Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Conductor

Claudio Scimone Dies Founder of I Solisti Veneti

Conductor Claudio Scimone has died.

Scimone, a disciple of Dmitri Mitropoulos and Franco Ferrara, was the founder of I Solisti Veneti. He gave first modern performances of a number of operas by Vivaldi and Rossini, as well as Salieri’s “The Last Judgment.” He also made the first recordings of the symphonies of Muzio Clementi. In all, Scimone made over 150 records.

He was awarded the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Republic’s highest honor. He also held an honorary law degree from the University of Padua. At the time of his death, he was honorary conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra of Lisbon.

Scimone was 83 years-old.

Clementi’s Symphony No. 1

Vivaldi’s “Orlando Furioso,” with Marilyn Horne and Victoria de los Angeles:

September 6, 2018
Celebrating Leonard Bernstein at 100

Get ready to cozy up to Bernstein.

On this, the eve of the centennial of the birth of American music’s greatest polymath, The Classical Network will pull out all the stops, as WWFM hosts share representative performances from the conductor-composer-pianist-teacher’s extensive recorded legacy, alongside a number of his original compositions.

Here are just a few of today’s featured highlights:

Alice Weiss (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) – Carl Goldmark’s “Rustic Wedding” Symphony

Carl Hemmingsen (12:00 – 3:00 p.m.) – Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5

Carl Hemmingsen & Ross Amico (3:00 – 3:45 p.m.) – Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 2

Rachel Katz (3:45 – 4:00 p.m.) – A selection of Bernstein’s settings of Jewish texts and prayers, including “Yigdal”

Ross Amico (4:00 – 7:00 p.m.) – Works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Roy Harris, Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler, Franz Joseph Haydn, and Bernstein himself. “Picture Perfect” (6 p.m.) will include selections from the rediscovered audio for Bernstein’s only orginal film score, “On the Waterfront.”

Bill McGlaughlin (7:00 p.m.) – “Exploring Music” concludes its week-long salute to Bernstein with selections from “Mass.”

Rob Kapilow (8:00 p.m.) – “What Makes It Great” will focus on the genius of Bernstein the songwriter.

Our centennial salute will continue on Saturday, with Bill Jerome (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) and David Osenberg (1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Among David’s featured highlights will be recorded excerpts from Bernstein’s legendary Harvard lectures.

You’ll likely encounter even more Bernstein throughout the weekend, including the second half of a two-part tribute to the composer’s theater music on “The Dress Circle” with Ted Otten and Michael Kownacky (Sunday at 7 p.m.). If you missed Part One, you can enjoy it as a webcast, along with Jed Distler’s survey of Bernstein’s recordings as pianist, which aired this past Tuesday on “Between the Keys.” Both programs may be heard by following the link:

http://www.wwfm.org/term/webcasts

Also, it’s not too late for you to leave your Leonard Bernstein impressions and anecdotes on our Facebook page, at WWFM – The Classical Network, or by emailing us at info@wwfm.org (put “Bernstein” in the subject line). We’d love to share your experiences on the air. Help lend a personal touch to our celebration of Leonard Bernstein at 100.

You’ll find more details about our special programming by visiting our website at wwfm.org. While you’re there, consider supporting us. Without you, few of these treasures would be heard outside of our individual listening rooms. Thank you, as always, for doing your part to sustain classical music on the air, 24/7!

Happy Birthday, Leonard Bernstein!

August 24, 2018
Bernstein at 100: Celebrating a Musical Superstar

The classical music world has got a fever, and the only prescription is more Bernstein.

With the centennial of the composer-conductor-pianist-teacher’s birth coming up on Saturday, Lenny Mania is about to achieve critical overload. Bernstein has been everywhere for the past year, and the remembrances and celebrations look as if they will continue through at least the end of next season, with concert schedules ripe with representative works.

All the fuss is justifiable, of course. After all, there was no more influential figure in American music, and I would be hard pressed to think of any other conductor who achieved his level of glamour and universal recognition. Lenny was that rare bird in classical music – he was a superstar.

In common with musical organizations all over the world, The Classical Network can’t very well let this milestone pass without a good party. In particular, all this week, many of our syndicated programs and locally produced shows have been trumpeting this outrageously talented figure.

The birthday blow-out will climax with two days of Bernstein’s recordings and compositions, and perhaps even a sample or two of his spoken observations on music. After all, Bernstein was unusually articulate on the subject. I hope you’ll join us in celebrating Lenny on The Classical Network, as the bulk of our programming this Friday and Saturday will be made up of playlists lovingly curated by WWFM on-air hosts.

How about you? Do you have a Bernstein story you’d like to share? The Classical Network is giving you two options through which to do so. You can either post your story on the station Facebook page at WWFM – The Classical Network or email it to info@wwfm.org, identifying it in the subject line simply with the name “Bernstein.”

We’ll select from these on Friday and Saturday and share them with our audience in between some of Lenny’s classic recordings. It can be a personal anecdote, or it can be a broader observation. How has Leonard Bernstein touched your life?

From a personal standpoint, I am curious to hear about your own favorite recordings. I’ll be sharing some of mine on the air tomorrow afternoon. What are some of yours? I’d be happy to chat with you about it in the comments section below. If you want any of your comments shared on the air, be sure to send them to WWFM. Otherwise, what happens on Classic Ross Amico stays on Classic Ross Amico.

Then tune in on Friday and Saturday as we light 100 candles for Leonard Bernstein, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Photo courtesy of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.

August 23, 2018
Kurt Masur Google Doodle Celebrates Conductor

Well, dog my cats! Kurt Masur gets his own Google doodle, as you will find when doing Google searches today, the 91st anniversary of the conductor’s birth.

https://www.cnet.com/news/google-doodle-celebrates-renowned-conductor-kurt-masur/

I’ll be playing some of Masur’s recordings this afternoon, from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Then stay tuned for “Music from Marlboro” at 6!

July 18, 2018
Remembering Gennady Rozhdestvensky on WWFM

When I woke this morning, I was wholly prepared to celebrate an interesting assortment of musical birthdays during my air shift this afternoon. Then I learned that conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky died over the weekend. The legendary conductor was 87 years-old. I’m still processing the information, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if a lot of the playlist will be devoted to his memory. Tune in from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, to WWFM – The Classical Network or wwfm.org.

PHOTO: Rozhdestvensky living the healthy lifestyle with Dmitri Shostakovich

June 18, 2018

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