Music for Your Week: Introducing Classical Club

Kinda like a book club, but with classical music. And an oath.

Listen to last week’s Walter Martin Radio Hour: Spider Stacy Interview | The Pogues, and 40 Years of “Rum Sodomy & the Lash”

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Hi — I went to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) last week, the outdoor venue near me, and saw the incredible Philadelphia Orchestra.

Among other things, they performed Stravinsky’s 1919 Firebird Suite.

Igor Stravinsky

I always find it a bit hard to fully engage with serious music at an outdoor venue when you’re wearing shorts and eating a hot dog, but I definitely felt something powerful happening when ol’ Stravinsky started up.

As those soft basses and cellos began to swirl, I froze mid-bite, hot dog trembling, mouth agape, and I found myself totally transported by the music.

And that’s when I had the idea for something called… Classical Club

And you are all invited.

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Classical Club 2025-2026 season

Ok this is gonna be kinda like a book club, but with classical music. Get it?

As I’ve made clear many times, I’m no classical music scholar. But I know what I like, I like what I like a lot, and I’m always on the hunt for more. Over the years—thanks to some digging and a couple very knowledgeable pals—I’ve found loads of fantastic classical stuff. Still, I’ll be the first to admit I know a lot more about “Yakety Yak” than I do about Dvořák—though I think I used that joke last year.

So, that said, if you’ll let me be your guide, I know we’ll have a great time.