's program, featuring works by Ravel, Scriabin and LIGETI. Matthias describes the French-inspired program as a...
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Off the Podium with Francesco Lecce-Chong
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Gonzalo and Stephanie chat with guest conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong about his upcoming visit to Kansas City. Francesco leads the Kansas City Symphony in a program of Mason Bates, Mozart and Respighi January 13-15 in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center…
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Re-Gifted: Name that Christmas Carol with David and Fabrice
Sometimes the best gifts are re-gifts. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we revisit this gem from Season Two with KCS musicians David Sullivan and Fabrice Curtis and our good friend Jason Seber. This holiday carol-filled episode is sure to ramp up your holiday spirit! Happy Holidays from…
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Off the Podium with Aziz Shokhakimov
Happy Thanksgiving from Beethoven Walks into a Bar! And Happy FIRST Thanksgiving to our guest Aziz Shokhakimov! In this week's episode, we chat off the podium with Aziz who is in town to lead the Kansas City Symphony and fellow Uzbek Behzod Abduraimov in a program of Smetana, Prokofief and…
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Out of the Box with Magic Circle Mimes
This week's episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar features a chat (yes, chat) with Magic Circle Mimes Doug MacIntyre and Maggie Peterson. Doug and Maggie have been introducing audiences to the arts of mime and symphonic music for over four decades. We chat about their journeys to becoming mimes…
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Off the Podium with Domingo Hindoyan
On this week's episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we welcome our first guest conductor of the season, Venezuelan Domingo Hindoyan who will conduct the orchestra and Kansas City Symphony Chorus in a program of Mendelssohn, Brahms and Berlioz. We’ll learn all about his upbringing in Venezuela’s...
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An Alpine Adventure
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie get lost in the Bavarian Alps with two members of the KC Symphony brass section, associate principal trumpet Steven Franklin and bass trombonist Jahleel Smith. As the orchestra prepares to perform An Alipine Symphony, we marvel at…
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Meet the Concertmaster, Jun Iwasaki
After years of searching, the Kansas City Symphony has a new concertmaster! After running through a veritable gauntlet of auditions, trials and recitals, Jun Iwasaki has landed the coveted role of concertmaster and now calls KC home. We chat about the audition process, the responsibilities of a...
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Welcome to KC, Gonzalo Farias!
Welcome to SEASON SIX of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! This week, we meet the Kansas City Symphony’s new Associate Conductor Gonzalo Farias. Learn about Gonzalo’s journey from Chile to KC, the audition process of a conductor, and his love of vintage wine. We also chat about the Symphony’s upcoming...
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Off the Podium with Gemma New
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, New Zealander Gemma New reflects on her week with the Kansas City Symphony conducting Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, a new violin concerto by Chris Rogerson and Saint-Saëns' epic "Organ" Symphony. We chat about her journey from playing violin to conducting...
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Knowing the Score with Coach Andy Reid
This week on your favorite podcast, we throw out the playbook, tackle important topics and try not to utter any offensive lines when we're joined by Kansas City's favorite head coach, Andy Reid! Fresh off attending two KC Symphony performances, Coach Reid joins the show to talk about his concert...
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Off the Podium with Paolo Bortolameolli
In addition to conducting around the world, maestro Paolo Bortolameolli has somehow found the time to create an insightful video series, author a book and join us for a chat on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. We have a great time discussing growing up in Chile, exploring new music, reaching new...
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Off the Podium with Christian Reif
This week we chat off the podium with German-born conductor Christian Reif. Christian joins the Kansas City Symphony April 1-3, 2022 conducting works by Joan Tower, W.A. Mozart and Stravinsky. We chat about his upcoming trip to KC, the illustrious world of summer music festivals, and an…
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Off the Podium with Michael Francis
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we have a delightful chat with British conductor-turned-Floridian Michael Francis. Michael's upcoming program with the Kansas City Symphony includes music by Purcell, Mozart and Elgar. Speaking of Mozart, Michael currently leads the Mainly Mozart Festival,...
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Off the Podium with Eduardo Strausser
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we chat off the podium with Maestro Eduardo Strausser who joins us from Berlin in advance of his week here with the orchestra. And who knows, maybe we change things up and do the interview in one or more of the 8 languages he’s fluent in (Spoiler alert – we...
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Joel Thompson, Nina Simone and Beethoven Walk into a Bar...
