Classical Music with Shining Eyes: January 9, 2012

Our new Noteworthy video is a rather extended one for this spot: a 20-minute lecture, taken from the famed TED Talks, by conductor / music professor Benjamin Zander, entitled “Classical Music with Shining Eyes”. TED (standing for Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks bring innovative thinkers together to share powerful ideas, and Mr. Zander brings his noted charisma and enthusiasm to the topic of spreading the gospel of classical music. With passion and humor, Mr. Zander takes the audience through a discussion of Chopin’s Prelude in E- (No.4 from 24 Preludes, Op.28) to reveal how everyone can follow and understand the musical narrative – and thereby experience the type of powerful emotion that classical music is uniquely capable of offering. This power, Mr. Zander explains, is revealed through the “shining eyes” of the listener (or performer) – and he imagines what a glorious world it would be if everyone knew and loved classical music. Let us know what you think!

Benjamin Zander’s TED Talk, “Classical Music with Shining Eyes”