MITCHELL

ON MUSIC

LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Chichester Psalms

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.

AARON COPLAND
The Tender Land

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

Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from George Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris.’

Mitchell discusses the challenges of conducting the 1951 film version of ‘An American in Paris.’


GUSTAV MAHLER
Symphony No. 9

Mitchell and a virtual ensemble of Colorado Symphony musicians explore Gustav Mahler's ninth and final symphony.


IGOR STRAVINSKY
The Rite of Spring

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

Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in demonstrations from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

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

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).

Brett Mitchell Explores the Music of 'Star Wars'
David Rutherford, host | © 2018 CPR Classical

The Empire Strikes Back

Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ with host David Rutherford of Colorado Public Radio Classical.

Brett Mitchell Explores the Music of 'The Empire Strikes Back'
David Rutherford, host | © 2019 CPR Classical

Return of the Jedi

Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for ‘Return of the Jedi’ with host Karla Walker of Colorado Public Radio Classical.

Brett Mitchell Explores the Music of 'Return of the Jedi'
Karla Walker, host | © 2020 CPR Classical

The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Score Awakens
Brett Mitchell, writer/presenter | Bill O'Connell, host | © 2016 Ideastream

Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for ‘The Force Awakens’ with host Dacia Clay in the latest episode of ‘Classical Classroom.’

Awakening John Williams' "Force" with Brett Mitchell
Classical Classroom, Ep 115 | © 2016 Houston Public Media

Mitchell explores John Williams’s music for ‘The Force Awakens’ with host Bill O’Connell of WCLV Classical 104.9 in an hourlong special titled ‘The Score Awakens.’