MITCHELL ON MUSIC
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Chichester Psalms
Mr. Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony and Chorus in demonstrations from Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, exploring how an abandoned 1965 Broadway musical found new life as a choral masterpiece.
Bernstein at 100
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, Mr. Mitchell explores Bernstein’s life and music with host David Ginder of Colorado Public Radio Classical. (Click to play.)
AARON COPLAND
The Tender Land
Mr. Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from Aaron Copland's The Tender Land, exploring what makes the 1954 opera sound so distinctly American.
GEORGE GERSHWIN
An American in Paris
Mr. Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from George Gershwin's An American in Paris.
Mr. Mitchell discusses the challenges of conducting the 1951 film version of An American in Paris.
GUSTAV MAHLER
Symphony No. 9
Mr. Mitchell and a virtual ensemble of Colorado Symphony musicians explore Gustav Mahler's ninth and final symphony.
IGOR STRAVINSKY
The Rite of Spring
Mr. Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, exploring the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic innovations that made the work an instant classic at its Paris premiere in May 1913.
RICHARD WAGNER
The Ring Cycle
Mr. Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Mr. Mitchell also created, wrote, and presented a television special about Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle, demonstrating at the piano how he crafted and combined leitmotifs to tell one of the greatest stories of all time.
JOHN WILLIAMS
The Star Wars Saga
Star Wars: A New Hope
Mr. Mitchell explores John Williams’s Oscar-winning score for Star Wars: A New Hope with host David Rutherford of Colorado Public Radio Classical.
Mr. Mitchell explores John Williams’s Oscar-winning score for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) with host Dacia Clay of the podcast Classical Classroom (audio only).
The Empire Strikes Back
Mr. Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for The Empire Strikes Back with host David Rutherford of Colorado Public Radio Classical.
Return of the Jedi
Mr. Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for Return of the Jedi with host Karla Walker of Colorado Public Radio Classical.
The Force Awakens
Mr. Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for The Force Awakens with host Bill O’Connell of WCLV Classical 104.9 in an hourlong, audio-only special titled The Score Awakens.