Visit a place where analog sound lives.

Drop the Needle is The Classical Station’s tribute to the timeless artistry of vinyl recordings. Hosted by Vince Tillona, this program brings you hand-selected treasures from the station’s vast archive of over 25,000 albums—a collection that features legendary performances, rare pressings and the warmth of sound that only vinyl can offer.

Each week, Vince carefully curates a listening experience for audiophiles and music lovers alike, reviving recordings that have shaped the classical tradition and rediscovering gems no longer available in modern formats.

Whether you’re a lifelong collector or simply curious about the magic of vinyl, Drop the Needle invites you to savor the depth and authenticity of classical music as it was meant to be heard.

Every episode of Drop the Needle features an array of treasures from our extensive vinyl library. Here are just a few of the selections we’re especially excited to share with listeners this month:

November 2026 on Drop the Needle

11/2/2026

Piece: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite No. 2

Composer: Prokofiev

Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich

Orchestra: The National Symphony Orchestra

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet album cover featuring Mstislav Rostropovich and the National Symphony Orchestra

Also on the program: de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, with pianist Alicia de Larrocha and the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos; and Purcell’s Allegro and Air, performed by the New York Tuba Quartet.

11/9/2026

Piece: Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Composer: Mendelssohn

Conductor: Sir Charles Mackerras

Orchestra: The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream album cover featuring Sir Charles Mackerras and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Also on the program: Respighi’s Botticellian Triptych, with the Scarlatti Orchestra of Naples conducted by Franco Caracciolo.

11/16/2026

Piece: Appalachian Spring

Composer: Copland

Conductor: Aaron Copland

Orchestra: The Boston Symphony Orchestra

Appalachian Spring album cover featuring Aaron Copland conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Also on the program: Liszt’s The Entry of the Guests from Wagner’s Tannhäuser, performed by pianist Daniel Barenboim; and Suk’s Fantastic Scherzo, with the Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek.

11/23/2026

Piece: Symphonia Domestica

Composer: Richard Strauss

Conductor: George Szell

Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra

Richard Strauss Symphonia Domestica album cover featuring George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra

Also on the program: Tartini’s Concerto in D Major for Trumpet and Orchestra, with trumpeter Maurice André and the Saar Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Karl Ristenpart.

11/30/2026

Special program: Wagner on Vinyl

Composer: Wagner

Sponsored by the Triangle Wagner Society.

Piece: Overture to Rienzi

Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic

Piece: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla from Das Rheingold

Conductor: Sir Georg Solti

Orchestra: The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Piece: Tannhäuser Overture

Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf

Orchestra: The Boston Symphony Orchestra

Piece: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde

Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

Orchestra: The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Piece: Preislied (Prize Song)

Conductor: Ferdinand Leitner

Orchestra: The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra

Soloist: Wolfgang Windgassen, tenor

Elsa Says Thank You For Giving To The Classical Station

Elsa, Vince Tillona's grand-dog and Drop the Needle's unofficial mascot

During the Fall 2025 fund drive, Drop the Needle host Vince Tillona called to make a donation from his three dogs and four cats.

He told the story of how, during announcer training, volunteers were taught to visualize speaking to a single person, not a full audience.

That’s why a picture of Vince’s grand-dog Elsa sits on the desk each week during Drop the Needle—she’s the listener he imagines when he speaks.

As Vince explains, “She always listens and she’s totally non-judgemental. She’s the perfect audience.” (And yes, Elsa is a dog, despite what you may have heard on the air!)

Drop the Needle

Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Eastern