WCPE Out and About

OUT & ABOUT
MEET UP WITH WCPE AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

In our Local Arts Series: The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle Performing since 1982, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle is now considered one of the finest ensembles of professional musicians in North Carolina and the Southeast. Learn more about the orchestra, conductor Lorenzo Muti, and the upcoming May 19th performance featuring pianist George Li. This event is free and open to the public. Beginning at 4:30, this event is one hour long and will contain a live musical performance.

With its innovative rhythmic structures and alien harmonies, Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring famously caused a riot and, some say, signaled the birth of modern music. Grant Llewellyn takes you on a musical tour to shed some light on just how revolutionary The Rite was... and is. Free and open to the public.
WCPE is a proud co-sponsor for this event.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 7:30 pm
at Quail Ridge Books & Music

If you're heading out to the North Carolina Symphony's Summerfest season opener, stop by the WCPE table to say hello to WCPE's Peter Blume and announcer Tara Lynn.
Summerfest Opening Night: Brahms Symphony No. 2
Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 7:30pm
INFO: Website

The Free Spirits Ensemble presented Tomorrow's Classics
in our Local Arts Series, a collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music.
Here are some highlights:

Visit and Subscribe to the WCPE YouTube page here!

Free Spirits Ensemble's Website: http://www.freespiritsensemble.com/

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LOCAL ARTS SERIES
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
Wednesday, April 18, 7:30 pm
North Carolina Opera General Director Eric Mitchko promises us a fun preview of the upcoming production of Il Trovatore. With his vast knowledge and wit, Eric makes opera accessible and exciting by providing insights into the composer and the historical context in which a particular opera was written. Joining him will be tenor Chase Taylor. This event is free and open to the public.

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Author Event:

A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians
— From Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between
by Stuart Isacoff
ISBN: 978-0-307-26637-8

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Quail Ridge Books & Music

A must-have for music lovers, pianists, and the armchair musician! This discussion with musical illustrations is a totally engrossing celebration of the piano, as well as the composers and performers who have made it their own.

With honed sensitivity and unquestioned expertise, Stuart Isacoff- pianist, critic, teacher and author of Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization - unfolds the ongoing history and evolution of the piano and all its myriad wonders: how its very sound provides the basis for emotional expression and individual style, and why it has so powerfully entertained generation upon generation of listeners. He illuminates the groundbreaking music of Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Schumann, and Debussy; analyzes the breathtaking techniques of Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Art Tatum, Arthur Rubinstein, and Van Cliburn; and gives musicians including Alfred Brendel, Andras Schiff, Murray Perahia, Menahem Pressler, Vladimir Horowitz, André Watts, Bill Charlap and Billy Joel the opportunity to discuss their approaches.

Isacoff delineates how classical music and jazz influenced each other as the uniquely American art form progress from ragtime, novelty, stride, boogie, bebop, and beyond, through Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Cecil Taylor and Dave Brubeck.

A Natural History of the Piano distills a lifetime of research and passion into one brilliant narrative. We witness Mozart unveiling his monumental concertos in Vienna's coffeehouses, using a special piano with one keyboard for the hands and another for the feet; European virtuoso Henri Herz entertaining rowdy miners during the California gold rush; Beethoven at his piano, conjuring healing angels to console a grieving mother; Liszt fainting in the arms of a page turner to spark an entire hall into hysterics.

Stuart Isacoff, a pianist and composer, is founding editor of the magazine Piano Today, Executive Editor of Sheet Music Magazine and a recipient of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for excellence in writing about music.

Passport to Hungary with Sarah Hicks
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Quail Ridge Books & Music

North Carolina Symphony Associate Conductor Sarah Hicks is THE modern conductor! She's a Pops Specialist, (that's what she calls her "bread and butter") who has even traveled with Sting on his Symphonicities tour. A Harvard grad who specialized in composition and received her education as a conductor at the Curtis Institute, somehow she makes the image of a stuffy concert hall and a tux with tails seem as antiquated as the rotary phone. For example, she didn't miss the chance to demonstrate Gypsy Scale for us on her iPad when explaining how the rhythm of Hungarian music flows naturally from language. As brilliant and well-educated as she is, Sarah Hicks never loses her buoyancy and great sense of humor. If you haven't seen her in action, remember you can sill catch Passport to Hungary this weekend!

