Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Voices of Light

Joan of Arc Music & Richard Einhorn on WPRB

This morning on WPRB, we bear the standard for Joan of Arc, with a suite from Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Maid of Orleans,” Paul Paray’s “Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the Death of Joan of Arc,” Norman Dello Joio’s “The Triumph of Saint Joan,” and more. We’ll also hear music inspired by the Hundred Years’ War, music evocative of the Middle Ages in general, and some authentic music of the period by composers like John Dunstable, Gilles Binchois, and Guillaume Dufay.

At 9:00, I’ll be joined by composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tonight, accompanying a screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 classic film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. The multimedia concert, which will feature soloists of Notre Dame Vocale, the Princeton Festival Chorus, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, will begin at 8:30 p.m. Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Princeton Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. This event is certain to be one of the high points of this year’s The Princeton Festival. To learn more about it, visit princetonfestival.org.

During his morning visit to the WPRB studios, Einhorn will talk to us about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on The Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the piece and sample from some of the composer’s other works.

Join us as we celebrate this Arc of triumph, from 6 to 11 EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. Satisfy your jones for Joan, on Classic Ross Amico.

June 9, 2016
Joan of Arc Music on WPRB with Richard Einhorn

Right now on WPRB we’re listening to the gorgeous “Mass for the 500th Anniversary of the Death of Joan of Arc,” by Paul Paray.

Shortly after 9:00 this morning, we’ll be joined by composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tonight as part of a multimedia presentation, which will include a screening of the Carl Theodor Dreyer classic “The Passion of Joan of Arc” at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. Soloists of Notre Dame Vocale and the Princeton Festival Chorus will join the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Princeton Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. It’s all part of this year’s Princeton Festival. The Princeton Festival continues through June 26, with opera, jazz, musical theater, dance, choral, chamber and instrumental music. To learn more about it, visit princetonfestival.org.

During this morning’s visit to the WPRB studios, Einhorn will talk with us about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on The Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the piece and sample from some of the composer’s other works.

Then at 11:00, our featured highlight will be Norman Dello Joio’s “The Triumph of Saint Joan.” It’s all music related to the Maid of Orleans this morning until 11 EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

June 9, 2016
Richard Einhorn Voices of Light on WPRB

Tomorrow morning on WPRB, I’ll have a very special guest in composer Richard Einhorn. Einhorn’s oratorio, “Voices of Light,” will be performed tomorrow night, to accompany a screening of the 1928 classic film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” that inspired it.

Performers will include soloists of Notre Dame Vocale, the Princeton Festival Chorus, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. This extraordinary event, the result of a partnership between the Princeton Symphony, the Princeton Garden Theatre, and The Princeton Festival, will take place at Princeton University Chapel at 8:30 p.m. Einhorn will give a free pre-performance talk at the Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. For more information, visit princetonfestival.org.

We’ll do everything we can to set the mood for this special presentation of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s magnum opus – which sports a riveting performance by actress Renée Jeanne Falconetti – with a special on-air visit from the composer at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Einhorn will talk about his work on “Voices,” which has been performed over 100 times, recorded for the Sony Classical label by Anonymous 4, and issued as a bonus soundtrack on the Criterion Collection’s DVD release of the film. We’ll hear selections from the oratorio, as well as sample some of the composer’s other music.

For the remainder of the morning, we’ll honor Joan of Arc with music written to her memory, music inspired by the Hundred Years’ War, music evocative of the Middle Ages in general, and some authentic music of the period.

We get medieval, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. The stake is always well done, on Classic Ross Amico.

PHOTOS: (clockwise from left): “Joan of Arc” by John Everett Millais; “Jeanne d’Arc,” gilded statue located in Philadelphia, by Emmanuel Frémiet; and Renée Jeanne Falconetti in “The Passion of Joan of Arc”

June 8, 2016
Joan of Arc Film Scores on WWFM

I suppose everyone is familiar with the basic story of Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who believed God chose her to lead the French against English forces during the Hundred Years’ War. She managed to convince the Dauphin, Charles de Valois (soon King Charles VII), to entrust her with an army, which she led to the besieged city of Orléans. There, without military training, she succeeded in achieving a momentous victory against Anglo-Burgundian forces. She was later captured, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake at the age of 19. Nearly 30 years later, the case was reopened and she was declared innocent. Revered for nearly 600 years, she was elevated to a national symbol by Napoleon in 1803 and finally canonized in 1920.

This week on “Picture Perfect,” we’ll be listening to music for films inspired by Joan’s historical exploits, with two scores written in response to Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 classic, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” “The Passion of Joan of Arc” will be screened as part of this year’s The Princeton Festival. Soloists of Notre Dame Vocale will join the Princeton Festival Chorus and Princeton Symphony Orchestra to perform, with the film, “Voices of Light” by Richard Einhorn. That event will take place at Princeton University Chapel on June 9 at 8:30 p.m. Einhorn himself will give a free pre-performance talk at the Princeton Garden Theatre at 5 p.m. More information is available at princetonfestival.org.

We’ll be sampling from Einhorn’s score, written in 1994, as well as one commissioned from Danish composer and conductor Ole Schmidt, also written to accompany the film, in 1983.

In 1999, Luc Besson directed the “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc,” with his then wife, Milla Jovovich, as the Maid of Orléans, and a starry supporting cast, including John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway and Dustin Hoffman (donning an Obi-Wan robe). The composer was Éric Serra. The score is primarily orchestral, but incorporates synthesized effects.

Finally, we’ll turn to Otto Preminger’s “Saint Joan,” based on the play by George Bernard Shaw. Graham Greene wrote the screenplay for the 1957 film. Newcomer Jean Seberg was Joan, somewhat out of her league alongside veteran actors John Gielgud, Anton Walbrook and Felix Aylmer. Also, would you believe Richard Widmark as Charles VII? Unfortunately, “Saint Joan” was immolated by the critics. Mischa Spoliansky composed the lovely score. Here’s the film’s main title sequence, designed by the legendary Saul Bass:

I hope you’ll join me for these scores written for films about Joan of Arc, on WWFM – The Classical Network, this Friday evening at 6 EDT, with a repeat Saturday morning at 6; or that you’ll listen to them later as a webcast at wwfm.org.

June 3, 2016

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