Hear musical masterpieces with new ears!
What Makes It Great? host Rob Kapilow "is a winning combination of Leonard Bernstein and Bill Nye the Science Guy, an infectiously enthusiastic explainer of the inner mechanical workings of music, that most abstract of all arts." – New York Times
The 2022-23 performances explore music by George Gershwin, Benjamin Britten, Leoš Janáček, W.A. Mozart, and Carole King and Joni Mitchell. Featured artists include pianist Terrence Wilson, Accord Treble Choir, Special Music School Treble Choir, Ulysses Quartet, Manhattan School of Music Sinfonia and Broadway star Brittain Ashford.
Host Rob Kapilow unravels and explores great musical masterpieces with audiences and performers on stage, asking what makes great music great? He takes listeners inside the music, unraveling, slowing down and recomposing key passages to hear why a piece is so extraordinary. Next, the piece is performed in its entirety, followed by a Q&A with the audience and performers.
Watch 2020-21 What Makes It Great? performances on demand!
Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata, Kreutzer Sonata and Archduke Trio, plus Stephen Sondheim.