Nicholas Britell - more than that one viral theme song!
Nicholas Britell - more than that one viral theme song!  
Podcast: Classical Music Happy Hour
Published On: Wed Apr 29 2026
Description: The New York Times has called Nicholas Britell: “The composer at the frontier of film music.” Britell has written scores for Hollywood movies including:The Big Short, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could talk. Listeners might best recognize his work from the theme of the HBO series “Succession” for which he’s won the Emmy for the iconic theme song. He’ll talk about writing for the big screen and he’ll play one of his most recognizable pieces live-in studio.   Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax. Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Var. I (C.A.E.) Elgar Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & George Hurst Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. The Planets, Op. 32: I. Mars, the Bringer of War Holst CSR Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava & Adrian Leaper Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176: Introduction Strauss Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra & Zdeněk Košler Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13, Pathetique” Beethoven Alessio Bax, piano Live recording at The Greene Space   Fantasia in C minor, K. 475 Mozart Péter Nagy, piano Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 Debussy The Knights Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell Symphony No. 64 in A Major, Hob. 1:64 (Tempora mutantur) Haydn The Knights Live recording at the Naumburg Bandshell Le Sacre du Printemps Stravinsky Brussels Philharmonic, Ali Rahbari Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107; II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam Bruckner Linz Bruckner Orchestra & Mark Poschner Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  Credits Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson. Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim. Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon. Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.