North Carolina Symphony Passport Hungary Chapel Hill performance, Jan. 12.

North Carolina Symphony Passport Hungary Raleigh performances, Jan. 13-14.

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THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES
EVENT REPORT
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
Raleigh Boychoir: December 6, 2011

What a superlative evening with talented young gentlemen from the Raleigh Boychoir! Raleigh Boychoir Artistic Director Robert E. Unger taught us about that bright shiny sound that only a young boy can make and how he can keep his treble voice longer. He shared heart-warming success stories of past choir members and examples of how the choir keeps the boys plugged in to music-making for so many years. It was wonderful to hear about the opportunities for growth, mentoring and performing that these boys to have through the choir. Even more impressive was the care given to recognizing the best fit for each individual boy. Also, we were surprised to learn how rare a high caliber boychoir actually is!

The Raleigh Boychoir's Resident Choir performed favorites from their overall repertoire and from their upcoming winter performance tickets , which gave many of the boys a chance to sing solo parts. The bulk of the boys were in grades 4-6 and it was clear that they were successfully building a lot of self esteem in those years. We won't be surprised if some of the boys you saw at Quail Ridge Books & Music last night "make it big" some day. Talent, discipline and support are all in their corner!

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THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
North Carolina Master Chorale: November 14, 2011

For the November installment of our series, North Carolina Master Chorale music director Al Sturgis provided as clear an understanding of baroque choral sound as we’ve ever heard. Phrase-by-phrase, we heard him craft the sound of a small chorus, adding lifts and accents all along the way. It was bright, clear and magnificent. Best of all, for those of us who might not have had a trained ear to recognize the subtle changes that made a big difference, we gained it.

The chorus was as patient as it was talented, standing for a full hour in our cozy corner of the book store, purposely un-learning sounds they’d practiced so that we could hear the differences in their baroque approach. When the chorus began its final piece, the Hallelujah chorus, the audience rose to their feet- entirely unprovoked- to sing along. It was surreal- the whole space was filled with the beautiful sounds Handel had left us and we were all one voice for a moment.

We also want to thank the owner of Quail Ridge Books & Music, Nancy Olson, for donating a pair of tickets to the Master Chorale’s performance for the ticket drawing.

The North Carolina Master Chorale will perform Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. NCmasterchorale.org

Photos from the Event: Click on the thumbnail images below to see a larger version!
Watch for more Community Event Report Pages soon!

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THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music

Raleigh Chamber Music Guild: October 26, 2011

70 years is certainly a solid run for Raleigh Chamber Music Guild, presenting high quality performances. We’re happy to say that The Raleigh Chamber Music Guild is still enriching our community and winning new audiences with the bliss of intimate chamber performances. On October 26th, The Guild’s president John Montgomery and its Executive Director Nancy Lambert shared "Up Close and Personal" stories and successes, with as much good humor as professionalism. What made this evening most exciting was the sheer volume of music we sampled from two quartets. The intimate nature of the bookstore allowed us to converse with the musicians and to feel the air melt around each note they played. One quartet, comprised of former board members, brought us up to speed with Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven selections. The second group, the Mallarmé Youth Chamber Orchestra (MYCO) Quartet, left our jaws on the floor with their talent in presenting Debussy. We applauded loudly, with moist eyes, their encore- a work written by Joshua Bell (Yes, that guy who plays violin in the subway).

