Time Travelers at Mohonk, Aug 2025

Mohonk Mountain House in early summer

Frederic Chiu's Classical Smackdown "Time Travelers" at The Mohonk Mountain House. I'm grateful to all who spent a precious hour with me and this great music. The results were both close and not close! The Audience Favorite vote was an exact tie. But Bach won a clear majority of the individual rounds (54/46%)! Women were more open to Bach, men toward Glass. Listeners under age 40 and over age 40 generally went in different directions. Check below for the entire results, with breakouts by round, age, piano-playing and gender

Favorite comments:

Astonishing. Almost too intense - I thought Glass would be cool and ironic. I was so wrong!

Thank you for helping shape me

excellent

I had an unpleasant visceral reaction hearing the Partita performed on an open grand piano (instead of harpsichord) Having played the Beethoven Ghost Trio, I found the Mad Rush very interesting.

I was surprised how I was "taken" by Glass when I hardly knew his music.

it was really amazing!

Listened to Bach often

Lovely thank you!

Surprise! I play and love Bach on recorders, but enjoyed the Glass more

Thank you for a lovely evening :)

Thanks for introducing me to Glass's work. The music was very hypnotising

Very interesting pairings - great job

It was wonderful to see you and listen to you play

We love you, Frederic <3

1) Repetitive motif (Glass) Key? Minor mode 2) I liked them both, Glass very haunting atmospheric 3) St Matthew Passion stunningly beautiful

Etude #5 was my favoriite. Truman Sleeps is epic. Great playing!

Glass was a revelation! Glass's music is so percussive!

Round 1 Glass too repetitive. I prefer listening to the Bach - more pleasing to my ears. If I want repetitive, I chose Ravel's Bolero. Round 2 - Glass pieces were more exciting, expressive, riveting, passionate. Bach - staid, old, wooden, and mechanical Round 3 - Bach piece is so beuatiful, expressive like a prayer Glass again too repetitive for me and the fortissimo is just over the top! I never thought I would choose Bach but I would listen to Bach again since it was more soothing to listen to

Round 2 was my favorite

Round 3 both pieces very spiritual

While Glass has some great moments, we find him a bit repetitive

Wonderful overall program. Voting caused me to listen more acutely. Everyday I listen to WQXR in NYC so I always hear Bach. Every year at CMS in NYC I attend Brandenburg Concertos. I've preferred Baroque Classical and Romantic composers. Thank you for offering Philip Glass

Wonderful performance and enjoyed the smackdown. Hard Choice to pick a winner!

You played beautifully, Creative approach to exposing people to different composer. We loved it!

You've given me a greater appreciation of Glass but still love Bach more. Favorite organ Toccata and Fugue in D Minor!!