Classic Ross Amico

Category: Daily Dispatch

  • Chopin’s Birthday Mystery: February 22 or March 1?

    Chopin’s Birthday Mystery: February 22 or March 1?

    People lie about their birthdays all the time, usually to make themselves appear younger. In the case of Frédéric Chopin, he may have bought himself a week.

    It is widely believed – including by his mother and himself – that Chopin was born on March 1, 1810. However, his baptismal certificate, filled out on April 23, gives February 22 as the date. The Chopin Society UK, in defiance of the composer and his family, is inclined to go with the latter.

    Was there a conspiracy at work? Do we have ourselves a 19th century precursor of the “birther movement?”

    You can read more about the Chopin birthday controversy here:

    http://jackgibbons.blogspot.com/2010/03/chopins-birthday.html

    Or you can simply join me today to enjoy a sampling of his music, between 4 and 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

    PHOTO: Chopin, not looking a day older than 207

  • Shrove Tuesday: Carnival Music & Doughnuts

    Shrove Tuesday: Carnival Music & Doughnuts

    It’s Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras. Fastnacht Day. The last day to stuff down as many doughnuts as you can before the start of Lent.

    To mark the occasion, we’ll have music this afternoon about Carnival, with an emphasis, perhaps, on the Carnival of Venice, including musical depictions of stock characters of the commedia dell’arte, figures like Pulcinella, Scapino, Scaramouche, Columbina and Pierrot.

    We’ll also touch on New Orleans with some pieces inspired by Mardi Gras, with perhaps a few works thrown into the mix by Creole composers.

    All that will follow today’s “Noontime Concert.” I’ll mostly be pressing the buttons this afternoon and providing the connective material, as my colleague David Osenberg will be joined by composer Michael Ippolito, violist Nathan Schram of the Attacca Quartet, and composer and impresario Paola Prestini for another program which took place at National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

    The concert will begin at 12:00 EST; the Carnival music will commence immediately following. I’ll be dunking the doughnuts until 4 p.m., on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

    Pulcinella che mangia spaghetti

  • Sammy Davis Jr Oscar Envelope Mix-Up History

    Sammy Davis Jr Oscar Envelope Mix-Up History

    This has been circulating all over the internet today. It turns out Sunday night’s envelope mix-up was not the first in Academy Awards history. Watch as Sammy Davis Jr. is handed an envelope for a different category than the one announced. Nobody fielded the foul ball on Sunday as well as Davis does here. I am also inclined to share it because of the staggering talent of the nominees for Best Original Score. I don’t think the time will ever come again. Truly, this was an era when giants walked the earth.

    PHOTO: André Previn, Sammy Davis Jr., and Elmer Bernstein

  • La La Land Oscars Mixup A Night to Remember

    La La Land Oscars Mixup A Night to Remember

    I was up against deadline this morning, so I hope you’ll tolerate my belated congratulations to composer Justin Hurwitz for his two Academy Awards for his work on “La La Land.” Former Princeton native Damien Chazelle was also honored as Best Director. In the end, the film collected six awards in all and was actually named Best Picture, before the dawning realization that there had been a mix-up with some envelopes back-stage. It became apparent – as the producers of “La La Land” were in mid-reception speech – that the year’s top honor would go to “Moonlight.” “La La Land,” with a record-tying 14 nominations, did indeed make Academy Awards history, though not perhaps in a way that was expected!

  • Classical Music Anniversaries Today on WWFM

    Classical Music Anniversaries Today on WWFM

    Today is the 120th anniversary of the birth of contralto Marian Anderson. Violinist Gidon Kremer turns 70. We’ll have music inspired by Arthur’s legendary sword, Excalibur, by Louis Coerne, and Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna.” You can also look forward to “An English Suite,” courtesy of Hubert Parry, and a work by the Swedish composer Wilhelm Peterson-Berger. All in all, it’s a great afternoon for programming by birthday anniversaries today, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

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