Drop the Needle

Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Eastern

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:

August 2026 on Drop the Needle

8/3/2026

Piece: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor

Composer: Bruch

Conductor: Claudio Abbado

Orchestra: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Soloist: Shlomo Mintz, violin

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 album cover featuring Shlomo Mintz with Claudio Abbado and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Piece: Cello Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 107

Composer: Shostakovich

Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra

Soloist: Mstislav Rostropovich, cello

Shostakovich Cello Concerto album cover featuring Mstislav Rostropovich with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra

8/10/2026

Piece: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201

Composer: Mozart

Conductor: Benjamin Britten

Orchestra: The English Chamber Orchestra

Mozart Symphony No. 29 album cover conducted by Benjamin Britten with the English Chamber Orchestra

8/17/2026

Piece: Also sprach Zarathustra

Composer: Strauss

Conductor: Georg Solti

Orchestra: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra album cover conducted by Georg Solti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

8/24/2026

Piece: Symphony No. 8

Composer: Dvořák

Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini

Orchestra: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Dvořák Symphony No. 8 album cover conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

8/31/2026

Piece: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22

Composer: Saint-Saëns

Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra

Soloist: Philippe Entremont, piano

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 album cover featuring Philippe Entremont with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra

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!)

Now Playing

Suite in D from Water Music

Composed by

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Performed by

Boston Baroque/Pearlman

Label

Telarc

Catalog Number

80594

Today's Playlist

2:00pm Symphony in B minor, "Polania"

Composed by

Ignaz Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)

Performed by

Pomeranian Philharmonic/Wosiczko

2:53pm Wedding Day at Troldhaugen from Lyric Pieces, Op. 65

Composed by

Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)

Performed by

Houston Symphony/Comissiona

3:01pm L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1

Composed by

Georges Bizet (1838–1875)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

3:19pm Concerto No. 10 in E flat for 2 Pianos, K. 365

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Rabinovitch/Argerich/Wurttemberg CO/Faerber

3:43pm Sonata for cello & harp, Op. 28

Composed by

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968)

Performed by

Kramer/Barlett

4:01pm Herzegovina March

Composed by

Julius Fucik (1872-1916)

Performed by

Czech Philharmonic/Neuman

4:04pm Festival Intrada

Composed by

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Performed by

Adam/St. James Cathedral Brass/Savage

4:13pm Flute Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 31

Composed by

Franz Danzi (1763-1826)

Performed by

Adorjan/Munich Chamber Orchestra/Stadlmair

4:32pm In the Steppes of Central Asia

Composed by

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)

Performed by

Kirov Orchestra/Gergiev

4:42pm Three Pieces for Guitar

Composed by

Agustin Barrios (1885-1944)

Performed by

David Russell

4:51pm Overture to Hans Sachs

Composed by

Albert Lortzing (1801-1851)

Performed by

Berlin Radio Symphony/Guhl

5:00pm Mars, The Bringer of War from The Planets, Op. 32

Composed by

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Performed by

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy

5:08pm Bassoon Concerto in E flat, RV 483

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Thunemann/I Musici

5:16pm 3rd mvt (Scherzo) from Symphony No. 9 in C, D. 944 "Great"

Composed by

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Performed by

MET Opera Orchestra/Levine

5:31pm Gold and Silver Waltz

Composed by

Franz Lehar (1870-1948)

Performed by

Gothenburg Symphony/Jarvi

5:40pm Suite No. 2 in E flat for Winds

Composed by

Matthieu-Frederic Blasius (1758-1829)

Performed by

Mozzafiato

5:54pm Torre Bermeja

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

Performed by

Christopher Parkening

6:00pm Romance No. 1 in G for Violin, Op. 40

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Oistrach/Royal Philharmonic/Goosens

6:08pm Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Licad/London Philharmonic/Previn

6:32pm Concertino in B flat

Composed by

Michael Haydn (1737-1806)

Performed by

Perkins/The Manchester Camerata/Boyd

6:40pm Yesterdays from Roberta

Composed by

Jerome Kern, arr. Pappano

Performed by

Jansen/Pappano

6:43pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Valse elegante

Composed by

Francisco Mignone

Performed by

Nelson Freire

7:04pm Symphony No. 9 in C, D. 944 "Great"

Composed by

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Performed by

Bavarian Radio Symphony/Giulini

8:02pm The Planets, Op. 32

Composed by

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Performed by

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy

8:54pm Grand Waltz in A flat, Op. 42

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Claudio Arrau

9:01pm Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Batjer/Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra/Kahane

9:15pm Piano Sonata No. 10 in C, K. 330

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Fazil Say

9:40pm String Quartet in D, Op. 64 No. 5 "The Lark"

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Hagen Quartet

10:00pm Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1

Composed by

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Performed by

Stoltzman/Goode

10:25pm Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Mito Chamber Orchestra/Ozawa

10:53pm Reverie, Op. 22 No. 3

Composed by

Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)

Performed by

Godhoff/Ingwersen

11:00pm Scheherazade, Op. 35

Composed by

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Performed by

Harth/Chicago Symphony/Reiner

11:46pm Music selected by the announcer