Classic Ross Amico

Tag: WPRB

Kalevala’s Music Sibelius & Finnish Epic

I realize Lemminkäinen and Väinämöinen are not easy names to get your mouth around at 6:00 in the morning. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the incantations if you agree to carry my broadsword.

This morning on WPRB, it’s a full playlist of music inspired by the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. The fantastic and heroic tales inspired Jean Sibelius to compose some of his greatest works.

But Sibelius was not alone in being influenced by this cultural juggernaut, which, like the mysterious and generative Sampo at the core of its rather wayward narrative, has had the effect of granting untold riches to its native land.

We’ll hear Kalevala-inspired works by Väinö Haapalainen, Robert Kajanus, Uuno Klami, Leevi Madetoja, Aarre Merikanto, Einojuhani Rautavaara, and of course Sibelius himself.

I hope you’ll join me, as we light 151 candles for Sibelius this morning, from 6 to 11 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. We’re nothing if not polysyllabic, on Classic Ross Amico.

December 8, 2016
Kalevala Epic on WPRB for Sibelius’ Birthday

Grab a sword and join us on our quest to retrieve the Sampo from the evil residents of North Farm. Tomorrow morning on WPRB, to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), we’ll have a full morning of music inspired by the Kalevala.

The Kalevala, a collection of fifty long narrative poems, is regarded as the Finnish national epic. Its fantastic and heroic tales informed the work of Finland’s greatest artists at a time when the country began to surge toward independence after 700 years of Swedish rule and an additional century as a duchy of the Russian Empire.

We’ll hear music from a variety sources, although of course Sibelius, who throughout his career returned again and again to the Kalevala for inspiration, will feature most prominently. Less well known, perhaps, beyond the borders of Finland, will be works like Robert Kajanus’ “Aino Symphony,” Uuno Klami’s “Kalevala Suite” and Einojuhani Rautavaara’s “The Myth of Sampo.”

We’ll have all of these and more tomorrow morning. It’s definitely going to be epic, from 6 to 11 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. What we lack in polish, we’ll make up in Finnish, on Classic Ross Amico.

December 7, 2016
Jean Cras’ “Polyphème” Opera on WPRB

I’ve got my eye on you!

Join me this morning for Jean Cras’ Cyclops opera, ““Polyphème.” It’s the featured work on Sunday Morning Opera with Sandy. I’ll be guest hosting from 7 to 10 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

Cras, a career navy man, composed much of his music at sea. Tune in early (around 6:35) to enjoy his orchestral suite “Journal de bord” (“Ship’s Log”).

“More wine for Polyphemus!”

December 4, 2016
Jean Cras’ Polyphème Opera Rediscovered

For some, the holidays can be a lonely, melancholy time. If that’s the case for you, I’m sorry, but at least you’re not Polyphemus the Cyclops.

The one-eyed giant Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, is loved by the beautiful Galatea. But when the fickle teenager falls for the handsome, well-sculpted Acis, he is plunged into isolation and jealous rage.

Join me tomorrow morning on WPRB, for another edition of Sunday Morning Opera with Sandy, as I fill in for Sandy Steiglitz to present the rarely-heard, though quite gorgeous “Polyphème” by Jean Cras.

Cras, a career navy man, literally completed the work while at sea. The libretto, replete with nymphs and satyrs and an appearance by the Great God Pan (in a non-singing role), is in the style of Maurice Maeterlinck. The composer adapted the text from a dramatic poem by Albert Samain.

In some tellings of the story (e.g., Handel’s “Acis and Galatea”), Polyphemus at least has the satisfaction of crushing his rival with a boulder. In Cras’ version (SPOILER ALERT!), Polyphemus blinds himself and wanders morosely into the sea.

The opera, completed in 1914, was given its premiere in Paris in 1922. Like Polyphemus himself, it then disappeared without a trace until this very fine recording from 2003, on the Timpani label, conducted by Bramwell Tovey.

The whole thing is a languorous exercise in hypnotic pantheism. Not surprisingly, given its source, the atmosphere is infused with the sea. If you find yourself lost in enchantment when listening to the music of Debussy or Ravel, you will absolutely love this opera.

Keep an “eye out” for Jean Cras’ “Polyphème,” on “Sunday Morning Opera,” tomorrow morning from 7 to 10 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

Of perhaps related interest: The dryly irreverent Bramwell Tovey will next conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra in a New Year’s Eve program at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (on Dec. 31, obviously), which will feature works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Johann Strauss II. He will return in April to conduct the world premiere of Pat Metheny’s “Duo Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba.” More information may be found by searching the concert calendar at philorch.org.

December 3, 2016
Stravinsky’s Princeton Premiere 50th Anniversary

It was 50 years ago that Igor Stravinsky came to Princeton to give the world premiere of his new work for chorus and orchestra, the “Requiem Canticles.” The composer, then 84 years-old, was seen lying flat on his back in the McCarter Theatre box office, trying to conserve his energy. He stunned everyone by leading the work’s first performance in October of 1966. (Many had expected to see his assistant, Robert Craft, take over following rehearsals.)

Tomorrow morning on WPRB, we honor the 50th anniversary of Stravinsky’s Princeton University residency. We’ll have a full morning of his music, including the early Symphony in E-flat, composed while he was yet an apprentice of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the ballet “Le baiser de la fée” (“The Fairy’s Kiss”), written in homage to Tchaikovsky, and his final masterpiece, the “Requiem Canticles.”

Dropping by at 10:00 will be Michael Pratt, who will conduct the suite from Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” on two concerts of the Princeton University Orchestra, on Dec. 8 & 9, and Gabriel Crouch, who will lead a program including Stravinsky’s “Les Noces,” with the Princeton University Glee Club and So Percussion, on Dec. 11. All three concerts will be held at Richardson Auditorium.

And we’ll have yet another special treat: some recorded comments by Maida Pollock, whose job it was to pull the concert together in 1966, culled from a phone conversation she granted from her current home in Hawaii. We’ll hear those around 9:00.

I hope you’ll join me for this multi-faceted salute to Igor Stravinsky, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. We’ve always got an ear for Igor, on Classic Ross Amico.

December 1, 2016

Tag Cloud

RECENT POSTS