Playlist for Thursday, July 31

Cross the classic jam band The Grateful Dead with classically trained LaGrange composer Lee Johnson and what do you get? The "Dead" Symphony - an orchestral tribute to the Grateful Dead. The Baltimore Symphony gives its world premiere tomorrow, Friday, August 1, on the 66th birth anniversary of late bandmember Jerry Garcia. On GPB, hear my chat with Lee Johnson plus parts of his "Dead Symphony," right after the noon news. (NPR's Scott Simon recently spoke with Lee Johnson too; check that out.)

11 AM

  • Chopin: Fantasy-Impromptu, Op. 66. Jon Nakamatsu. Harmonia Mundi 907244.
  • Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 99. Storioni Trio. PentaTone 050.
  • Sullivan: Overture di Ballo. Royal Liverpool Phil, Groves. EMI 64726.
12 N
  • Lee Johnson: Dead Symphony No. 6: excerpts. Russian National Orch, Johnson. OMI 0635.
  • Joplin: Swipesy. Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.559277.
  • Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez. Sharon Isbin, New York Phil, Serebrier. Warner 60296.
  • Kodaly: Dances of Marosszek. Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer. Philips 462 824.
1 PM
  • Massenet: Meditation from Thais. Nicola Benedetti, London Sym, Harding. DG 987 057.
  • Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat. Rabinovitch, Schwartzberg, Imai, Gutman. EMI 55484.
  • Rossini: William Tell, Overture. Montreal Sym, Dutoit. London 433 074.