Put a tiger in your tank!
It promises to be a high performance afternoon, as we observe the birthdays today of trumpeter Maurice André, pianist Gina Bachauer, and oboist, composer, and conductor Heinz Holliger.
We’ll have you feline good – and I ain’t lion – from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
You were an associate, friend and disciple of Gustav Mahler. You championed new works by Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Hindemith. You tolerated no coughing or sneezing from your audience. You suffered from severe cyclothymic bipolar disorder. You answered the door to your dressing room in your boxers and covered in lipstick. You underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor “the size of a small orange.” When placed in an institution, you escaped. You took a severe spill, requiring you to conduct from a chair. You set yourself on fire and tried to douse the flames with spirits of camphor. You sired Colonel Klink. Your career was capped by a glorious Indian Summer that spanned 20 years. You lived to the ripe old age of 88. In short, you had all the qualifications to be one of the 20th century’s greatest conductors.
Happy birthday, Otto Klemperer (1885-1973).
Join me for a celebration of Klemperer’s artistry (alongside works of Lou Harrison, Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann, and Zygmunt Stojowski), between 4 and 7 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
PHOTO: Otto the Indestructible
Sweet! Mark Laycock’s new work, “Musicopia! Suite for Orchestra” will receive its world premiere in Philadelphia this Saturday.
Laycock should be a familiar name to music-lovers in Central Jersey. He was music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for over two decades, and has returned to Philadelphia and Princeton in recent years to lead memorable concerts with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, given in honor of the 100th birthday of humanitarian, philanthropist, and patron of the arts William H. Scheide, was filmed and broadcast nationally as part of PBS’ “Great Performances” series.
Now living in Berlin, a base that allows easy access to the orchestras of Europe, Laycock has developed a quiet sideline as a composer. He has written a Flute Concerto, a Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, and the work he considers his magnum opus, “Via Dolorosa,” scored for vocal soloists, English horn, double chorus and orchestra.
“Musicopia!” is named for the Philadelphia-based organization that provides opportunities for young people to experience, learn, perform, and appreciate music. Young performers will debut Laycock’s suite on this Saturday’s concert, which will take place at 5:00 at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, 1904 Walnut Street.
Learn more about the new piece and the organization’s worthy mission as I am joined by Laycock and Denise Kinney, executive director of Musicopia, this afternoon at 4:08 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
Tchaikovsky shares our elation at having concluded another successful membership drive. The votes were tallied, and Ol’ Peter Ilych pulled ahead of Johannes Brahms to be voted the more popular of today’s two famous birthday celebrants among our listener-members. Thank you to all of you who elected to get in on the fun. There certainly were plenty of tempting thank you gifts to get lost in this time around. If you didn’t have a chance to donate, you may still do so and pick up a special token of our appreciation by visiting wwfm.org. Peter Ilych and we are grateful for your support of WWFM – The Classical Network.
In this corner, weighing in at 250 pounds… ladies and gentlemen, the original Liebeslieder Waltzer… the Hamburger from Hamburg… Johannes Brahms. In the opposite corner, at 180… the infamous Marching Slav… the Nutcracker from Nadezhda… Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky.
Today… the birthday anniversaries of both. Brahms, born in 1833, and Tchaikovsky in 1840. We pit the two together on The Classical Network in an historic Battle of the Beards, a hummable rumble that will span 12 hours, from 8 to 8 EDT, as we take your bets on a bankable future for classical music on the air waves and your votes for prominence in the pantheon of Brahms or Tchaikovsky.
Call now, at 1-888-232-1212, or contribute online at wwfm.org. We’ll tally the votes tonight in the 7:00 hour. David Osenberg and I will be squinting through the blood, sweat and tears, from 4 to 8 p.m. EDT. Strike a blow for great music. Join us ringside on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org. As always, we thank you for your support!
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