Roughly two hours to go in our month-of-Thursdays salute to William Shakespeare.
Yet to come: Frank Bridge’s “There is a willow grows aslant a brook,” his atmospheric reflection on the death of Ophelia; Gerald Finzi’s “Let us Garlands bring,” song settings of some of the Bard’s memorable texts; a suite from Florent Schmitt’s “Antony and Cleopatra,” in a recent recording by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta; and a special treat from the pen of Erich Wolfgang Korngold – his imaginative arrangements of music by Felix Mendelssohn made for a 1935 film version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which starred James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, and a 15 year-old Mickey Rooney as Puck.
How now, spirit! Whither wander thee? It’s all Shakespeare this morning until 11:00 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend…

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