wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Clara Schumann’s “Soirees musicales,” a suite of six character pieces for piano, is played by Jozef de Beenhouwer as we start off our program. We close with one of Clara’s exquisite Lieder, “Beim Abschied,” (On Parting), sung by soprano Christina Hogman. Her husband Robert’s “Manfred Overture” is played by the Berlin Philharmonic under James Levine, followed by the Opus 39 Waltzes of their very good friend, Brahms, performed by Leon Fleisher. Two wildly energetic movements flank a plaintive adagio in Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Violin and Strings, composed in 2000 and performed this evening by Adele Anthony and the International Sejong Soloists under the leadership of Hyo Kang.

Robert Ward’s “Echoes of America,” a trio for clarinet, cello, and piano, is offered by the Aurora Musicalis. The echoes are from Moravian traditions found in Pennsylvania, folk music of Appalachia, the Blues, and Bible Belt hymns. Clarinetist Vlastmil Mares solos in Mozart’s K 622 concerto for that instrument, supported by the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado. Four short dances by Anthony Holborne receive period-instrument performances by Jordi Savall and his Hesperion XXI.

Towards the end of our final hour, music by the second of our birthday honorees, Arnold Schoenberg: “Pierrot Lunaire,” soprano Janet Manning giving the music life along with the Nash Ensemble under Simon Rattle.