Classical Music Happy Hour

Conversations with classical musicians, composers, and creative voices AI summary

WNYC, WQXR Visit website › Music · EN · 29 episodes · latest 2026-10-28

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What it is about

Join renowned pianist and host Emanuel Ax for Classical Music Happy Hour: a new podcast full of music, merriment, and conversation. Manny (Emanuel) talks with an eclectic lineup of composers, performers, and creative voices from the world of classical music and beyond. Each episode explores the guest’s life and career, dives into their favorite classical gems, includes music-inspired games, and folds in questions from listeners. The result is a podcast that feels like a relaxed gathering of friends who love classical music and want others to join the party. Grab a cocktail and press play on a podcast celebrating our love of all things classical music!

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
WQXR

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Latest episodes

  1. 2026-10-28 · 55 min · Episode 19

    Classical Music Happy Hour host Manny Ax has something special to share with listeners! Grammy and Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste joined WQXR host Terrance McKnight for a live conversation and performance at The…

  2. 2026-09-21 · 37 min · Episode 18

    What happens when one of the world’s greatest pianists returns to Carnegie Hall after 14 years away? Manny Ax was there as a teenager, and he remembers it all. Manny shares a story about one of classical music's…

  3. 2026-09-02 · 7 min · Episode 17

    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 music he’s ever read? And which composer would he…

  4. 2026-08-21 · 45 min · Episode 16

    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 all-time favorite operas. Together, they reflect…

  5. 2026-08-05 · 1 hr 2 min · Episode 15

    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.

  6. 2026-07-10 · 1 min · Episode 14

    As we get ready for a new season, we’d also love to hear from you! What were some of your favorite moments from the show? Who would you love to see as a guest? What are some questions you’d like to hear answered? Visit…

  7. 2026-05-27 · 35 min · Episode 13

    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, performance anxiety, and his practice app Tonic. In…

  8. 2026-05-20 · 28 min · Episode 12

    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 with the National Theater Orchestra at the age of 10…

  9. 2026-05-13 · 33 min · Episode 11

    Pianist Yefim Bronfman, “Fima,” chats with Manny about their decades-long friendship, their love of sports, their surprising anxiety around live broadcast performances. They’ll answer listeners’ questions about…

  10. 2026-05-06 · 32 min · Episode 10

    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 of Comedy at the Just for Laughs festival in…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Owner
WQXR/WNYC
Oldest episode in feed
09/2025 · over a year
Typical length
32 min
Format
Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone
Keywords
wnyc, our common nature, yo-yo ma, travel podcast, yo-yo ma music, yo-yo ma podcast, our common nature with yo-yo ma, yo-yo ma performances

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