News

Spring Programming Highlights

All times are eastern.

See pages 6 and 7 of your spring issue of Quarter Notes to read more about what’s coming up in the spring quarter.

María Sigfúsdóttir
Photo by Kjartan Sveinsson

Women’s History Month
March

From Hildegard von Bingen (born 1098) to Florence Price (born 1887) to María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (born 1980) and her contemporaries, this March we will celebrate female composers of classical music as well as ground-breaking performers. We’ll have a special focus on today’s composers during WCPE’s Wavelengths, Sundays at 9:00 p.m.

Elmer Bernstein
Photo copyright: the Bernstein Family

Cinema Classics
March 14–15

Filmmakers know that audiences respond to what they hear as well as what they see. The rich tradition of music in film comprises both classical works included in beloved movies and music written specifically for films. You’re hear favorite selections from Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Lion in Winter, Schindler’s List, To Kill a Mockingbird, An American in Paris, and many more. With composers such as Max Steiner, Elmer Bernstein, Hans Zimmer, and John Williams, we’ve got the makings for a great weekend celebrating the music of the silver screen!

Spring Membership Drive
March 20–29

WCPE, The Classical Station, is a non-commercial, independent, listener-supported station dedicated to excellence in classical music broadcasting. Your financial support helps WCPE share Great Classical Music with listeners everywhere. Make your gift to WCPE, The Classical Station, by donating securely online or by mail to WCPE Radio, PO Box 828, Wake Forest, NC 27588. Or call 919-556-5178 to make your pledge.

Angel Romero
Photo by Greg Kastelman

In the Gardens of Spain
April 4–5

Spanish music invites us to enjoy the beauty of the Iberian landscape. Sunshine and bright colors, Moorish castles, passionate folk dances, and classical guitar make a unique and memorable experience. With music of Tárrega, Rodrigo, de Falla, Albéniz, Granados, and more—we’ll bring you a great weekend celebrating the music of Spain!

Passover
April 8

WCPE airs a special program of music at 6:00 p.m. to mark the beginning of Passover at sunset this day.

Easter
April 12

Celebrate with Rob Kennedy, host of Great Sacred Music, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Back to the Baroque
April 18–19

During the time of the musical Baroque, from 1600–1750, Western music reached levels of harmonic complexity and instrumental virtuosity never known before. We’ll explore this fascinating period through some of the best-known works by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi, plus enchanting lesser-known pieces by Telemann, Albinoni, Purcell, Buxtehude, the Scarlatti family, and more.

Igor Levit
Photo by Robbie Lawrence

Primarily Piano
May 9–10

This weekend we’ll feature the instrument so often described as an interlocutor, a lover, and a friend. We’ll hear some of today’s brightest and best players, including Igor Levitt, Víkingur Ólafsson, Lars Vogt, and Xiayin Wang, plus the established masters of the 20th century including Mitsuko Uchida, Maurizio Pollini, and Byron Janis.

 

Memorial Day Weekend
May 23–25

An extended weekend celebrating American composers and performers, with lots of patriotic music on Monday to honor the men and women who have given so much for our country.

All-Request Fridays and Saturday Evening Request Program

The Classical Station now gives you two weekly opportunities to ask for your classical music favorites. Every Friday is now All-Request Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., and the Saturday Evening Request Program continues every Saturday from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. Submit your advance requests at TheClassicalStation.org, or call WCPE at 919-556-0123.

Quarterly programming highlights appear in Quarter Notes, the member magazine of WCPE Radio, The Classical Station. To receive a subscription, become a member today!

See the all quarters’ highlights.

Now Playing

Guitar Quintet No. 7 in E minor

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Romero/Academy Chamber Ensemble

Label

Philips

Catalog Number

438

Today's Playlist

1:21pm Danse Macabre, Op. 40

Composed by

Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921)

Performed by

Sax/National Philharmonic/Stokowski

1:30pm Piano Concerto No. 3 in G minor

Composed by

Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870)

Performed by

Klansky/Dvorak Chamber Orchestra/Parak

2:00pm 1st Movement ~ Piano Trio in D, Op. 101 No. 5

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

2:13pm L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2

Composed by

Georges Bizet (1838–1875)

Performed by

French National Orchestra/Ozawa

2:33pm Main Theme (From "Cinema Paradiso")

