Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Composers

Summer Travel with Composers

With Memorial Day past, the season of summer travel has unofficially begun. This morning on WPRB, composers venture abroad, traveling for study, work and leisure.

Antonin Dvořák is lured to America with a job offer to head the National Conservatory of Music in New York. Julius Röntgen develops a friendship with Edvard Grieg that leads to spending summers with his wife in Norway. Darius Milhaud serves as secretary to the French ambassador to Brazil. Ignaz Moscheles anticipates a trip to Scotland. Derek Bermel studies Thracian folk music in Bulgaria. Benjamin Britten and Lennox Berkeley soak up Catalan folk music in Spain. Colin McPhee is captivated by gamelan music in Bali. And birthday boy Sir Edward Elgar vacations in Italy.

In addition, Reynaldo Hahn sends some musical postcards, Johann Strauss beckons us with the polka “On Vacation,” and Michael Torke gives us a portrait of “An American Abroad.”

At 9:00, we’ll pause to catch our breath with a visit from Thomas Lento of The Princeton Festival. He’ll drop by to let us know what’s on offer in terms of musical events for those of us who will remain home in the Princeton area for the month of June – including chamber and instrumental music, jazz and choral concerts, musical theater (“A Little Night Music”), dance, opera (“Peter Grimes”), and a screening of the classic Carl Theodor Dreyer film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” accompanied by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

I hope you’re up early and already packing. We follow the composers abroad this morning, from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. You’ll find us in rumpled linen and comfortable footwear, just in case, on Classic Ross Amico.

June 2, 2016
Musical Wanderlust Composers Abroad

It’s music by composers abroad this morning. Yet to come, Ignaz Moscheles anticipates a trip to Scotland. Derek Bermel studies Thracian folk music in Bulgaria. Benjamin Britten and Lennox Berkeley soak up Catalan folk music in Spain. Colin McPhee is captivated by gamelan music in Bali. Reynaldo Hahn writes us some musical postcards. Michael Torke gives us “An American Abroad.” And birthday boy Sir Edward Elgar vacations in Italy.

At 9:00, Thomas Lento of The Princeton Festival will stop by to let us know what’s on offer in terms of musical events for those of us who will remain in the Princeton area for the month of June – including chamber and instrumental music, jazz and choral concerts, musical theater (Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music”), dance, opera (Britten’s “Peter Grimes”), and a screening of the classic Carl Theodor Dreyer film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” accompanied by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

We’re seized by musical wanderlust this morning until 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com.

PHOTO: Antonin Dvořák’s passport

June 2, 2016
Tchaikovsky & Brahms: Best Frenemies Forever

They were totally B.F.F. — Best Frenemies Forever.

Prior to their unexpected meeting, Tchaikovsky had confided in his diary, “I have played over the music of that scoundrel Brahms. What a giftless bastard!” Brahms reciprocated by falling asleep during Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, in the presence of the composer.

Here’s a first-hand account of the introduction of the fastidious Tchaikovsky to the acerbic Brahms, with a special appearance by Edvard Grieg and his wife, Nina – making this almost as incident-packed as the new Captain America movie.

Tchaikovsky and Brahms: it is fun to learn what happens when two fine composers of different temperaments meet for the first time

Surprise! They actually delighted in one another’s company. In fact, they liked one another so well, they decided to do it again. However, the two never could reconcile themselves to one another’s music. When asked what he thought of the piano trio Brahms had been rehearsing, Tchaikovsky intimated, “Don’t be angry with me, my dear friend, but I did not like it.”

Happy birthday, boys.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

May 7, 2016
Beard Gone Classical Composers Reimagined

Fresh in from the TMI Desk:

This afternoon marked the ritual shaving of my sick beard. No photos posted upon request.

Except for these: Beardless Debussy (left) and beardless Brahms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_Zlv_s9jQU

February 6, 2016
Autumn Music on WPRB Despite Sunny Skies

With a weather forecast of mostly sunny skies for Princeton and highs in the mid-upper 70s, it would seem that Mother Nature would prefer Indian summer; but from deep within my windowless bunker beneath Bloomberg Hall this morning, I’ll be celebrating autumn.

Tune in to WPRB, and you’ll hear seasonal selections by any of the following (and probably a few others): Cécile Chaminade, Vernon Duke, Gerald Finzi, Morton Gould, Jennifer Higdon, Peter Erasmus Lange-Müller, Rued Langgaard, Billy Mayerl, Joachim Raff, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Ottorino Respighi, Tomáš Svoboda, Virgil Thomson, and Peter Warlock.

I’ll be wearing a sweater and sipping hot tea in defiance of the elements from 6 to 11 ET, at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com. Of course, it’s always autumn in my heart on Classic Ross Amico.

October 22, 2015

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