If you’re of the opinion that 90 degree June days are for the birds, then you should be delighted to join me in celebrating the birthday today of Carl Zeller (1842-1898), the Austrian composer best known for his operetta “Der Vogelhändler,” or “The Bird Seller.” We’ll hear a sampling of his music, alongside that of fellow birthday celebrants Johann Stamitz (1717-1757), founding father of the Mannheim school (it’s actually his baptismal day), and Alfredo Catalani (1854-1893), composer of “La Wally,” which, to my knowledge, is still the only opera to end with an avalanche. If that doesn’t cool you down, I don’t know what will. We’ll have an avalanche of great music from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
Category: Daily Dispatch
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Musicians Cigars and Father’s Day
“By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love, ye shall know the texture of men’s souls.”
– James Galsworthy
PHOTOS: Great musicians enjoy a cigar on Father’s Day (even if some of them don’t have kids)
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Stravinsky Genius or PR Machine?
Was Igor Stravinsky the greatest composer of the 20th century? Sure, he was in the right place(s) at the right time, but he wouldn’t have gotten very far without his own unique blend of talent, curiosity and drive. His was an incredible journey that spanned from the Russian nationalism of his teacher, Rimsky-Korsakov, to post-Schoenberg serial experimentation. Also, he had one hell of a PR machine. Happy birthday, Igor Stravinsky.
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Adam West Batman Superhero Music on WWFM
To the Batmobile!
With the death of Adam West – star of television’s “Batman” – on June 9, and “Wonder Woman” burning up the box office, we’ll revisit the superhero genre, with music from both, alongside selections from John Williams’ classic score for “Superman.” In addition, West will introduce a medley of classic superhero themes for television with the Cincinnati Pops.
Look, up in the sky! It’s “Picture Perfect” – music for the movies – this Friday evening at 6:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
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Vinyl Week on WPRB: Rare Out-of-Print Records
Playing from vinyl is always a tricky proposition (I already had the needle stick on me once), but I think one well worth the risks. I hope you’ll join me this morning on WPRB, as I share selections from my own extensive record collection as part of WPRB’s Vinyl Week.
All of the recordings we’ll hear today are either out of print or available only as part of costly reissued collections of a composer’s complete works (Hans Werner Henze on the Deutsche Grammophon label). I’ve gone out of my way to select music that, for the most part, is not available even in alternative, digital recordings. What you hear this morning, you may never hear again. If you’ve heard it before, I trust it hasn’t been for a very long time.
For me, I get to relive my college radio days, cueing records, potting down and flipping LPs mid-piece, agonizing over timings when none are listed. But it’s worth it to be able to get in touch again with the humanizing effect of snap, crackle and pop. Playing vinyl is as much a tactile experience as it is an aural one. Furthermore, I will be discovering a lot of the music, much of it acquired from my days as an antiquarian book dealer, right along with you, since at the moment I don’t happen to have a functioning turntable at home.
We’re enjoying music in record time this morning, from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. I’ll be bringing it old school on Classic Ross Amico.
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