TWQXR is the classical music station of New York and New Jersey on the radio at 105.9FM. It was started 83 years ago and has enjoyed an impressive number of fans and I am one of them. What I like about WQXR is that it has music and programs for children as well as adults. That is important in this day and time when children are at home more because schools are closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A recent program for children was all about Rimsky Korsakov’s famous work the “Flight of the Bumblebee”.

Composed in 1899, it’s the story, set to music, of a prince who is turned into a bumblebee so that he can visit the czar and his beautiful daughter without being seen. When WQXR played the music, they provided all sorts of commentary for kids. In addition, parents who listened to the music with their children greatly praised the program as well.

The great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “beauty is the pulley that can lift us from despair.” In these days of pain and sorrow for so many, beautiful music can do just that. WQXR 105.9fm