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Tag: Schwanda the Bagpiper

Schwanda the Bagpiper Weinberger’s One Hit Opera

Capitalizing on the widely-held belief that the proper domain of the bagpipe is Hell, Jaromir Weinberger crafted his most popular hit. In fact, “Schwanda the Bagpiper” (in Czech, “Švanda dudák”) was his only hit. In 1927, the opera became an international sensation. But beyond a couple of orchestral highlights (the Polka and Fugue), even that one hit isn’t all that well known.

Learn more about this rollicking farce, involving a love triangle, a card game with the devil, and the beguiling power of the bagpipes. Jaromir Weinberger may have been a one-hit wonder, but there’s still plenty of bounce in this Czech. I hope you’ll join me for “Czech in the Balance” on “The Lost Chord,” now in syndication on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!

Remember, KWAX is on the West Coast, so there’s a three-hour difference for the Trenton-Princeton area. Here are the respective air-times of my recorded shows (with East Coast conversions in parentheses):

PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday on KWAX at 5:00 PACIFIC TIME (8:00 PM EDT)

THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday on KWAX at 4:00 PACIFIC TIME (7:00 PM EDT)

Stream them here!

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

October 14, 2023
Weinberger’s One-Hit Wonder Schwanda

Despite having composed over 100 works, Jaromir Weinberger remains a one-hit wonder. In 1927, his opera, “Schwanda the Bagpiper” became an international sensation. But beyond a couple of orchestral highlights – the polka and fugue – even that “one hit” isn’t terribly well known.

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” learn more about this rollicking farce, involving a love triangle, a card game with the devil, and the beguiling power of the bagpipes.

There’s still plenty of bounce in this Czech. That’s “Czech in the Balance,” this Sunday night at 10:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

January 12, 2020
Classical Music Weekend on The Classical Network

Hungry for stimulating music and entertainment? As always, The Classical Network offers up a banquet of vittles for your weekend delectation.

Pianist Orli Shaham will be guest host for this week’s “From the Top.” “From the Top,” of course, is a weekly program dedicated to celebrating young, classically-trained musicians. Hard to believe this show has now been around for 20 years! “From the Top” will air today at 12 p.m. EST on wwfm.org. You can also hear it at https://www.fromthetop.org/show/nprs-from-the-top-portland-me-show-380/

Shaham has no shortage of experience working with young folk. She has brought her popular “Baby Got Bach” program to Princeton several times. Shaham will return in the spring with “Bach Yard,” an interactive program for kids, at Richardson Auditorium on March 14. For more information, visit babygotbach.org.

As one who has been picking his way through “The Pickwick Papers” (what’s Christmas without 800 pages of Charles Dickens?), I also want to thank Ted Otten and Michael Kownacky for putting together what promises to be another lively and entertaining show, on this week’s “The Dress Circle – Public Radio Dedicated to the Performing Arts.” “Going to the Dickens, Part the First” will present numbers from stage and musical adaptations of Dickens’ evergreen stories and novels. Thank you very much! “The Dress Circle” will air on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.

And in case you’re curious, I’ll be presenting highlights from Jaromir Weinberger’s “Schwanda the Bagpiper,” a Czech folk opera for the young at heart, on “The Lost Chord,” Sunday at 10 p.m. I know you’re wondering what else it possibly has to offer beyond the famous Polka & Fugue!

Please, suh… I want some more. Further listings available at wwfm.org. Sate yourself with a balanced diet of great musicmaking on WWFM – The Classical Network!

January 11, 2020
Lincoln Symphonies Rare Finds for Presidents Day

If you’re looking for something unusual to listen to on this Presidents Day weekend, here are a couple of links to extremely rare symphonies inspired by Lincoln, neither of which, to my knowledge, has ever received a commercial recording:

Daniel Gregory Mason’ Symphony No. 3 “Lincoln” (1936)

Jaromir Weinberger’s “Lincoln Symphony” (1941)

Yes, that’s the same Weinberger who composed “Schwanda the Bagpiper!”

#AbrahamLincoln

February 18, 2017

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