Playlist for Thursday, August 20, 2026

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

6:00 am

Mornings with Jan Weller

Including news and weather on the hour between 6:00 am and 9:00 am; and "Carl’s Almanac" at 7:30 am.

10:00 am

Midday with Lisa Flynn

Including "Music in Chicago" at 12:00 pm.

3:00 pm

Afternoon Music with Candice Agree

Including "The Unrush Hour" at 5:00 pm.

7:00 pm

Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin

Curse of the Ninth! Ninth Symphonies

Why did so many great composers die after finishing their ninth symphony? This week, we look at the so-called curse of the Ninth Symphony, a legend that started with Beethoven in the mid-1820s. Over time, people began to believe that writing a ninth symphony could be a composer’s final work and maybe even mark their last year on Earth. We’ll listen to five famous ninth symphonies by Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Dvořák, and Mahler.

8:00 pm

Evening Music

10:00 pm

The New York Philharmonic This Week

Beethoven Symphony No. 5; Corigliano Symphony No. 1; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor.