This Week At The Classical Station
by Rob Kennedy
Sunday, July 3, 2022
This evening Preview! opens with a performance of Schubert’s Impromptu in F minor by pianist Grigory Sokolov from his recent release Live at Esterházy Palace. Rob Kennedy speaks with William Terwilliger and Andrew Cooperstock about their recording of the music of Stephen Sondheim.
Preview! brings you the best in new classical recordings and arts news, Sundays at 6 p.m. Eastern.
This morning Great Sacred Music includes music sung by Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, the Kansas City Chorale, and the Saint Thomas Choir, New York. Also on the playlist is music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sir Edward Elgar, and Dan Locklair.
Great Sacred Music. Beautiful choral and organ music. Every Sunday morning. 8 a.m. Eastern. Right after Sing For Joy. With Rob Kennedy.
On July 3 we observe the birthdays of Czech composer Leoš Janáček (1854-1928), Czech flute player and conductor Milan Munclinger (1923-1986), and German-born Austrian conductor Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004).
Janáček was one of several 20th-century composers who worked folk tunes into their compositions. Munclinger collaborated with French flute player Jean-Pierre Rampal on several highly-regarded recordings. Herr Kleiber was considered one of the 20th century’s finest conductors.
Photos: Leoš Janáček, Michal Maňas, CC-BY-3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Milan Munclinger, Unknown Author, František Sláma Archive, Fair Use; Karlos Kleiber, Unknown Author, WFMT, Fair Use
Saturday, July 2, 2022
If you work for or are retired from a company with a matching gift program, your contribution to The Classical Station can make twice the impact on the Great Classical Music you rely on and the programs you love! Your employer will match your gift dollar for dollar — some companies even double or triple the amount of your gift — at no cost to you! Both Sustaining and single contributions can be matched.
See if your employer is listed in the Double The Donation database.
Photo: Blue Diamond Gallery, Fair Use
On July 2 we observe the birthdays of German composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787), American conductor Frederick Fennell (1914-2004), and American pianist Gilbert Kalish (1935-).
Herr von Gluck learned his craft from the Italian composer Giovanni Battista Sammartini whilst in Milan. Dr. Fennell founded the renowned Eastman Wind Ensemble in 1952. Professor Kalish is widely acclaimed for his recordings of contemporary music.
Photo: Christoph Willibald von Gluck, Joseph Duplessis, Fair Use, Wikimedia Commons; Frederick Fennell, Unknown Author, Fair Use, Band Post; Gilbert Kalish, Unknown Author, Stony Brook University, Fair Use
July 1, 2022
Enjoy An American Holiday Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. We proudly present a showcase of American composers and performers, as well as lots of rousing and patriotic favorites. Then on Monday, Independence Day, we’ll celebrate the 246th birthday of our country.
The staff and volunteers of The Classical Station wish you a safe and happy July 4th!
Happy Canada Day to all our listeners north of the border! You are probably familiar with some of Canada’s musicians such as pianists Glenn Gould, Angela Hewitt, and Jan Lisiecki, violinist Angèle Dubeau, cellist Ofra Harnoy, and conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Alexander Shelley. But what about composers? Six Canadian Composers You Should Know is worth a read. If you’re listening to us north of the border, how about leaving a comment for us? Have a safe and happy Canada Day!
Thursday, June 30, 2022
This evening the Thursday Night Opera House presents The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore and John Latouche. This truly American opera is based on a true story and set in Leadville, Colorado. The young Elizabeth (Baby) Doe has left her husband and moved to Leadville. She meets and falls in love with Horace Tabor, a politician, and investor in silver. However, Horace Tabor is married to Augusta Tabor. It is quite the scandal for the day.
Tell your smart speaker to “Play The Classical Station” at 7 p.m. Eastern.
On June 30 we observe the birthdays of English composer Edward John Hopkins (1818-1901), Czech composer Jiří Antonín Benda (1772-1795), and Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen (1958-).
