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Classical Californians: RZA
Danny Hastings
This week's Classical Californian is RZA, the rap and hip-hop producer who was a founder of the Wu-Tang Clan. One of his most recent projects is a ballet that he wrote during Covid, which was performed with dancers, and has now been recorded by the Colorado Symphony. He'll play some of the selections from A Ballet Through Mud, as well as works from the classical and film music repertoire that influenced him in his own music making.
RZA: “Divine Intervention” from A Ballet Through Mud – Colorado Symphony, Christopher Dragon
RZA: “A Ballet Through Mud” from A Ballet Through Mud – Colorado Symphony, Christopher Dragon
RZA: “Soft Footsteps” from A Ballet Through Mud – Colorado Symphony, Christopher Dragon
RZA: “Freedom of Movement” from A Ballet Through Mud – Colorado Symphony, Christopher Dragon
RZA: “The Lotus Arrives” from A Ballet Through Mud – Colorado Symphony, Christopher Dragon
Burt Bacharach: "Walk On By" - Isaac Hayes
Bill Conti: “Gonna Fly Now” from the Rocky Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Claude Debussy: “Clair de Lune” – Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, mvt. 1 – Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, mvt. 1 – New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert
John Williams: “The Imperial March” from The Empire Strikes Back Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams