This Week at The Classical Station
by Rob Kennedy
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Pianist Mao Fujita opens Preview! this week with a performance of Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat, K. 570 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Brazilian guitarist speaks about his new recording, Bacheando.
Preview! brings you new releases and local arts news every Sunday beginning at 6 p.m.
This morning Great Sacred Music includes performances by the San Francisco Girls Chorus; Bach Collegium Japan, and the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. You’ll hear works by Charles Gounod, Leos Janacek, Johann Sebastian Bach, and many more.
Great Sacred Music. 8 a.m. Right after Sing for Joy. With Mick Anderson.
On October 8 we observe the birthdays of German composer Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) and French composer Louis Vierne (1870-1937). Herr Schütz studied with Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice. He is widely considered to be the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach. Monsieur Vierne was the Titular Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris from 1900 until 1937. During a tour of the U.S., he played the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia and the smaller Wanamaker organ in New York City.
Photo: Heinrich Schütz, Christoph Spätner, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759, also known as the “Unfinished Symphony,” is a classical music masterpiece composed by Franz Schubert. Imagine taking a musical journey through the picturesque landscapes of 19th-century Europe. This symphony, though incomplete, offers a glimpse into the creative genius of Schubert.
The “Unfinished Symphony” is characterized by its hauntingly beautiful melodies and emotional depth. It’s like reading a gripping novel that leaves you wanting more. This symphony consists of two movements, which is unusual for a standard symphony that typically has four. The first movement is dark and brooding, like a mysterious forest, while the second movement is more like a peaceful, serene meadow.
Even though Schubert never finished this symphony, it has captivated audiences for generations. Its melodies are like timeless stories that resonate with the human soul, making it a beloved piece of classical music that anyone, regardless of their familiarity with the genre, can appreciate and enjoy.
You can hear this beautiful piece of classical music during the 3 p.m. hour of Weekend Classics with your host Joyce Kidd.
On October 7 we observe the birthdays of American conductor and cellist Alfred Wallenstein (1898-1983), Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit (1936-), English trumpeter Alison Balsom (1978-), Chinese pianist Li Yundi (1982-), and Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma (1955-).
Maestro Wallenstein was director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1943-1956. He also pioneered classical music radio broadcasts back in the 1930s. Maestro Dutoit was the conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1977-2002. He has conducted most of the world’s major orchestras over the course of his long professional career. Besides being a brilliant trumpet player, Alison Balsom enjoys a multi-faceted career as an arranger, producer, and music educator. Li Yundi or Yundi, as he is known, is the youngest pianist to win the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition which he accomplished in 2000 at the age of 18. Yo-Yo Ma is a graduate of the Juilliard School and Harvard University. He has made over ninety recordings and won eighteen Grammy Awards.
Photo: Yundi Li by Mumu1982 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Friday, October 6, 2023
After careful deliberation, due consideration, and hearing from our supporters, listeners and the public, The Classical Station has decided to broadcast the entire 2023-2024 season of the New York Metropolitan Opera.
These performances will be broadcast over 89.7 FM in North Carolina and streamed via theclassicalstation.org and our smartphone apps on Saturday afternoons starting December 9.
The staff and volunteers of The Classical Station are dedicated to our mission to make the world a better place by providing a restful refuge from the worries of the world, and by building a community for all, brought together by the shared love of Great Classical Music.
On October 6 we observe the birthdays of English composer Stanley Myers (1930-1993), Swedish soprano Jenny Lind (1820-1887), Polish composer Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937), and Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda (1927-2019).
Stanley Myers composed over sixty film scores. His best-known composition is the work for guitar entitled Cavatina. Ms. Lind’s American manager was none other than P.T. Barnum. She seems to have done rather well financially during her career, according to the available accounts. Karol Szymanowski wrote over seventy compositions in a variety of forms and styles. He is widely considered to be the greatest Polish composer of the early twentieth century. Paul Badura-Skoda made over two hundred recordings. He was highly regarded for his performances on historical instruments.