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we chat with rising American composer Joel Thompson. Joel is currently best known for his piece for men’s voices, piano and strings Seven Last words of the Unarmed, and is quickly making a name for himself across the country. We chat about the role the…
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Off the Podium with Joshua Weilerstein
Welcome to Season Five of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! We kick off the season and 2022 with Maestro Joshua Weilerstein. A podcaster in his own right, Joshua explains how his own show, Sticky Notes, came to be. He also chats about his upcoming visit to KC conducting Shostakovich Symphony No. 5,...
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It Wouldn't be Christmas without a Swamp Hen
Beethoven Walks into a Bar celebrates another Holiday season with music from around the world! Experience sounds of the season from Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Plus, our new favorite segment is back with a brand new jingle...Top 5 where Jason, Mike and Stephanie discuss their top…
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All about the Bass with Caleb Quillen
This week's episode is all about that bass. The Kansas City Symphony boasts one of the very best bass sections of any American orchestra, and we sit down with one of the members of this prestigious section, Mr. Caleb Quillen. Get ready to unlock all the mysteries of the largest, lowest, and…
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Off the Podium with Johannes Debus
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we sit down with another friend of the Symphony, conductor Johannes Debus. We learn all about his dual life and career as an opera and symphonic conductor, and hear about some of the innovative ways in which the Canadian Opera Company is reaching new...
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Off the Podium with Peter Oundjian
This week on the podcast, we present the first of several interviews with incoming guest conductors on this season's Classical Series. Maestro Peter Oundjian joins the Kansas City Symphony for an exciting performance featuring works by Florence Price, Richard Strauss and Rimsky-Korsakov. Hear all...
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Episode LIII - Return of the Stern
This week's episode marks a FIRST for this podcast - The first time a podcast guest returns for a second visit! Who better to start with very own head honcho, music director Michael Stern. We talk about the exciting season ahead, how the creative process of programming has been shaped by events…
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Brahms, Reeds and Cupcakes featuring Oboist Alison Chung
We chat this week with another fabulous member of the Kansas City Symphony family, associate principal oboe Alison Chung. She is not only talented oboist, she is a prolific cook, baker, eater, and food blogger. Learn all about Alison's journey in music, and how her hungry and adventurous online...
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Father and Son: Jeffrey and Gabriel Kahane
Welcome to Season Four of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! This week, we visit with pianist Jeffrey Kahane and his son, composer Gabriel Kahane as we gear up to give the world premiere of Heirloom: Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. Jeffrey and Gabriel team up against Mike and Jason for a game…
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Season Three Finale: What Would You Ask Beethoven?
In this week’s season finale, we take a deep dive into the question on all of our guests’ minds… “What would you ask Beethoven?” We revisit some of the most intriguing questions asked by our guests over the course of the first three seasons and take a closer look at them. Plus, Jason, Mike and...
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The President's Own: Service through Music
In this week's episode, we commemorate Memorial Day by honoring our troops and veterans as we shine a light on our country's premiere military bands. We chat with Gunnery Sergeant Joseph DeLuccio of the United States Marine Band, an oboist in "The President's Own" for the past 16 years. What is…
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Not Your Father's Classical Music Station with Stephen Steigman
This week's guest puts Mike, Stephanie and Jason to shame with his real-life radio voice. Classical KC director Stephen Steigman talks about launching a classical music station in the year 2020, the importance of highlighting local arts organizations, and making the seamless transition from...
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Juggling Life with Larry Figg
This week is all about hobbies...whether its knitting, gardening, barbecuing or golfing, our hobbies are what have kept us sane throughout the past year. In this episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we meet the ultimate hobbyist Larry Figg. When he's not playing cello in the Kansas City…
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#Trendsetter with Raymond Santos
On this week's episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we welcome the captain of the clarinets, Raymond Santos. In addition to talking reeds, auditions, and Beethoven, we explore the equally important topics of cooking lessons, unhealthy sodium intake, and strawberry margaritas. Plus, one of our...
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Spring Short: Michael Gordon and Father Paul Turner
This week, Mike talks with friend of the symphony, Father Paul Turner. They explore the connections between music, service, and faith. You’ll also learn that you don’t necessarily have to be an elite athlete to letter in high school sports. All this and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a...
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Spring Short: Stephanie Brimhall and Alex Espy
This week's episode features a chat between Stephanie and fellow local arts educator Alex Espy. Alex is a great friend of the Symphony having joined the orchestra on stage for a number of educational performances over the past decade. He and Stephanie reminisce about giant toy boxes, cardboard...
