Classic Ross Amico

Category: Daily Dispatch

Joan of Arc Music & Richard Einhorn on WPRB

This morning on WPRB, we bear the standard for Joan of Arc, with a suite from Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Maid of Orleans,” Paul Paray’s “Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the Death of Joan of Arc,” Norman Dello Joio’s “The Triumph of Saint Joan,” and more. We’ll also hear music inspired by the Hundred Years’ War, music evocative of the Middle Ages in general, and some authentic music of the period by composers like John Dunstable, Gilles Binchois, and Guillaume Dufay.

At 9:00, I’ll be joined by composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tonight, accompanying a screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 classic film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. The multimedia concert, which will feature soloists of Notre Dame Vocale, the Princeton Festival Chorus, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, will begin at 8:30 p.m. Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Princeton Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. This event is certain to be one of the high points of this year’s The Princeton Festival. To learn more about it, visit princetonfestival.org.

During his morning visit to the WPRB studios, Einhorn will talk to us about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on The Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the piece and sample from some of the composer’s other works.

Join us as we celebrate this Arc of triumph, from 6 to 11 EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. Satisfy your jones for Joan, on Classic Ross Amico.

June 9, 2016
Joan of Arc Music on WPRB with Richard Einhorn

Right now on WPRB we’re listening to the gorgeous “Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the Death of Joan of Arc,” by Paul Paray.

Shortly after 9:00 this morning, we’ll be joined by composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tonight as part of a multimedia presentation, which will include a screening of the Carl Theodor Dreyer classic “The Passion of Joan of Arc” at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. Soloists of Notre Dame Vocale and the Princeton Festival Chorus will join the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Princeton Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. It’s all part of this year’s Princeton Festival. The Princeton Festival continues through June 26, with opera, jazz, musical theater, dance, choral, chamber and instrumental music. To learn more about it, visit princetonfestival.org.

During this morning’s visit to the WPRB studios, Einhorn will talk with us about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on The Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the piece and sample from some of the composer’s other works.

Then at 11:00, our featured highlight will be Norman Dello Joio’s “The Triumph of Saint Joan.” It’s all music related to the Maid of Orleans this morning until 11 EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

June 9, 2016
Richard Einhorn Voices of Light on WPRB

Tomorrow morning on WPRB, I’ll have a very special guest in composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tomorrow night, to accompany a screening of the 1928 classic film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” that inspired it.

Performers will include soloists of Notre Dame Vocale, the Princeton Festival Chorus, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. This extraordinary event, the result of a partnership between the Princeton Symphony, the Princeton Garden Theatre, and The Princeton Festival, will take place at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. For more information, visit princetonfestival.org.

We’ll do everything we can to set the mood for this special presentation of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s magnum opus – which sports a riveting performance by actress Renée Jeanne Falconetti – with a special on-air visit from the composer at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Einhorn will talk about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on the Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the oratorio, as well as sample some of the composer’s other music.

For the remainder of the morning, we’ll honor Joan of Arc with music written to her memory, music inspired by the Hundred Years’ War, music evocative of the Middle Ages in general, and some authentic music of the period.

We get medieval, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. The stake is always well done, on Classic Ross Amico.

PHOTOS: (clockwise from left): “Joan of Arc” by John Everett Millais; “Jeanne d’Arc,” gilded statue located in Philadelphia, by Emmanuel Frémiet; and Renée Jeanne Falconetti in “The Passion of Joan of Arc”

June 8, 2016
George Szell Birthday A Perfectionist’s Legacy

Today is the birthday of George Szell (1897-1970). A notorious autocrat from an era when autocrats were tolerated, expected and even revered on the podium, Szell was a formidable perfectionist, even to the extent of lecturing the Severance Hall custodians on the acceptable way to mop a floor and what kind of toilet paper they should be supplying in the restrooms. Okay, he may have been a little tightly wound, but you can’t quibble with the results. Thank your lucky stars you didn’t have to work for him, but boy, could he conduct!

Szell’s benchmark modern orchestra Haydn:

While on tour with the Cleveland Orchestra in Tokyo, and with only two months to live (he was terminally ill with cancer), Szell conducted what very well may be the most thrilling performance of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 I have ever heard, certainly on a par with the classic Barbirolli account with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra:

Szell as a Mozart pianist:

One of Szell’s own, early compositions, “Variations on an Original Theme”:

Szell speaks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INKhc-WM_eM

June 7, 2016
Surviving Rusalka Week with Slavic Opera

What precautions have you taken against Rusalka Week? None, you say? (Crosses self.)

In Slavic mythology, a rusalka is a spirit that dwells at the bottom of a river or lake. She lures unsuspecting men with her song, invariably resulting in a watery doom. Rusalki are never more dangerous than in early June, when the spirits roam free.

There have been innumerable pieces of music written about water spirits – sirens, naiads, lorelei, undines, mermaids and melusinas. One of the best known of the bunch is Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” inspired by Czech fairy tales of Karel Jaromir Erben and Božena Němcová. Here is its most famous aria, the “Song to the Moon,” sung by Lucia Popp:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoPTh_q7GYs

Alexander Dargomizhsky, one of the pioneers of Russian nationalism in music, also composed an opera called “Rusalka.” His was based on a dramatic poem by Pushkin. Chaliapin recorded selections, but the complete opera is as rare as hen’s teeth.

Rusalka Week is the backdrop for Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera, “May Night,” drawn from Gogol’s collection, “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka.” The Nikolai Golovanov recording from 1948 is still the one to beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6PjqmjQ6qk

Of course, it being YouTube, you will have to search for plot synopses and libretti yourself. You should have plenty of time to do so. You shouldn’t be out wandering at night during Rusalka Week anyway.

June 6, 2016

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