Photo: Jenny Lind, Eduard Magnus, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Thursday, October 5, 2023
“Faust” is a grand opera composed by Charles Gounod, and it’s a captivating tale of love, temptation, and redemption. Set in the picturesque backdrop of a small village in France, the story revolves around the aging scholar, Faust, who feels disillusioned with life and makes a fateful pact with the devil, Mephistopheles.
In exchange for Faust’s soul, Mephistopheles offers him youth, power, and the chance to experience true love. Faust eagerly agrees and is transformed into a young man, embarking on a journey of indulgence and worldly pleasures. Along the way, he encounters Marguerite, a beautiful and innocent young woman, and falls deeply in love with her.
However, Faust’s newfound happiness is short-lived as his actions lead to tragedy and heartbreak for Marguerite. The opera explores themes of morality, the consequences of one’s choices, and the power of love to transcend even the darkest of circumstances.
With its breathtaking music, stunning visuals, and powerful performances, “Faust” is a mesmerizing introduction to the world of grand opera, offering audiences an unforgettable experience of the human condition, filled with passion, temptation, and ultimately, the hope for redemption.
Tell your smart device to “Play The Classical Station” this evening at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Classical music is a tapestry of instruments, of experience, of emotion, of story. Every piece of music you hear on The Classical Station is also part of the larger tapestry of musical history, a history that goes back through centuries of composition and more than a century of recordings. Every day The Classical Station weaves a tapestry drawn from the many thousands of recordings in our vast music library. But today the story is all about you – our listener. So seize the day by showing your support today for The Classical Station. Give online or call us anytime at 800-556-5178.
Thank you for your support!
On October 4 we observe the birthday of German composer August Wilhelm Bach (1796-1869). While not a member of the famous Bach family, Herr Bach made his living as a composer, teacher, and organist. He wrote sacred choral and organ music as well as teaching at the Royal Institute of Church Music in Berlin.
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Have you seen our Thank You Gifts? We’ve assembled a collection of Thank You gifts for every giving level. Want to give $5 per month? Then let us say “Thank you!” with a writing pen, key chain, or a car magnet (pictured). We have a very smart colonial blue t-shirt, an ice scraper, aprons, and much more. And, of course, Katie Aufenthie, our Music Director, has selected some very fine recordings for you to consider as well.
Our Fall Membership Drive begins on Friday, October 20. Thank you so much for supporting the classical music you enjoy here on The Classical Station! We couldn’t do this without you.
Photo: WCPE Photo Services
On October 3 we observe the birthdays of English pianist and composer Cipriani Potter (1792-1871) and Polish-American conductor Stanisław Skrowaczewski (1923-2013).
A brilliant pianist, Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter premiered several Mozart and Beethoven concerti in London. He also gave the first performance there of Brahms’ A German Requiem. Maestro Skrowaczewski was the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1960-1979. He guest-conducted many of the world’s orchestras during his long career.
Photo: Cipriani Potter, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Monday, October 2, 2023
This week, Monday Night at the Symphony features The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra which was founded in 1949. The program includes music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Alexander Borodin, Josef Suk, Alexander Glazunov, and Johannes Brahms conducted by Sir Colin Davis, Mariss Jansons, and Essa-Pekka Salonen.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. Eastern. Tell your smart device to “Play The Classical Station.”
On October 2 we observe the birthdays of English composers Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988) and Dr. Francis Jackson (1917-2022), and French conductor Michel Plasson (1933-).
A Professor of Music at the University of Edinburgh, Kenneth Leighton composed over 100 works during his lifetime. Francis Jackso was Organist of York Minster from 1946-1982. Highly respected for his interpretations of music by Gounod and Massenet, Monsieur Plasson is widely considered one of the great conductors of his generation. Joyeux quatre-vingt-neufième anniversaire, Maître!
Photo: “Dr. Francis Jackson, CBE” by Jrn0074 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0