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Spring Short: Jason Seber and Teddy Abrams
In our first Beethoven Walks into a Bar "Spring Short," Jason sits down with his old boss and good friend Teddy Abrams, Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra. We hear all about Teddy's creative and adaptive programming at the LO this year (with not only the pandemic, but in the aftermath of...
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The Perfect Date Night
Have you ever wondered why the KC Symphony is the envy of the orchestra world? What makes us tick? Well, in addition to world class musicians, an incredible staff, and an extremely supportive community, we are blessed to have a dynamic Board of Directors. We have the honor of sitting down this…
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Happy Birthday to Us!
Can you believe it? Beethoven Walks into a Bar is one year old and still going strong 41 episodes later. As we celebrate the birth and growth of the Kansas City Symphony's podcast, we also celebrate the arrival of Spring. Join us this week as we chat about our favorite Spring-inspired music,...
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Say "Cello" to Susie Yang
We meet yet another fabulous Kansas City Symphony colleague this week, associate Principal Cellist Susie Yang. We chat about her work both on and off the stage, her time in the New World Symphony and the dreaded audition scene. We also lighten things up with another exciting game of Bar Talk…
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Celebrating Composers of Color
The year 2020 was challenging for the entire world. We were not only facing the largest pandemic in a century, but here in America we were also continuing the fight toward true equality. And this is certainly true in the musical world as it is in so many fields. For too long, many incredibly…
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Adam Schoenberg Still Likes Tequila
You may remember way back in Episode Two we talked about American composer Adam Schoenberg, but hadn’t yet figured out how to incorporate guests into the podcast. This week we finally get the opportunity to chat with Adam in person about his current orchestral, film and tv projects, recording…
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Probing Questions with Larry Rachleff
We chat this week with one of Stephanie and Mike's most influential teachers at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Maestro Larry Rachleff. Larry has conducted all over the world including right here with the Kansas City Symphony, but many musicians know him best as the conductor of the...
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Kristi Velicer - THE MC Hammer
In order to be highly successful, a professional symphony orchestra needs excellent leadership in many areas, artistically and administratively. One of those key leadership positions you might not have thought about is the head of the Musicians Committee. We sit down this week with the current…
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From NASCAR to Wynton Marsalis with Julian Kaplan
This week we meet the boss of the brass, the Kansas City Symphony's principal trumpet Julian Kaplan. Hear about his recent solo appearance with the Symphony, his huge trumpet collection and his dreams of becoming a NASCAR driver, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. Episode 302 Playlist
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Season Three Premiere with Danny Beckley
Season Three of Beethoven Walks into a Bar is here! This week, we chat with Symphony Executive Director Danny Beckley about the state of the Symphony, our new streaming platform MySymphonySeat.org, and plans for the future. Also, what the heck is a Horsefeather? Learn all this and more, this week...
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Year in Review: 2020
It's here -- the end of 2020! While this may have been a year of challenges, it has also been a year of reinvention for the Kansas City Symphony. And as luck may have it, part of that includes this very podcast! In this week's season finale, we revisit some of our favorite moments of 2020. The...
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Name that Christmas Carol with David and Fabrice
This holiday season, KCS elves David Sullivan and Fabrice Curtis have been hard at work creating a virtual musical advent calendar filled with your favorite holiday carols. In this episode, we learn how they selected the featured carols, created arrangements for various instrumentations and even...
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Music for the Moment with Nico Muhly
This week we are visiting with one of the most versatile young composers in America, Nico Muhly. Inspired particularly by minimalism, as well as music of the Renaissance, he has written operas, film scores, chamber music, and even ringtones! Most recently, Nico worked as a collaborative partner…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A brand new podcast of the Kansas City Symphony, "Beethoven walks into a bar..." features our musicians in a lighthearted exploration into the wild world of orchestral music and life in a professional symphony orchestra.
HOSTED BY
Kansas City Symphony
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Beethoven walks into a bar... currently has 80 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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A brand new podcast of the Kansas City Symphony, "Beethoven walks into a bar..." features our musicians in a lighthearted exploration into the wild world of orchestral music and life in a professional symphony orchestra.
How often does Beethoven walks into a bar... release new episodes?
Beethoven walks into a bar... has 80 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Beethoven walks into a bar... is created and hosted by Kansas City Symphony.
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