Composed by

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Performed by

Butta/Munich Radio Orchestra/Morricone

2:37pm Fantasia for a Gentleman

Composed by

Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Performed by

P. Romero/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

3:00pm Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

3:07pm Piano Trio in A, Op. 101 No. 6

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

3:31pm Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite española, Op. 47

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz/trans. Andres Segovia

Performed by

Andres Segovia

3:40pm Women's Dignity Waltz, Op. 277

Composed by

Josef Strauss (1827-1870)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Nezet-Seguin

3:49pm Overture to Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23

Composed by

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Performed by

London Symphony/Previn

4:00pm Shepherd Fennel’s Dance

Composed by

Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877-1950)

Performed by

Indianapolis Symphony/Leppard

4:07pm Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld

Composed by

Jacques Offenbach/arr. Carl Binder

Performed by

La Pieta/Dubeau

4:17pm Canon & Gigue in D

Composed by

Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706)

Performed by

Academy of Ancient Music/Hogwood

4:23pm Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Chicago Symphony/Levine

4:30pm Alia Fantasia in A minor

Composed by

Nicola Matteis (c.1650-1713), arr. Alon Sariel

Performed by

Alon Sariel

4:36pm Horn Concerto No. 3 in D

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Baumann/Concerto Amsterdam/Schroder

4:55pm Bavarian Dance, Op. 27 No. 3

Composed by

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Performed by

English String Orchestra/Boughton

5:01pm Dances from Marouf, Cobbler of Cairo

Composed by

Henri Rabaud (1873-1949)

Performed by

Minnesota Orchestra/Oue

5:16pm Main Theme (From "H2S")

Composed by

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Performed by

Butta/Munich Radio Orchestra/Morricone

5:20pm Overture to Oberon

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

Dresden State Orchestra/Sinopoli

5:32pm Emperor Waltz

Composed by

Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Maazel

5:43pm Slavonic Dance in C, Op. 72 No. 7

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Boston Symphony/Ozawa

5:47pm Waltz No. 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2

Composed by

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Performed by

Radio France Philharmonic/P. Jarvi

5:52pm Bassoon Concerto in E flat, RV 483

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Thunemann/I Musici

6:00pm Piano Trio in D, Op. 101 No. 5

Composed by

Anton Reicha (1770–1836)

Performed by

Trio Bohemo

6:32pm Symphony No. 15 in G, K. 124

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

6:46pm Music selected by the announcer

7:03pm Overture to Der Freischutz

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

New York Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:17pm Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Cleveland Orchestra/Szell

7:26pm Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53 "Heroic"

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Maurizio Pollini

7:37pm Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Orchestra of the 18th Century/Bruggen

7:45pm Music for the Royal Fireworks

Composed by

George Frideric Handel, arr. by Hamilton Harty

Performed by

Pittsburgh Symphony/Previn

8:04pm Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Herseth/Ravinia Music Festival Orchestra/Levine

8:19pm Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite Espanola, Op. 47

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

Performed by

Thibaut Garcia

8:30pm Finale (Rondo) from Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Rubinstein/Boston Symphony/Leinsdorf

8:43pm Overture to The Barber of Seville

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Karajan

8:54pm Russian Dance from Act III, Swan Lake, Op. 20

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Performed by

Bell/Berlin Philharmonic/Tilson Thomas

9:02pm Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

E. Power Biggs

9:15pm Overture to Fidelio

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Masur

9:25pm Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin

Composed by

Richard Wagner

Performed by

Boston Pops/Fiedler

9:32pm Overture to William Tell

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

9:47pm Etude in E, Op. 10 No. 3 "Tristesse"

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Tamás Vásáry

9:54pm Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla

Composed by

Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)

Performed by

Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

10:02pm Pavane for a Dead Princess

Composed by

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

10:10pm String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Ysaye Quartet

10:38pm Quintet No. 6 in G minor

Composed by

Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

Performed by

Schrader/Chicago Baroque Ensemble

11:02pm Fantasia on Greensleeves

Composed by

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Performed by

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

11:07pm Etudes, Op. 10

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Yunchan Lim

11:36pm Adagio in G minor

Composed by

Tomaso Albinoni (arr. Remo Giazotto)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

11:43pm Music selected by the announcer