The New Criterion Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Victor Davis Hanson on the Meaning of Citizenship. Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

Victor Davis Hanson, who is the 2019–20 Visiting Critic for The New Criterion, discusses the notion of citizenship as understood in the twenty-first century. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “Pre- and post-citizens.”

Music for a While #17: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

Jay begins with a Schubert work, and some singers and pianists who have performed it. He moves on to a funky, frenetic thing called “Techno-Parade.” Later, there is some Wagner by a great new singer. There is some immortal Rachmaninoff. And, at the very end, a song by the late Jerry Herman: “It’s Today,” from “Mame.” A diverse, appetizing musical menu. Tracks played: Schubert, “Winterreise,” Schäfer and Schneider Schubert, “Winterreise,” Hotter and Raucheisen Schubert, “Winterreise,” Schreier and Eschenbach Connesson, “Techno-Parade” “The Lark in the Clear Air” (arr. Michael McHale) Wagner, “Dich, teure Halle,” from “Tannhäuser” Rachmaninoff, “Let Now Thy Servant Depart in Peace,” from “Vespers” Herman, “It’s Today,” from “Mame”

James Piereson on the Idea of an American Nation Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

James Piereson, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, discusses the genesis of the American nation-state. Audio taken from The New Criterion’s “Sovereignty or Submission” conference in Washington, D.C. An adapted form of this address appeared in the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion as “The idea of an American nation.”

Roger Kimball introduces the January 2020 issue of The New Criterion Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Roger Kimball, the Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion, discusses highlights in this month’s issue and reads from its opening pages.

Music for a While #16: Merry Christmas Dec 24, 2019

Show notes

Jay plays his favorite Christmas tracks: from Bach to gospel to jazz and beyond. Performers include Hermann Prey, James Cleveland, George Shearing, Heidi Grant Murphy, and Leontyne Price. A gift of a podcast. Tracks played: Bach, “Grosser Herr, o starker König” from the Christmas Oratorio “The First Nowell” (Schwarzkopf et al.) “I Saw Three Ships” (Schwarzkopf et al.) “Ding Dong Merrily on High” (George Shearing and his quintet) “Long Ago in Bethlehem” (Murphy and Murphy) “The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” (Murphy and Murphy) “Oh, What a Pretty Little Baby” (James Cleveland et al.) “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (Sutherland et al.) “O Holy Night” (Leontyne Price et al.) “Jerusalem in the Morning” (Chanticleer)

James Panero remembers John Simon Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

James Panero on the legacy of John Simon (1925–2019), the inimitable critic and longtime contributor to The New Criterion.

Music For a While #15: Erotic and Other Evenings Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Jay went to the ballet in Kyiv, for “Carmen Suite” and “Scheherazade.” He said, “It was the most erotic evening you could ever spend alone.” He plays some music from “Carmen Suite” in this episode, plus Bach, Scriabin, and Glass. And Frank Bridge, that half remembered and estimable English composer. There is much beauty, and much of interest, in this episode. Tracks played: Bach, Toccata in F-sharp minor Bizet-Shchedrin, Carmen Suite Scriabin, Piano Concerto Scriabin, Etude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12 Glass, Funeral Music of Amenhotep III from “Akhnaten” Bridge, “Love Went A-Riding”

James Hankins & James Panero discuss Leonardo da Vinci Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

James Hankins, a Professor of History at Harvard, joins James Panero to discuss the monumental Leonardo exhibition at the Louvre and the artist’s legacy five hundred years after his death.

Music for a While #14: Fightin’ Words and Good Music Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

This episode begins with a liturgical piece by James MacMillan—a living composer—and ends with another liturgical piece by Wynton Marsalis—another living composer. In between, you’ve got some Saint-Saëns, some Sibelius, and some other music. Jay says some provocative—possibly offensive—things about a couple of cello concertos. Otherwise, it’s sweetness and light, mainly. A good show. Tracks played: James Macmillan, Miserere Saint-Saëns, Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor Bach, Sarabande in E flat Sibelius, Scherzo from Symphony No. 1 in E minor Marsalis, Gloria Patri from “The Abyssinian Mass”

Roger Kimball introduces the December 2019 issue of The New Criterion Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

The Editor and Publisher of The New Criterion discusses highlights in this month’s issue and remembers the life and work of Peter Collier.