"Miss Smits is an uncommonly musical guitarist : she has nimble fingers, a prismatic sence of timbre, and a serene dignity that informs all she plays." – Tim Page, New York Times.

Raphaella Smits is a gem in the world of classical guitar. Her playing has taken my breath away for years and TWD would like to feature her performance of Franz Schubert's Standchen on today's Episodes in Virtuosity.

In addition, you counted correct… She is performing on an eight string guitar here.

Raphaella Smits: Standchen

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John Adams's work, John's Book of Alleged Dances for string quartet has been on my mind for about a month now and it's time I share of few of them.

The pieces are performed by the always electrifying Kronos Quartet and I've never wanted to boogie down harder to classical strings than I do when I listen to these performances. 

Today's Episodes in Virtuosity gets funky with a selection from John Adams's Book of Alleged Dances. 

John Adams: Judah to Ocean

John Adams: Toot Nipple

John Adams: Rag the Bone

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Maria João Pires is a juggernaut of classical piano performance.

Her long and illustrious career began at age 7 and boasts competition wins, a staggering amount of repertoire conquered, world wide tours, and collaboration with some of the most esteemed artists on the planet.

Although her hands are capable of handling any and all compositions, today's Episodes in Virtuosity focus's on her recording of Chopin's Waltz Opus 64 Number 1. 

Maria João Pires: Chopin Op.64 No.1

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In 2001 Michael Brecker laid down one of the preeminent recordings in tenor saxophone performance.

In a post Coltrane world, Brecker's rendition of the classic, Naima, pays service to its author (Coltrane) and establishes Brecker as arguably the most influential and dominant performer since.

Today's Episode in Virtuosity takes a closer look and a second listen to this magisterial and authoritative performance. 

Michael Brecker: Naima

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In this installment of Episodes in Virtuosity I look at Leo Brouwer's performance of his own piece entitled "La Espiral Eterna"

It is from his Duetsche Grammophon released album Rara, and it changed my life.

Leo Brouwer – La Espiral Eterna

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What's up, Internet? I'm Steve.

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Sometimes Music(ians) need little more than an opportunity and an audience

to make an emotional impact

and ingrain its way into our lives forever.

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So I figure its about time to talk about Richard Nixon. 

In 1987, American (post) minimalist composer John Adams wrote an opera about the President's 1972   visit to China where he meet with Chairman Mao Zedong. The scope of the work is ambitious, but the real thrill is the rare opportunity to see Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Mao Zedong belt it out.

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It seems to me that our lives are perpetually assaulted by music. There is hardly a moment that passes in which you are not confronted by music via an ipod, radio, Pandora, commercials, TV shows, movie soundtracks, open car windows, co-workers, ambient background noise in restaurants/bars/shopping malls, and all other means of cultural auditory collisions. This inevitability is fact, and we rarely think about the consequences of this lifestyle.

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