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

La damoiselle élue, L. 69b

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Tetreault/Hebert-Bouchard

Label

ATMA Classiques

Catalog Number

0

Today's Playlist

9:29am Piano Concerto in E flat, Op. 42

Composed by

Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838)

Performed by

Hinterhuber/New Zealand Symphony/Grodd

10:01am The Enormous Room

Composed by

David Diamond (1915-2005)

Performed by

Seattle Symphony/Schwarz

10:18am Symphony No. 2 in A

Composed by

Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901)

Performed by

Symphony Orchestra of Russia/Dudarova

11:00am Symphony No. 2 in D, "Sinfonie capricieuse"

Composed by

Franz Berwald (1796-1868)

Performed by

Gothenburg Symphony/Jarvi

11:29am Pasacaglia from Suite No. 14

Composed by

Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750)

Performed by

David Russell

11:37am Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Ehnes/Armstrong

11:55am La Source (an etude), Op. 44

Composed by

Alphonse Hasselmans (1845-1912)

Performed by

Lily Laskine

12:00pm Symphony No. 14 in A, K. 114

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood

12:23pm Pavane, Op. 50

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

B. Marsalis/English Chamber Orchestra/Litton

12:30pm Sentimental Waltz, Op. 51 No. 6

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

Sakonov/London Festival Orchestra

12:36pm Piano Concerto in E minor, "Malediction"

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Bolet/London Symphony/Fischer

12:53pm Music selected by the announcer

1:01pm Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15

Composed by

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Performed by

Marc Ponthus

1:18pm Cello Concerto No. 9 in B flat, G. 482

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Harnoy/I Solisti Veneti/Scimone

1:40pm Concerto for Two Horns and Orchestra in F

Composed by

Francesco Antonio Rosetti (1750-1792)

Performed by

Wallendorf/Willis/SWR Symphony Orchestra of Baden-Baden/Schröter-Seebeck

2:00pm Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 "Scottish"

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Israel Philharmonic/Bernstein

2:40pm Rhapsodie

Composed by

Marcel Grandjany (1891-1975)

Performed by

Yolanda Kondonassis

2:50pm Piano Sonata No. 40 in G, Hob. XVI:40

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Marc-Andre Hamelin

3:01pm Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 11

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

Frith/RTE Sinfonietta/O'Duinn

3:23pm Octet for Winds, Op. 103

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Marlboro Festival Octet/Moyse

3:46pm Fantasia in C minor, K. 475

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Alfred Brendel

4:00pm Spanish Dance No. 5, "Andalusia"

Composed by

Enrique Granados (1867-1916)

Performed by

Perlman/Sanders

4:05pm Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 4 No. 4

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Spivakov/Moscow Virtuosi

4:15pm The Moldau from Ma Vlast (My Fatherland)

Composed by

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)

Performed by

London Symphony/Dorati

4:30pm Waltz from Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

4:36pm Symphony No. 3 in A

Composed by

Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

Performed by

Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra/Wetton

4:52pm Pas de deux & Variations

Composed by

Riccardo Drigo (1846-1930)

Performed by

London Festival Ballet/Kern

5:00pm 4th mvt (Allegretto grazioso) from Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op.83

Composed by

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Performed by

Pollini/Berlin Philharmonic/Abbado

5:10pm Overture to Il Signor Bruschino

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

5:16pm Slavonic Dance in F, Op. 46 No. 4

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Davis

5:25pm Canzon IX

Composed by

Giovanni Gabrieli ( c. 1554/1557 – 1612)

Performed by

Empire Brass and Friends

5:29pm Danube Waves (a waltz)

Composed by

Ion Ivanovici (1845-1902)

Performed by

Orchestra of the Vienna People's Opera/Bauer-Theussl

5:37pm Malagueña

Composed by

Celedonio Romero (1913-1996)

Performed by

P. Romero

5:43pm Le Tombeau de Couperin

Composed by

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Performed by

Montreal Symphony/Dutoit

6:00pm Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Pletnev/Berlin Philarmonic/Abbado

6:24pm Cantilena from Concerto Antico for Guitar & Small Orchestra

Composed by

Richard Harvey (b.1953)

Performed by

Williams/London Symphony/Daniel

6:35pm Berceuse

Composed by

Jack Gallagher (b.1947)

Performed by

London Symphony/Falletta

6:42pm I Giorni (translation: The Days)

Composed by

Ludovico Einaudi (b.1955)

Performed by

Dubeau/La Pieta

6:48pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Clarinet Quintet in A, K. 581

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Meyer/Philharmonia Quartet Berlin

7:37pm Carmen Suite No. 2

Composed by

Georges Bizet (1838–1875)

Performed by

Mexico City Philharmonic/Batiz

8:01pm Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 83

Composed by

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Performed by

Pollini/Vienna Philharmonic/Abbado

8:50pm Romance for Flute and Orchestra in D flat, Op. 37

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Hutchins/CBC Vancouver Orchestra/Bernardi

8:58pm Marche slave, Op. 31

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

Israel Philharmonic/Bernstein

9:09pm Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 36

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

9:40pm Fantasia in C, D. 760 "Wanderer Fantasy"

Composed by

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)/orchestrated by Franz Liszt

Performed by

Wallisch/Vienna Academy Orchestra/Haselbock

10:02pm Prelude to Act 1 from Parsifal

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Nelsons

10:16pm Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 "Reformation"

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nezet-Seguin

10:49pm Piano Sonata No. 37 in D, Hob. XVI:37

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Marc-Andre Hamelin

11:02pm Suite Compostelana

Composed by

Federico Mompou (1893-1987)

Performed by

Julian Bream

11:22pm Dream Pantomime from Hansel and Gretel

Composed by

Engelburt Humperdinck (1854-1921)

Performed by

Boston Pops/Fiedler

11:33pm Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Capriccio Italiano/Alessandrini

11:45pm Music selected by the announcer