Café Concerts
Watch videos of preeminent classical artists recorded live in the WQXR café.
Recently in Café Concerts
Café Concert: So Percussion
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Café Concert: Ryu Goto
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ryu Goto opened his Café Concert with Kreisler's Liebesleid, a bittersweet waltz that evokes a kind of aristocratic grace from another era. But Goto is hardly a violinist stuck in the past.
Café Concert: Xuefei Yang
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Classical guitarist Xuefei Yang is on a mission to make her instrument more visible in the classical music mainstream. See her perform in the WQXR Café in two videos.
Café Concert: Brentano String Quartet
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Brentano String Quartet has taken abandoned pieces by Bach, Shostakovich, Haydn and Mozart, and commissioned several composers to write individual responses to them.
Café Concert: Fretwork
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The English viol consort Fretwork had much to celebrate as it entered its 25th anniversary season last year. But the group suffered a tragedy from which it now strives to overcome.
Café Concert: Shenyang
Thursday, January 26, 2012
To see Shenyang in an opera house, you might not guess that he's capable of delivering delicate art songs with subtle expressions. But he has begun championing Chinese art songs, as these videos show.
Café Concert: Beijing Guitar Duo
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Beijing Guitar Duo hails from China, studied in the US with a Cuban guitar legend, and plays music ranging from Scarlatti to Brazilian samba. Watch the duo play live in the WQXR Cafe.
Café Concert: Joseph Calleja
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja has a voice unlike any other in opera today. Critics point to a rapid vibrato combined with an appealing sweetness that comes through on the high notes. See him perform in two videos.
Café Concert: Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The violinist and pianist have been honing a partnership for seven years. In the WQXR Café, they play the blistering finale from Franck’s Sonata in A Major.
Café Concert: Charlie Siem
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
While chatting with Charlie Siem, one gets the feeling the English violinist is yearning to quote that old shampoo commercial: Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.
Café Concert: Cypress String Quartet
Friday, December 02, 2011
The Cypress String Quartet turns 15 this year with an unusual venture: a nationwide radio tour. The ensemble joined us in the cafe as part of the first leg of that journey to perform music by Beethoven.
Café Concert: Daniel Hope's 'East Meets West' Ensemble
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
East and West met, in a manner of speaking, in the WQXR Café recently. The occasion was a performance by violinist Daniel Hope, sitarist Gaurav Mazumdar and tabla player Vishal Nagar.
Café Concert: Miró Quartet
Friday, November 11, 2011
After a dramatic personnel change, the Austin, Texas-based Miró Quartet is reconnecting with its roots in the music of Beethoven. Watch them perform in the WQXR Cafe.
Café Concert: Mikhail Simonyan
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
He has played for Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace, launched a foundation in war-torn Afghanistan and just released his first album on Deutsche Grammophon. Watch him in the WQXR Cafe.
Café Concert: David Finckel and Wu Han
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
One of classical music's reigning power couples, David Finckel and Wu Han run a concert series, a festival, a record label and separate performing careers. Watch them perform in the WQXR Café.
Café Concert: Vilde Frang
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Watch the rising young Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang perform the colorful music of Albéniz in the WQXR Café.
Café Concert: Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The duo of Malian kora player Sissoko and French cellist Segal combine African and European idioms to create a uniquely delicate style. Watch them perform in our Café Concert video.
Café Concert: Nicholas Phan
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Nicholas Phan says that he’s as American as dim sum and souvlaki. A New Yorker born of Greek and Chinese parents, the young tenor is currently making his name as an interpreter of Benjamin Britten. Watch him perform live.
Café Concert: Kristin Lee
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Plenty of violinists have evoked the sounds of other instruments. For violinist Kristin Lee, it was the gamelan, the musical ensemble from Indonesia known for its gently chiming percussive sounds, that caught her ear.
Café Concert: Jennifer Choi
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ethel, the New York string quartet known for its use of improvisation and amplification, has just welcomed Jennifer Choi to the group. Watch a video of this dynamic young violinist performing in the WQXR Café.


Featured Comments
Very fine singer. Thoroughly enjoyed the telecast of Hoffmann. He had some wonderful role models. His voice will become even ...
Vilde Fang matches her wonderful technique for one so young with a brilliance of mood interpretation. bravo.
That was absolutely marvelous. What a pleasure to listen to and how wonderfully she plays. She makes it look so ...