In New York, heat runs on steam. Although radiators are notorious for their banging, clanging and shrieking, they do get the job done.
Henry Alford is actually a fan of those steam-powered screeches — to him, they’re music: “Sometimes when I hear my radiator, I think: Renata Tebaldi.”
Alford and producer Pejk Malinovski were so taken with the noise, they decided to compose an entire symphony out of the radiator sounds they'd collected.
Stay warm.
Bonus audio: Radiator Symphony
(Originally aired February 26, 2010)
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!