Classic Ross Amico

Tag: WPRB

Bernstein’s 99th Birthday Celebration on WPRB

August 25th (Friday) marks the 99th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. Join me this Thursday morning on WPRB as we hop aboard the Bernstein Centenary Bandwagon, kicking off an inevitable two-year celebration of his genius as composer, pianist and, of course, conductor.

Along the way, we’ll salute The American Boychoir, the Princeton-based organization that stunned everyone on August 15th by shutting down its school, effective immediately, after 79 years. The choir will perform Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.” We’ll also hear Bernstein’s last major work, “Arias and Barcarolles,” in its original (and better) version for mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano four hands. The late Barbara Cook will sing selections from “Candide.” In addition, there will be a full roster of great orchestral recordings from all across the repertoire.

I hope you’ll join me in raising a stein to Leonard Bernstein – surveying 40 years worth of his recordings – this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. We’ll get all liquored up for Lenny, on Classic Ross Amico.

PHOTO: “I never drink… beer.”

August 23, 2017
Sleepy Lagoon British Light Music WPRB

Join me by the sleepy lagoon. It’s British Light Music until 11 a.m. EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com.

August 17, 2017
British Light Music A Sweet Morning on WPRB

Drowse by a sleepy lagoon with Eric Coates. Luxuriate to bells across the meadows with Albert Ketèlbey. Cherish the roses of Picardy with Haydn Wood.

We’ll attempt to lighten your load this morning on WPRB with a program of unpretentious, unapologetically melodic music, drawn from the genre known as British Light Music. Living relics of a bygone era, British Light Music enjoyed its heyday in the age of palm court orchestras and during the formative years of radio. Its antecedents reach back to sentimental music of the 19th century and works like those of Sir Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and its influence continues to make itself felt in the lighter music of John Rutter and Philip Lane.

To allow me to catch my breath and actually enter the playlist online (at wprb.com), we’ll also hear a symphony by Robert Farnon, a piano concerto by Haydn Wood, and a cello concerto by Sir Arthur Sullivan, lost in a fire in 1964, but resurrected through a remarkable feat of memory by conductor Sir Charles Mackerras.

This kind of music may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for me. It will make for a very sugary breakfast, that’s for certain, this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Trip the light fantastic, on Classic Ross Amico.

August 17, 2017
British Light Music for Summer’s End

I don’t know about you, but I could use a little light in my life.

Join me this Thursday morning on WPRB, as I present a program of British Light Music, a genre I think perfectly suited to mid-August, when it is still summer, but the light begins to take on a more lambent quality.

The music will be very civilised [sic], conjuring a world of palm courts and spa orchestras, comfortable evenings spent around the radio and carefree days by the sea.

We’ll hear music by Light Music masters Ronald Binge, Eric Coates, Frederic Curzon, Albert Ketèlbey, Billy Mayerl, Ernest Tomlinson, Edward White and Charles Williams, among others. We’ll also take periodic breaks from the sweetmeats to enjoy concert works by Light Music composers Robert Farnon and Haydn Wood and perhaps even a selection or two from English light opera.

Tea and cucumber sandwiches will be served, this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Get ready for plenty of sweetness and light, on Classic Ross Amico.

August 16, 2017
Honoring Hannah A Musical Goodbye on WPRB

It is hard to say goodbye.

I will lay my sweet Hannah to rest musically this morning on WPRB, by honoring her memory with works related in one way or another to our beloved pets and companions. Among the featured works will be John Alden Carpenter’s ballet “Krazy Kat,” George Crumb’s “Mundus Canis,” Peter Schickele’s “Thurber’s Dogs,” Robert Russell Bennett’s “Suite for Skip and Sadie,” Alan Rawsthorne’s “Practical Cats” (after T.S. Eliot), Alan Hovhaness’ “Fred the Cat,” and Kenneth Leighton’s “Household Pets.” There will also be pieces inspired by Noah and St. Francis of Assisi.

In addition, we’ll hear many, many shorter works by composers such as Leroy Anderson, George Antheil, Samuel Barber, Frederic Chopin, Zez Confrey, Aaron Copland, Ernst von Dohnanyi, Daniel Dorff, Sir Edward Elgar, George Gershwin, Carlos Guastavino, Howard Hanson, William Lloyd Webber, Arthur Pryor, Maurice Ravel, Elie Siegmeister, Igor Stravinsky, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, and Laurel Zucker.

It will be more engaging than a length of yarn or even a wayward cricket, this Thursday morning from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wrpb.com. I’m really missing my baby, on Classic Ross Amico.

August 10, 2017

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