CSOradio
CSOradio
James Smelser believes the most important skill is "how to listen, the value of listening and the hardest thing is how to improve that."
© Todd Rosenberg Photography
James Smelser, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s horn section since 2000, shares what many years of experience have taught him about playing second horn parts to maintain the high musical expectations of the CSO. He recalls fond memories of playing for 13 years next to the orchestra’s former principal horn, Dale Clevenger, and describes the role he now also occupies as the chairman of the CSO Members Committee.
If you’ve listened to this podcast episode and enjoyed the music of the CSO, but wondered about which recordings were used, the chart below reveals chronologically within the episode where each recording is heard.
Also, if you would like to listen to those recordings in their entirety, a Spotify playlist follows the chart, allowing you to access the tracks directly. Thanks for listening.
| Podcast Start Time | Composer | Title | Conductor |
| :00 | Mahler | Symphony No. 1, 1st mvmt. | Haitink |
| :30 | Dvořák | Symphony No. 9 (New World), 4th mvmt. | Reiner |
| 1:12 | Mahler | Symphony No. 6, 4th mvmt. | Haitink |
| 2:16 | Beethoven | Symphony No. 3 (Eroica), 3rd mvmt. | Solti |
| 4:23 | Schubert | Symphony No. 9, 4th mvmt. | Giulini |
| 5:18 | Stravinsky | The Rite of Spring: Introduction | Ozawa |
| 5:54 | Bruckner | Symphony 9, 1st mvmt. | Barenboim |
| 6:20 | Beethoven | Fidelio: Overture | Solti |
| 7:56 | Mahler | Symphony No. 5, 5th mvmt. | Solti |
| 8:48 | Beethoven | Symphony No. 5, 3rd mvmt. | Solti |
| 9:10 | Stravinsky | The Firebird, No. 13 | Boulez |
| 10:35 | Stravinsky | The Firebird, No. 13 | Boulez |
| 11:13 | Ravel | Alborada del gracioso | Reiner |
| 13:30 | Mahler | Symphony No. 5, 3rd mvmt. | Solti |
| 14:00 | Mahler | Symphony No. 5, 5th mvmt. | Solti |
| 14:56 | Beethoven | Symphony No. 7, 3rd mvmt. | Solti |
| 15:53 | Mahler | Symphony No. 3, 3rd mvnt. | Haitink |
| 16:59 | Mahler | Symphony No. 7, 5th mvmt. | Abbado |
| 19:20 | Mahler | Symphony No. 1, 2nd mvmt. | Haitink |
| 20:19 | Liszt | Les Préludes | Solti |
| 20:37 | Dvořák | Symphony No. 8, 1st mvmt. | Giulini |
| 21:17 | Mendelssohn | Violin Concerto, 3rd mvmt. | Abbado |
