This Week At The Classical Station
by Rob Kennedy
Sunday, April 16, 2023
The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink opens Preview! this evening with a performance of Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68. Violist Peter Sulski tells us the story behind his unusual viola.
Preview! brings you new releases and local arts news every Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.
The April edition of Renaissance Fare is dedicated to the music of Easter and Passover, the two most important seasons on the Christian and Jewish calendars. Easter music will feature the Voices of Ascension and the Choir of Westminster Cathedral. Passover music will highlight two of the most famous composers during the period, performed by the Bach Sinfonia and the Ensemble Alla Francesca.
Get out your tabret and join George Douglas for Renaissance Fare at 5:00 p.m.
This morning Great Sacred Music includes music sung by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, the Choir of the National Cathedral, Washington, DC, and the Prague Chamber Choir. Also on the playlist is music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Dirksen, and Josef Haydn.
Great Sacred Music. Beautiful choral and organ music. Every Sunday morning. 8 a.m. Eastern.
On April 16 we observe the birthdays of Catalan composer Federico Mompou (1893-1987) and American conductor Denis Russell Davies (1944-). After attending the Paris Conservatoire, Federico Mompou spent his life composing music mainly for solo piano. A Julliard graduate, Dr. Davies has conducted many of the world’s orchestras. He is noted for his advocacy of contemporary music.
Photo: Dennis Russell Davies, Benno Hunziker, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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Saturday, April 15, 2023
The 2022-23 season of Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcasts continues with Richard Strauss’s sumptuous and bittersweet comedy Der Rosenkavalier. Soprano Lise Davidsen makes her role debut this season as the elegant and worldly Marschallin, a celebrated starring role, and mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey is the Marschallin’s much younger lover, Octavian, the Cavalier of the Rose. Soprano Erin Morley reprises the role of Sophie, who captures Octavian’s heart, and bass Günther Groissböck is back as the vulgar Baron Ochs. Maestro Simone Young leads the Met orchestra, chorus, and a sparkling ensemble cast in an opera that’s by turns a bit madcap and profoundly moving.
The curtain goes up at 12 p.m. Eastern.
On April 15 we observe the birthday of English conductor Sir Neville Marriner (1924-2016). One of the greatest conductors of our time, Sir Neville founded the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in 1958. He recorded extensively with that ensemble.
Photo: Richard Holt
Friday, April 14, 2023
The Metropolitan Opera presents
Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier
Saturday, April 15, 12 noon Eastern
On April 14 we observe the birthdays of Finnish conductor Paavo Berglund, English cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Russian conductor and pianist Mikhail Pletnev, and American cellist Alisa Weilerstein.
Maestro Berglund was renowned for his interpretations of Jean Sibelius’ symphonies. Julian Lloyd Webber had a distinguished career as a cellist. Maestro Pletnev is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Russian National Orchestra. Alisa Weilerstein was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2011.
Photo: Paavo Berglund, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons; Julian Lloyd-Webber, Unknown Author on julianlloydwebber.com; Mikhail Pletnev, Unknown Author, on Zeneakadémiáig; Alisa Weilerstein, Harald Hoffmann/Decca
Thursday, April 13, 2023
This evening, the Thursday Night Opera House presents Hector Berlioz’ Beatrice and Benedict. Love blooms in this operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.
The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Celebrate the special classical music lover in your life with a daily, weekly, or monthly announcement here on The Classical Station. With a Sustaining Membership of $100 per month, you can have a weekly on-air dedication. To find out more about day dedications and patron announcements on The Classical Station or to renew your announcement, contact Tanja Greaves at 919-556-5178.
On April 13 we observe the birthdays of English composer William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875) and American duo-pianists John and Richard Contiguglia (1937-).
William Sterndale Bennett studied in Leipzig where his compositions were admired by Feliz Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann. The Contiguglia twins are both graduates of Yale University.
Photos: William Sterndale Bennett (painted by John Everett Millais), Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons; John & Richard Contiguglia, Unknown Author, /www.duopianistscontiguglia.com
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Photo courtesy of NCCMI
The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill region, which we know locally as The Triangle, has dozens of concerts and recitals happening every week. Check out our Arts Calendar for more information about upcoming concerts and recitals mounted by organizations that support The Classical Station. If you would like us to promote your concert on air, give our Business Development Manager, Mary Moonen, a call at 919-556-5178.
On April 12 we observe the birthdays of Austrian composer Josef Lanner (1801-1843), French conductor Jean-François Paillard (1928-2013), and Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé (1933-2018).
Herr Lanner wrote dance music for the nobility of his day. Monsieur Paillard will be remembered for his expertise in interpreting Baroque music, and especially for his recording of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D which catapulted that work to the top of lists of listener favorites everywhere. María de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé i Folch was one of the great bel canto opera singers of the 20th-century.
Photo: Montserrat Caballe, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
If your vehicle – automobile, truck, boat, motorcycle, RV, or aircraft – is no longer of use to you, it can still go a long way as a donation in support of the beautiful music you love here on The Classical Station. Here’s how it works: Center for Car Donations (CFCD), manages the donations on our behalf. Call them toll-free at 1-877-927-3872 for more information and to begin the car donation process. Don’t forget to mention that The Classical Station is the recipient of your donation.
A CFCD representative will schedule a pickup that’s convenient for you, and provide you with confirmation of your donation. We will mail you a confirmation that states how much your vehicle sold for at auction. This amount is what you can claim on your itemized tax return. You also will receive a one-year subscription to Quarter Notes.
Photo: 1974 Ford Pinto, Pat M., Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
On April 11 we observe the birthdays of French composer Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738), Czech conductor Karel Ančerl (1908-1973), and Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983).
A composer of music for the stage in his day, Monsieur Mouret is best known to modern audiences for his Fanfare which is used as the theme of the PBS series Masterpiece, formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre. Karel Ančerl was music director of the Toronto Symphony from 1968-1973. Alberto Evaristo Ginastera was one of the most important composers of the 20 century.
Photos: Jean-Joseph Mouret, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons; Silhouette of Karel Ančerl by Hanna Hausmann-Kohlmann (1897-1984), Dresden, June 1969 on Karelancerl.com; Alberto Ginastera, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
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Monday, April 10, 2023
The April edition of Renaissance Fare is dedicated to the music of Easter and Passover, the two most important seasons on the Christian and Jewish calendars. Easter music will feature the Voices of Ascension and the Choir of Westminster Cathedral. Passover music will highlight two of the most famous composers during the period, performed by the Bach Sinfonia and the Ensemble Alla Francesca.
Get out your tabret and join George Douglas for Renaissance Fare at 7:00 p.m.
This evening, Monday Night at the Symphony features the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1927. The program includes music by Jean Sibelius, Ludwig van Beethoven, and more, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, and Hannu Lintu.
Tell your smart device to “Play The Classical Station” at 8 p.m. Eastern.
On April 10 we observe the birthday of Soviet-born Israeli-American pianist Yefim Bronfman (1958-). Winner of a Grammy Award in 1997 for his recording of the Bartók piano concertos, Bronfman has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras.
Photo: Dario Acosta