Ruthanne Bessman

It's "Back to School" on "Classics by Request." On Saturday, Sept. 2, a special "kids-only" request program will air. School-age listeners are invited to submit requests online at wpr.org. For participating, each young listener will receive a thank you gift. Join host Ruthanne Bessman for the special kids-only request program beginning at 10 a.m.

December 16, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. It’s a good excuse to celebrate a remarkable composer, whose revolutionary music continues to inspire and influence people. The WPR music staff put together this collection of their own experiences with Beethoven’s music. The variety of choices says a lot about how relevant this music still is.

Many of you have reached out to us to say how much the music on WPR matters to you during these challenging times posed by the new coronavirus. We’ve been grateful to hear listeners describe how music can be calming, reassuring, and inspiring. Especially when the news, important as it is, can sometimes feel so exhausting. Since you've told us what kinds of music are a help to you, our hosts wanted to share some of the music that does the same for them.