Cozy up to the “Fireside Tales” of American composer and pianist Edward MacDowell (born on this date in 1860) and bask in the warm glow of a carol medley performed by Russian-German soprano Rita Streich (born in 1920). They’ll be among our featured works, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
Tag: WWFM
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Happy Birthday Beethoven Celebrate with Lost Symphony
Happy birthday, Beethoven!
The Classical Network wrapped up its anticipatory day-long celebration yesterday evening at 6:00. We were hoping to raise $8000, an amount tied in numerically to our 35th anniversary (3+5 = 8; get it?), but we came up a little shy at around $6500 – and that thanks to a couple of very generous listeners who stepped up fairly late in the game.
Regrettably, this meant I was unable to fulfill my personal ambition to share with you a dynamite complete performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which I was hoping to play if we met our goal by about 4:50. I really worked hard on the selection, too!
In case you are curious, the recording features Leontyne Price, Maureen Forrester, David Poleri, and Giorgio Tozzi as the vocal soloists, with the New England Conservatory Chorus and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Munch. This misplaced treasure, from 1958, was buried deep in my personal library, as part of EMI’s Great Conductors of the 20th Century Series. Everyone in the studio was blown away by the hell-bent intensity of the finale, which was all we had time for. I ruefully commented that if we had been able to hear the first and second movements, as I had hoped, they would have realized that by the end Munch and crew sound almost winded by comparison.
Alas, any airing of the Ninth is and should be a special occasion, so this now-cherished recording will go back on my shelf until the next opportunity. Or you can listen to it here:
Thank you to all of you who kept the day from being a total “bust.” (Cue Schroeder.) We will still be accepting contributions over the weekend, if you’d like to send a little gift in the name of Ludwig Van, by way of wwfm.org. Thank you for supporting WWFM – The Classical Network, and more great music to you for the holidays and the year to come.
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Star Wars The Last Jedi Music Review
“It’s time for the Jedi to end!”
Yeah, right. Not while these things continue to make billions of dollars.
Be that as it may, any new score by John Williams is worth hearing, and any new “Star Wars” music is an event. Return to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Join me for a spoiler-free “Picture Perfect,” featuring music from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” released today.
The Force is with us, this Friday evening at 6:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
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Beethoven’s Ninth A Hidden Gem Revealed
I’VE FOUND MY NINTH!
Of course no recording of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony can be all things to all people. However, having gone through my collection and sampled a number of the greats – Bernstein, Furtwängler, Szell, Toscanini, Walter – I came across something of a dark horse.
If we can reach our goal of $8000 by around 4:45 this afternoon, we will enjoy this extraordinary performance in its entirety. If we can’t, then we’ll just have to settle for the finale, and that would be a real shame, since the first two movements sound like the musicians ate lava for breakfast.
Our salute to Beethoven resumes on WWFM – The Classical Network, following today’s Noontime Concert. Won’t you support us at 1-888-232-1212 or wwfm.org? Make that recording of Beethoven’s Ninth the joyous occasion it is meant to be!
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Beethoven A King Among Composers?
Was Beethoven the King of Composers?
If anything, Beethoven proved just how far someone could go with determination, a gift for fantasy, and plain old hard work. Beethoven may have lacked the natural facility of a Bach or a Mozart, yet through an uncompromising force of will he managed to achieve greatness. In fact, so powerful was his musical imagination that he managed to change music. And he knew his own worth, even to the point of not deferring to his “betters.”
How much is Beethoven worth to you? As The Classical Network observes the Master’s birthday today (he was born on December 16, 1770) with a full day of his music, join us in celebrating the great Ludwig Van with your gift of support at 1-888-232-1212 or wwfm.org.
Because of listeners just like you, we have been able to share 35 years of some of the greatest music ever written. All of us at WWFM – The Classical Network thank you for your generosity.
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