Edward John Hopkins was Organist of London’s historic Temple Church from 1843-1898. Benda was a classical-era composer who wrote several operas in addition to many other forms of music. Maestro Salonen was Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1992-2009. “He currently is Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Composer-In-Residence at the New York Philharmonic, Artistic Director and co-founder of the Baltic Sea Festival, and Artist in Association at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.” Source: Wikipedia.org
Photos: Maestro Salonen, Katja Tahja; Edward John Hopkins, Unknown Author, Hymntime.com, Fair Use; Jiří Antonín Benda, Johann Friedrich Schröter, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
What would you like us to play for you? We have two Request Programs: All Request Friday and the Saturday Evening Request Program. Choose short or long pieces from any period you like. As long as we have space for it, we’ll play it. If we don’t have the piece in our library, we will offer to substitute a similar work by the same composer.
Because our request programs are very popular and fill up quickly, we encourage you to submit your requests by Wednesday for All Request Friday, and by Thursday for the Saturday Evening Request Program. You can make your requests here or on our app.
On June 29 we observe the birthdays of American composers Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) and Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975), and German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter (1963-).
Leroy Anderson’s prowess as a composer of light orchestral music caught Arthur Fiedler’s eye. That in turn established Anderson’s reputation. Herrmann was a prolific composer who wrote over 50 film scores. The late Herbert Von Karajan gave Ms. Mutter an opportunity to play with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 13.
Photos: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lillian Birnbaum; Leroy Anderson, Unknown Author, Fair Use; Bernard Herrmann, Engestead, Fair Use
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Our mission here at The Classical Station is to expand the community of classical music lovers by sharing accessible classical music with everyone, everywhere, at any time. We entertain, educate, and engage our audience with informative announcers, programs, and publications. We strive to make it easy to appreciate and enjoy Great Classical Music. And we have been doing all this since July 1978.
Angela Hewitt
Photo by Simon Fowler
In addition to listening to our classical music on your radio, computer, or smart device, you can also listen to musicians talking about their lives in music, their art, their education, and much more. I remember seeing a five-year-old Angela Hewitt standing next to her father in Ottawa’s Christ Church Cathedral. Godfrey Hewitt was a distinguished organist and was giving a recital for our Royal Canadian College of Organists chapter. Sixty years later I had the opportunity to speak with Angela about her music.
You can listen to our conversation and many others on our Conversations pages.
On June 28 we observe the birthdays of Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache (1909-1996), Russian composer Nikolai Karetnikov (1912-1994), and American baritone Thomas Hampson (1955-). Maestro Celibidache was famous for not releasing recordings of his concerts. Nikolai Karetnikov was a member of an alternative composers group known as The Underground. Thomas Hampson has over 170 recordings to his credit.
Photos: Sergiu Celibidache, Portret, Fair use; Nikolai Karetnikov, Unknown Author, Fair Use; Others/Wikipedia.org; Thomas Hampson by Dario Acosta
Monday, June 27, 2022
This evening Monday Night At The Symphony features the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. On the program is music by Aaron Copland, Joseph Jongen, Jean Sibelius, and Johannes Brahms in performances conducted by Herbert Blomstedt, Edo de Waart, and Michael Tilson Thomas.
The Classical Station brings you a concert by a great orchestra on Monday Night At The Symphony, every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
On June 27 we observe the birthdays of American composer Mildred Hill (1859-1916), Italian conductor Gianandrea Gavezzeni (1909-1996), and American pianist Samuel Sanders (1937-1999). Ms. Hill composed the tune used for Happy Birthday to You! Maestro Gavezzeni was principal conductor of La Scala for almost fifty years. Mr. Sanders was the accompanist of choice for Itzhak Perlman, Mstislav Rostropovich, to name just a few of his distinguished recital partners.
Photos: Mildred Hill, Unknown Author, Fair Use; Gianandrea Gavezzeni, Unknown Author, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons; Samuel Sanders, Unknown Author, Fair Use
