Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Imants Kalniņš

Classical Music Rocks! Sedaka to Zeppelin

Sanka… or Sedaka?

At any rate, I’m not sure it’s coffee in that mug.

Sure, waking up is hard to do. But we’ll get your feet tapping and your head moshing with classical music by, or influenced by, popular music superstars. Among our featured works will be Neil Sedaka’s piano concerto, “Manhattan Intermezzo.”

We’ll also hear “From Yesterday to Penny Lane,” after the Beatles, by Leo Brouwer, “Dead Elvis” by Michael Daugherty, and “Bonham,” named for the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, by Christopher Rouse. Worlds collide in the politically subversive Symphony No. 4 – the “Rock” Symphony – by classically-trained Latvian composer Imants Kalniņš. Depending on our timings, we may even hear an electric guitar concerto by Princeton University’s Steven Mackey.

I’ll be attempting my first stage dive, between 7 and 10 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Even the guitars are electric, on Classic Ross Amico.

May 6, 2018
Rock Stars Go Classical on WPRB

They say that waking up is hard to do. Unless you’re Neil Sedaka, of course.

Sedaka may seem like an unlikely choice for a classical music program, but if you join me this Sunday morning on WPRB, you’ll get to hear his piano concerto, titled “Manhattan Intermezzo.” It will be part of a morning devoted to classical music by, or influenced by, popular music superstars.

Among our featured works will be a suite for guitar and orchestra, inspired by the Beatles, by Leo Brouwer, “Dead Elvis” by Michael Daugherty, and a salute to drummer John Bonham, by Christopher Rouse.

When his rock band ran afoul of the Soviet authorities, classically-trained Latvian composer Imants Kalniņš turned to writing symphonies. His Symphony No. 4 was his eloquent response, as much indebted to illegal rock groups of the West as it was to Latvian folklore.

Hear Kalniņš stick it to the man, this Sunday morning between 7 to 10 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. We’ll be caught between “rock” and a hard place, on Classic Ross Amico.

May 5, 2018
Kalniņš Symphony Rocks WWFM Today!

When his rock band ran afoul of the Soviet authorities, classically-trained Latvian composer Imants Kalniņš turned to writing symphonies. His Symphony No. 4 was his eloquent response, as much indebted to illegal rock groups of the West as it was to Latvian folklore. Hear Kalniņš stick it to the man this afternoon, on his 76th birthday. We’ll also have a Piano Concerto by Keith Emerson, of the progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, among our featured works, from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT.

Then, immediately following, stick around for music of Jerry Goldsmith on “Picture Perfect,” on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

May 26, 2017

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