Rest assured, the future of classical music is in able and eager hands! We’ll be enjoying more of the perks of our local chamber music guild on November 13th when they present the New Zealand String Quartet. In the meantime, find out more about music education, local ensembles and world class performers Raleigh Chamber Music Guild brings to North Carolina at rcmg.org

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Tara Lynn represents WCPE at the National Flute Association convention in Charlotte, NC
August 11-14, 2011

WCPE's Tara Lynn with flutist Paula Robison after Paula's Headliner Recital - Saturday, August 13, 2011. Paula performed Italian Love Songs and gorgeous pieces from her newest album Places of the Spirit.

More photos from the Convention: Click on the thumbnail images below to see a larger image and artist information!
Watch for more Community Event Report Pages soon!

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THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
Zenph Sound Innovations: August 11, 2011

We overflowed into the aisles, peeped over bookshelves and spent the better part of an hour with our jaws on the floor. No matter how many times someone tells you Zenph Re-performances are amazing you could never be prepared for it to hit you the way it does. In other genres they refer to this experience as “face-melting.” The term fits this instance, too. That confident and breezy Gershwin energy literally causes you to rock back as if you’ve literally been hit by a wave.

One thing was certain- Gershwin went beyond recitation. He teased, bragged, begged and swooned with his piano. Zenph Performance Analysts Anatoly Larkin and Phil Amalong gave just a hint at the process behind the magic. Someone pointed this out- Phil is a critically acclaimed pianist and Van Cliburn Scholarship winner. But while his demonstrations of Gershwin’s written music were gorgeous, it was almost like George walked into the bookstore, shooed him from the bench and said, “Let me show you how it’s done.”

Zenph succeeded in convincing us that "it" has not been “done” like that by anyone but George Gershwin, himself.

Larkin and Amalong gave us an opportunity to imagine what might have been driving Gershwin as an artist, why he learned to play more notes at a time and created an orchestral quality in his playing. We even caught a glimpse of a performer who could recall pop culture references, spontaneously integrate them, and continually win the audience’s full attention. Gershwin leaves no room for the mind to stray. Instead, we listened faithfully to an attentive performer who seemed to know our every desire even before we did.

You don’t know what you’re missing if you never hear Gershwin play the piano. Once you do, you will never forget it.

To hear more about this Gershwin Re-Performance, click through to this interview with Anatoly Larkin and Philip Amalong:

Visit our Preview! Interview page here!

THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
Brussels Chamber Orchestra: July 6, 2011

We are more excited than ever to have the Brussels Chamber Orchestra inventing in the classical music scene in North Carolina! The audience seemed sewn together as members of the Brussels Chamber Orchestra played a selection by Shostakovich. That is, every person in the room seemed to inhale, exhale, and sway together. There is something remarkable about the way these vibrant young musicians play- it makes you feel interconnected with all of humanity (or, at very least, with the people beside you). What a joy it was to meet the students involved in this year's Side-By-Side program of the Cary Cross Currents Chamber Music & Arts Festival. The program is new, while the festival enters its fourth year. The enthusiasm and excitement in the young "collaborators" (as they are called) was as enjoyable as their talent. More information about this annual festival can be found here.

You can hear more about the Cary Cross Currents Chamber Music & Arts Festival in this interview with Carrie Knowles and Neil Leiter that WCPE aired July 3, 2011.

You may also enjoy this interview from the BCO's visit in 2010!

THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES
in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music
Durham Symphony Orchestra: June 29, 2011

If anything is certain, it is William Henry Curry's ability to light up a room. Despite his local star status, he made us feel as comfortable as we would be sitting in our own living room. He told "avuncular" stories of his famous mentors, beamed when he spoke of the great American classical repertoire and joked as naturally as though we were all old friends.

Indeed, we all felt we were familiar on this night. Curry speaks proudly of his work with the North Carolina Symphony and with contagious hope of his progress with the Durham Symphony in his two years as Music Director. His keen awareness of who is audience is and the needs of the community have given the Maestro a long road to walk with many victories along the way. It will not be a surprise if, someday looking back, we think of Curry as the next in a line of conductors with that special touch we loved dearly in Leornard Bernstein.

