Classic Ross Amico

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Early Music Month on WPRB: Medieval Sounds Today

It’s never too late to be Early.

This week on WPRB, we’ll celebrate Early Music Month with a morning full of “contemporary” works – works composed over the course of the past century – that were influenced in some way or another by music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

We’ll hear works like Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ “Renaissance Scottish Dances,” George Frederick McKay’s “Suite on Sixteenth Century Hymn Tunes,” Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto Madrigal,” Vittorio Rieti’s “Variations on Two Cantigas de Santa Maria,” William Alwyn’s “Elizabethan Dances,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Momentum pro Gesualdo di Venosa ad CD annum,” Ottorino Respighi’s “Concerto Gregoriano,” William Kraft’s “Vintage Renaissance,” Carl Orff’s “Kleines Konzert,” Lukas Foss’ “Renaissance Concerto,” and Kile Smith’s “Vespers” (in a recording featuring Philadelphia-based Piffaro, The Renaissance Band) – or as many of those as we can get to.

Lyn Ransom, founder and artistic director of VOICES Chorale, will visit in the 9:00 hour to talk a little bit about the ensemble’s upcoming performance on Sunday, at Trenton’s Trinity Cathedral, of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, in a reconstruction of a performance given there under the direction of the composer in 1971. The Requiem’s otherworldly melodies are steeped in the language of medieval chant.

Even if you’re running late, it’s nice to know that the music will be running Early, from 6 to 11 ET on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. We’re usually living in the past, on Classic Ross Amico.

#EarlyMusicMonth

#EarlyMusicAmerica

March 2, 2016
Korngold Wolf-Ferrari Opera on WPRB

Wake up to your conflicted emotions with Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s “Violanta,” and then sneak a cigarette with Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s “Il segreto di Susanna” (“Susanna’s Secet”). I’ll be filling in for Sandy Steiglitz today for “Sunday Morning Opera,” from 7 to 10 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

February 28, 2016
Opera on Vinyl Korngold and Wolf-Ferrari

Tomorrow morning I will have the honor of keeping the chair warm for Sandy Steiglitz, who will be taking the week off from her long-running show, “Sunday Morning Opera,” at WPRB. That’s a large bill to fill, so I’ll be bringing along not one, but two operas.

Erich Wolfgang Korngold wrote “Violanta” at the age of 17. Already his second opera, composed in 1914, the work demonstrates the composer’s early mastery of large orchestral forces, rich, heroic vocal writing, and compelling stagecraft. It’s small wonder that 20 years later Korngold would revolutionize the Hollywood film score. He would be recognized for his efforts with two Academy Awards, for his work on “Anthony Adverse” (1936) and “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938). A good choice, then, for Academy Awards Sunday!

The story of “Violanta,” set in 15th century Venice against the backdrop of Carnival, involves seduction, suicide, thirst for revenge, dawning compassion, and sacrifice. The music is intoxicating, and the recording, led by Marek Janowski – with Eva Marton in the title role, Siegfried Jerusalem as a sympathetic lothario, and Walter Berry as an insecure husband – is fabulous. Bruno Walter conducted the world premiere in Munich, so the choice of the Munich Radio Orchestra is an idiomatic one.

We’ll follow up the opulent tragedy of “Violanta” with Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s fun and frothy comedy of marital misunderstanding, “Il segreto di Susanna” (“Susanna’s Secret”), composed in 1909. A man suspects his wife is having an affair when he smells cigarette smoke on her clothes. He attempts to get to the bottom of her “secret,” with amusing results. Renato Scotto is Susanna, Renata Bruson her husand, Count Gil, and John Pritchard conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra.

In the process, we’ll inadvertently be observing the birthdays of Scotto (Feb. 24), Pritchard (Feb. 5) and Janowski (Feb. 18), along with those of Leontyne Price (Feb. 10), and Lotte Lehmann (Feb. 27).

My choices are somewhat limited due to the requirements of WPRB’s All Vinyl Week. Still, I think I’ve managed to come up with some good material. I hope you’ll join me as I kick back with some caffeine and some good music, on “Sunday Morning Opera,” tomorrow from 7 to 10 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

PHOTO: Massive spoiler alert!

February 27, 2016
Vinyl Week on WPRB Rare Classical LPs

Right now we’re listening to Philadelphia composer Paul Nordoff’s “Winter Symphony,” a prized recording on the Louisville Orchestra’s First Edition Records label. Join me later on in the hour as Lee Holdridge does his best Erich Wolfgang Korngold impression, with his Violin Concerto No. 2.

Ruth Ochs, music director of the Westminster Community Orchestra, will drop by around 9:00 to talk a little bit about the upcoming Westminster Conservatory of Music showcase concert, which will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. The program will include performances by community ensembles, students and conservatory competition winners. Ochs is also conductor of the Princeton University Sinfonia.

Yet to come this morning: works by Wallingford Riegger, Carl Ruggles, Earl Kim, Richard Yardumian and Alan Hovhaness – all heard on LP, all otherwise unavailable. Out-of-print recordings for your delectation, as part of WPRB’s Vinyl Week. It’s all vinyl through Sunday, and all Classic Ross Amico through 11 a.m., on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

February 25, 2016
WPRB’s All-Vinyl Week: Rare Grooves & Local Music

Vinyl, vinyl everywhere!

Music by contemporary composers released on the CRI label. Lesser known works, recorded by major artists on major labels, which have never been reissued. A long out-of-print DG recording of music by a Canadian master. The late Louis Lane conducting American music. Works by Philadelphia composers Paul Nordoff and Richard Yardumian. A cult classic featuring the songs of humpback whales.

These are some of the curiosities that I’ll be sharing with you this morning, as I comb the WPRB record library (leavened with a few choice albums from my own collection). It’s part of WPRB’s All-Vinyl Week. That’s right, WPRB is playing nothing but good old-fashioned vinyl through Sunday.

Ruth Ochs, music director of the Westminster Community Orchestra, will drop by around 9:00 to talk a little bit about the upcoming Westminster Conservatory of Music showcase concert, which will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. The program will include performances by community ensembles, students and conservatory competition winners. Ochs is also conductor of the Princeton University Sinfonia.

Other than that, it all comes off the turntables this morning, from 6 to 11 ET on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. We put the style in “stylus,” on Classic Ross Amico.

February 25, 2016

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