Classic Ross Amico

Tag: WWFM

Victoria Bond Opera & Ives Recital on WWFM

I’ve got the engine purring on the Classic Ross Amico interview machine.

Join me this afternoon on The Classical Network for a chat with composer Victoria Bond. Bond’s new opera, “Clara,” inspired by the life of Clara Schumann, will be performed at Symphony Space in New York City, this Friday at 7 p.m. A second performance will follow in Rhinebeck, NY, on Sunday at 3.

I’ll talk with Bond at 4:00 today. We’ll get to hear a selection from the opera, as well as music from her latest release, “Instruments of Revelation,” on the Naxos label.

Then at 5:00, violinist Stefan Jackiw will tell us about his exciting Ives recital, with pianist Jeremy Denk, that will take place at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium tomorrow night at 8. The program will include not only all four violin sonatas of Charles Ives, but also demonstrations – with the help of Princeton University Glee Club – of some of the hymns, songs and marches to which the composer alludes.

Following our conversation, we’ll get to hear Jackiw and pianist Max Levinson perform, on their album of the complete Brahms’ violin sonatas, issued on Sony Classical.

At 6:00, it’s “Music from Marlboro,” and a salute to pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski. We’ll hear performances of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Ildebrando Pizzetti, captured at the legendary Marlboro Music Festival.

Along the way, we’ll also celebrate Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and march king John Philip Sousa on their birthdays.

Experience music from Bach to Bond, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

November 6, 2019
Autumn Music on The Classical Network

Now that we’ve changed the clocks, we’re officially in deep autumn – whether the temperatures happen to agree or not.

Join me this afternoon on The Classical Network, as we finally get around to giving the season its due. We’ll hear the Symphony No. 10, “Zur Herbstzeit” (“To Autumn Time),” by Joachim Raff; “Poema autunnale” for violin and orchestra by Ottorini Respighi;” “The Seasons” by Alexander Glazunov;” “Fall of the Leaf” by Gerald Finzi; the “Sinfonia di Caccia” by Leopold Mozart; “November Woods” by Sir Arnold Bax; “Autumn Crocus” by Billy Mayerl; the Symphony No. 4, “Fall of the Leaf,” by Rued Langgaard; and “Autumn Gardens” by Einojuhani Rautavaara.

Today’s Noontime Concert will be a comparatively brief one. John Mark Rozendaal and Adam Young will perform works for two violas da gamba by Tobias Hume and Johannes Schenck. The program, “Poeticall Musicke,” was presented as part of the Midtown Concerts series at the chapel of St. Bartholomew’s Church, 325 Park Avenue in New York City. Free concerts are held at St. Bart’s every Thursday at 1:15 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule, visit the website of Gotham Early Music Scene, gemsny.org.

Find a dry place and enjoy a nice hot cup of something. It’s autumn. Be good to yourself. Tune in today, from 12 to 4 p.m. EST, to WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

November 5, 2019
Carl Tausig: Liszt’s Mischievous Genius

Carl Tausig was the supremely talented, though impish protégé of Franz Liszt. Some say that he was Liszt’s greatest pupil.

Tausig joined Liszt in Weimar at the age of 14. Energetic to a fault, he got up to all sorts of mischief, including sawing the ends off piano keys in order to make the instrument more challenging to play. He also hocked the original, unpublished manuscript of Liszt’s “A Faust Symphony,” an entire year’s labor, for a mere pittance. (Fortunately, Liszt was able to retrieve it.)

Tausig then joined Richard Wagner in his political exile in Switzerland, where the boy’s boisterous behavior caused the operatic master his own share of distress. There must have been something exceptionally endearing in his personality, since he was always quickly forgiven.

At a birthday celebration for the young pianist, Liszt predicted, with a twinkle in his eye, that Tausig would become either a great blockhead or a great master.

Regrettably, his career was cut short. He died of typhoid fever, aged only 29 years.

I’ll celebrate this mercurial pianist, born on this date in 1841, with recordings of some of his original music and transcriptions, this afternoon between 4 and 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Tausig, the merry prankster (left), and Wagner, looking vexed

November 4, 2019
Support Classical Music This Halloween

It’s nice to know there’s someone out there in cyberspace who ponders the same questions.

What’s even nicer is when our kindred spirits donate to The Classical Network. Make this Halloween a real treat by calling us at 1-888-232-1212 or by making a contribution online at wwfm.org.

I don’t have to tell you, our music is out of this world. AaaaOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Thank you for supporting WWFM – The Classical Network!

October 31, 2019
Classical Music Halloween Treat WWFM

“Music… GOOD!”

On this Halloween, join us, if you dare, for a playlist of frights and delights, as we continue to solicit treats from our generous listeners. Candy bars or fast food gift certificates are all well and good, but what we’re really hoping for are your dimes.

Please support the classical music that binds us with a donation in any amount, by calling The Classical Network at 1-888-232-1212, or by visiting our website, wwfm.org.

Your contribution puts the fuel in our ghoul.

As a show of thanks for our strongest contributors, we are offering a special Gratitude Gala on November 22. The gala will be studded with celebrity hosts like Rob Kapilow (“What Makes It Great”), Jed Distler (“Between the Keys”) and David Dubal (“The Piano Matters”). Music will be an integral part of the experience, and yes, there will be food.

If you’ve already received an invitation, please RSVP as soon as you can. If you haven’t received an invitation and would still like to attend (with up to one guest), a gift of $200 during our fall fundraiser is just the ticket. The event will be held at the Conference Center on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College, from 6 to 9 p.m.

If you can’t afford the $200, do NOT think your contribution doesn’t matter! We offer gifts at all levels. CDs, travel mugs, vehicle magnets, tote bags – we’d love to send you something. But these are all as mere tokens of our gratitude for your being there for us when we need you the most. The real thanks come in the form of the kind of quality music we offer you every day, at the touch of a button or the click of a mouse.

We’re furiously cutting eye holes in our parents’ sheets, rubbing burnt cork on our cheeks, and blacking out our teeth. Trick or treat! Our music is scary good, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Thank you for your support of The Classical Network!

October 31, 2019

Tag Cloud

RECENT POSTS