You can hear Maestro Curry in this short interview WCPE aired on June 26, 2011!

THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music

North Carolina Symphony: May 11, 2011

The Classical Station thanks The North Carolina Symphony for partnering with us in the Local Arts Series - a collaboration with the community-minded staff at Quail Ridge Books & Music. Our goal for this 2011 series is to bring music lovers to an intimate space where they can connect with, learn about, and build relationships with classical music performers. We were delighted by the great show of support for our own North Carolina Symphony this week! What’s more, Grant Llewellyn kindly took all of us into his world and shared a side of himself that was every bit as discerning and insightful as we had hoped.

Listening to Grant Llewellyn speak about Mahler’s 9th, you feel his connection is so real that it is nearly palpable. As Llewellyn waxes poetic about his dynamic relationship with Mahler’s music you understand why he chose to conduct it at this time in his life. Could it be as simple as the music choosing him? Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 resonates with Llewellyn in a vibrant and fresh way and yet his peace with the artistic space in which the work was created is something uniquely mature. With Mahler, Llewellyn seems to have arrived at a place of cultivation of empathy. We are so grateful to have given an audience to his reflections of a profound musical journey.

— Tara Lynn
WCPE Community & Arts Liaison

THE WCPE LOCAL ARTS SERIES in collaboration with Quail Ridge Books & Music

Thanks to all who joined us and the North Carolina Opera Company and General Director, Eric Mitchko. We enjoyed a fantastic sneak peek at their upcoming performance of Gounod’s Faust (Thursday, April 28 at 8 PM & Saturday April 30 at 8PM)

Pictures of the Event ( thanks to KB )

CONVERSATIONAL PIECES

Live Music. Live Art. Silent Auction.

March 27th at 2:30 - 5 pm at Kings Barcade

Musicians from the North Carolina Symphony performed live classical music while three Raleigh artists worked to complete a thoughtful visual response to the music.

The event was Sunday afternoon, March 27, 2011 at Kings Barcade (14 W. Martin St.) in Raleigh. The atmosphere was very laid back and cordial, and the bar was open.

Explore the style of these three amazing Raleigh artists! Click the links below!

ARTISTS:

Pete Sack
http://petesack.com/home.html

David Eichenberger
http://david-eichenberger.carbonmade.com/

Georges Le Chevallier
http://glcart.com/

We thank Jerry’s Artorama in Raleigh for providing supplies for the artists.

 

Local Arts Series: KidzNotes

Thank you for joining us for a special afternoon with the amazing children of KidzNotes! You will have another chance to see their progress as KidzNotes performs side-by-side with the Durham Symphony Orchestra at the Emily K Center (904 W. Chapel Hill St. Durham), March 19th at 3 pm. Find out more about this exciting program at KidzNotes.org.

Local Arts Series presents MALLARMÉ CHAMBER PLAYERS

Event Date: February 1
Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Avenue, Raleigh

WCPE and Quail Ridge Books & Music thank Mallarme Chamber Players for an incredible evening, and a great start to the Local Arts series. We estimate 80 people attended, and each individual was completely enthralled with the hour long program. We got to see and hear instruments we've heard of before- but only on cds and Wikipedia (like the oboe da caccia and viola d'amore)! Each of the musicians told us about the history and evolution of his/her instrument with a great sense of humor and passion. We enjoyed demonstrations highlighting the tone and beauty of each instrument. Even some of the most knowledgeable audience members were delighted to learn so much. And... everyone had fun! Here's what you had to say about the event....

Listener Comment (MP3)

Listener Comment (MP3)

Listener Comment (MP3)

Thank you again for coming out to Meet Your WCPE Announcers on January 12th at Quail Ridge Books & Music.

Here’s what you had to say about the event:

	WCPE O&A Soundbite #1
	WCPE O&A Soundbite #2
	WCPE O&A Soundbite #3
	WCPE O&A Soundbite #4

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