Classic Ross Amico

Tag: WPRB

Mahler & Menotti: A Tale of Two Birthdays

Okay, today is the birthday anniversary of the seething Austrian genius Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), who declared on a walk with Sibelius that “the symphony must be like the world; it must embrace everything” and confided to his wife, “My time will come.” We all know about him.

It is also the birthday of Italian-American Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007), a prolific composer of opera and the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes (for “The Consul,” in 1950, and “The Saint of Bleecker Street,” in 1955); yet somehow Menotti is basically remembered for his one-act Christmas opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” written for NBC in 1951.

“Amahl,” broadcast live on Christmas Eve, was the first opera commissioned for television. The composer continued to work on the score until perilously close to air time. In fact, his partner, Samuel Barber, had to be brought in to help complete the orchestrations. Despite the time crunch, the opera was a ratings smash, and for the next 15 years “Amahl” became a Christmas broadcast tradition.

Chet Allen, who originated the role of Amahl, was a chorister with the Columbus Boychoir, which was founded in Columbus, OH, in 1937. By the time of the opera’s telecast, the choir had relocated to Princeton, NJ. In 1980, the group would be renamed The American Boychoir. Since the opera fell a few minutes short of the top of the hour, the choir was brought on to perform carols appropriate for the season.

Though he wrote the work for television, Menotti shrewdly realized its potential for the stage. Allen would reprise the role of Amahl at the New York City Opera in 1952. Since then, “Amahl” has enjoyed a robust history of professional and community performances.

Menotti will always be remembered as an opera composer (in his day, he was regarded as the heir of Puccini, admiringly by some, derisively by others), but his concert works are certainly worthy of interest. Join me on WPRB 103.3 FM, or at wprb.com, this Thursday morning between 6 and 11 ET to hear Menotti’s Piano Concerto from 1945, in a 1961 performance by the great Earl Wild.

In the meantime, for you lovers of licorice, “This is my box”:

PHOTO: Menotti (right) and friend

July 7, 2015
American Composers & July 4th Music

I can’t guarantee any fife and drum music (I didn’t bring any), but you never know.

Nonetheless, I can promise wall-to-wall American composers, as we anticipate Independence Day. These may include (and won’t be limited to) George Antheil, Paul Bowles, Romeo Cascarino, John Corigliano, Daniel Dorff, Irving Fine, Lou Harrison, Bernard Herrmann, Jennifer Higdon, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Peter Schickele, Caroline Shaw, Michael Torke, and George Walker.

I am very pleased to add that Jerry Rife, for 30 years conductor of The Blawenburg Band, has found time in his busy schedule to join me around 9:00 to share just a little bit about the band’s upcoming concerts at Princeton Shopping Center (tonight at 7 p.m.), Yardley Community Centre in Yardley, Pa. (July 4 at 4 p.m.), and Hopewell Train Station (July 6 at 7:30 p.m.).

It’s pure Americana this week, when you tune in Classic Ross Amico, this morning from 6 to 11 a.m. ET, at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com – classical music radio as the Founding Fathers intended.

July 2, 2015
American Music for Independence Day on WPRB

I’ve been following Marvin Rosen’s Classical Discoveries playlist with particular interest this morning, since I too plan to play all American music tomorrow, in anticipation of the Independence Day holiday.

Marvin is a much better planner than I, but at this point I can say with relative certainty that we MAY hear music by George Antheil, Paul Bowles, Romeo Cascarino, John Corigliano, Daniel Dorff, Irving Fine, Lou Harrison, Bernard Herrmann, Jennifer Higdon, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Peter Schickele, Caroline Shaw, Michael Torke, George Walker and many others.

Jerry Rife, for 30 years conductor of The Blawenburg Band, will join me around 9:00 to tell us just a little bit about the band’s upcoming concerts at Princeton Shopping Center (tomorrow at 7 p.m.), Yardley Community Centre in Yardley, Pa. (July 4 at 4 p.m.), and Hopewell Train Station (July 6 at 7:30 p.m.).

Tune in, wrap yourself in the flag, and feel the cool grass between your toes, as we celebrate America’s independence this week. Keep it classy with Classic Ross Amico, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 a.m. ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com.

July 1, 2015
Unusual Composers on WPRB This Week

If you wake up this morning with an appetite for unusual and neglected repertoire, here are some of the composers whose music you can expect to hear between 6 and 11 a.m. ET, when you set your dial to WPRB 103.3 FM, or listen online at wprb.com: Walter Leigh, Lalo Schifrin, George Walker, Henry Holden Huss, Pavel Haas, Kurt Schwertsik, Harry Partch and Terry Riley, all of whom had or have birthday anniversaries this week. We’ll also do a make-good on retired Princeton professor Paul Lansky, whom I am ashamed to say I missed last week. The late Gunther Schuller and James Horner will also be remembered.

Daniel Spalding, music director of the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, will drop by around 10:00 to talk a bit about his orchestra and its appearance in a free concert at Mercer County Park Pavilion, Sunday at 7:30 p.m., as part of this year’s Freedom Fest. I’ll also be bringing some of Dan’s recordings of American music with the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

Be there, or be… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

PHOTO: Slappin’ the roosters awake with Classic Ross Amico

June 25, 2015
WPRB: Birthdays, Riley, and Remembering Schuller

Already entering my fourth week at WRPB Princeton, and I am grappling with the slavish adherence to birthdays. Obviously being on only once a week, I can’t celebrate everyone, and with my over-reliance on the “major” figures, much music by worthy composers has been passing me by. Failing to acknowledge retired Princeton professor Paul Lansky last Thursday (whose birthday fell on the actual day, no less) may have been the proverbial last straw.

Be that as it may, we’ll touch on what we can tomorrow, though perhaps downplaying the birthday angle more in favor of interesting programming. So we will have music of Terry Riley, who turns 80 today. We’ll also have a work by the impish Kurt Schwertsik, whom I had the privilege to interview at a concert held at Austrian Cultural Forum New York a few years back. Schwertsik turns 80 tomorrow.

Of course, we’ll remember Gunther Schuller, who died earlier this week. And, I don’t know, maybe I’ll even drop in a little James Horner, though I’m planning a more extensive memorial for “Picture Perfect,” to air on http://www.wwfm.org on July 3 at 6 p.m. ET.

Daniel Spalding, music director of the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, will drop by around 10:00 to talk a bit about his orchestra and its appearance in a free concert at Mercer County Park Pavilion, Sunday at 7:30 p.m., as part of this year’s Freedom Fest.

And yes, I’ll be sure to include something by Lansky, since I happen to like his music. I’m reluctant to promise too much and then not deliver, but trust me when I say that I’ll play what I can.

Keep it classy with Classic Ross Amico, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 a.m., at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com.

PHOTO: Keeping it classy with Kurt Schwertsik

June 24, 2015

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