wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

On Demand

Program Schedule

Topics

Evening Music Archive

  • 2002
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

November 2006

Sentimental Ravel

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Maurice Ravel was hearkening back to the Vienna of old with his "Noble and Sentimental Waltzes" for piano. He was also reflecting the social anxiety of his own time, punctuating his limpid dance figures with sharp, jazzy harmonies — creating an allegorical representation of a Europe that was just a few short years away from the First World War. We'll hear it tonight in full orchestral glory from the Stavanger Symphony under Alexander Dmitriev.

Sir Neville Marriner leads the Minnesota Orchestra in Benjamin Britten's delightful musical survey, "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" (which is a lot of fun for not-so-young people as well!). We'll return to the impressionist vein with Claude Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp; later on, it's Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D Minor from the St. Petersburg Philharmonic led by Yuri Temirkanov.


Red Priest Fantasy

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

British ensemble Red Priest adds a 21rst-century veneer to their performances of early music, leaving historical accuracies blowing in the wind. The result is sometimes astonishing — as we'll hear tonight in their fantasy take on one of the most famous tunes from Baroque times, Corelli's "La folia."

Also, Opera Star Juan Diego Flórez makes his highly-anticipated recital debut at Carnegie Hall this Friday; we'll give a nod with his version of Bellini bel canto in the aria "A te, o cara." And speaking of opera, the great Giacomo Puccini died on this date in 1924; we'll mark the occasion with a performance of his "Messa di Gloria" featuring Thomas Hampson and Roberto Alagna; Antonio Pappano leads the London Symphony Orchestra.

» Juan Diego Flórez at Carnegie Hall


Baroque Birthday

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Composer Jean-Baptiste Lully wrote dances for Louis XIV and set Moliére's plays to music. He also suffered the most embarrassing death in classical music when he fatally stabbed himself in the foot with his conducting staff. We'll celebrate the 319th anniversary of this Baroque master's birth tonight with his "Suite italienne," courtesy of Chatham Baroque.

Also tonight, Howard Hanson's musical self-portrait, the Symphony No. 2 — also known as the "Romantic Symphony." Some other hits are in store tonight with Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" *featuring Andre Gavrilov) and Mozart's Symphony No. 40 (with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe). John Lanchberry and the Philharmonia Orchestra bring the evening to a somnolent close with Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" Suite.


Benda Done That

Monday, November 27, 2006

Franz Benda was a bohemian in every sense of the word. Bouncing around Europe in the early 1700's, he became famous as a violinist and composed music in just about every genre of the time. Tonight we'll hear Benda's virtuosic Flute Concerto from soloist Andra Adorjan and the Ars Rediviva Orchestra of Prague.

Another Czech composer who figures prominently tonight is Antonin Reicha; he's represented here by the Nomos Quartet and Eckart Hübner in the Quintet for Bassoon and Strings. Music by Korngold and Berlioz makes an appearance in our last hour; also, we'll mark the 47th birthday of Russian violinist Victoria Mullova with Beethoven's tempestuous Violin Concerto.


Bulgarian Voices

Sunday, November 26, 2006

On December 3rd, Symphony Space presents the popular folk ensemble Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices — whose performances have been described as "the marriage of avant-garde and the middle ages." Tonight, we'll take a peek into this fascinating genre with some traditional Bulgarian choral music.

Later on, we'll transfer our Bulgarian trend to the Italian Renaissance in a performance of Palestrina's "Missa primi toni" from the Ensemble Bulgarka Jr, followed by a very different sort of piece by Francis Poulenc, "le Bal Masque" — described as a "profane cantata" for baritone (and featuring the decidedly non-profane Sir Thomas Allen).

» Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares at Symphony Space


Spotlight on: Martin Bresnick

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Village Voice critic Kyle Gann writes that Martin Bresnick's music is "tough, thorny, clear, elegant, thoughtful, and difficult to pin down." Tonight, we'll do our best to "pin down" this wildly eclectic New York composer, as he joins David Garland in the studio to talk about upcoming performances of his music.

Later on, we'll note the anniversary of another American composer's birth, Virgil Thomson. Thomson's colleague Howard Hanson leads the Eastman-Rochester Symphony in the "Symphony on a Hymn Tune", followed by an excerpt from Thomson's opera with Gertrude Stein, "Four Saints in Three Acts." We'll fall back into Early English mode with music by William Lawes and John Dowland; wrapping things up is pianist Louis Lortie in Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" fantasy.


Capriol Suite

Friday, November 24, 2006

Philip Heseltine was an enigmatic figure at best; a notorious partier and boozer, he also was a brilliant music critic and composer (under the better-known pseudonym Peter Warlock). Tonight we'll hear his "Capriol" Suite, based on 16th-century themes by another gentleman who also wrote under a psuedonym, French composer Jehan Tabourot (better known as Thoinot Arbeau).

Later in the evening, we'll preview pianist Leon Fleisher's upcoming Carnegie Hall concert on November 30th with Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 4. Also, we'll mark the anniversary of Russian composer Alfred Schnittke's birth in 1934. Schnittke was a prolific composer, in spite of harrassment from Soviet-era authorities and chronically poor health (he was clinically declared dead several times but recovered to resume composing until his final demise in 1998). We'll hear two selections of his: the "Suite in the Old Style" for violin and piano, and his choral work, "Voices of Nature."

» Leon Fleisher at Carnegie Hall


A McCartney Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 23, 2006

For those of you who missed our live Carnegie Hall broadcast of Sir Paul McCartney's "Ecce cor meum" (Behold My Heart) earlier this month, WNYC is presenting a special Thanksgiving day re-airing of this exciting event tonight at 8 p.m. (including an interview with Sir Paul himself).

Thanksgiving music abounds through the evening as well, including Aaron Copland's orchestral suite from his only opera, "The Tender Land." Vogal group Chanticleer serves up Ned Rorem's 1984 work "Pilgrim Strangers"; countered by Vaughan Williams's timeless "Hymn of Thanksgiving." We'll bring the evening to a close with Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata No. 92, "Now Thank We All Our God"; Helmut Rilling leads the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart.


The World's Longest Crescendo

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Bo Derek aside, Ravel's "Bolero" is supposed to have been inspired by a sawmill, starting softly with arriving workers and gradually crescendoing to the roar of the saws. It was one of his last compositions, and by far his most famous. It also had its premiere 78 years ago today; we'll hear it tonight from the Bergen Philharmonic.

Another popular Ravel work, the "Pavane for a Dead Princess," makes an appearance in our second hour from pianist Andre Gavrilov. Also, today marks the anniversary of Benjamin Britten's birth in 1913; we'll mark the occassion with his "Hymn to St. Ceclia" (whose day happens to fall on BB's birthday as well). Later on, we'll hear from symphonic jazz pioneer Ferde Grofe in his ever-popular "Grand Canyon" suite from the Pittsburgh Symphony.


One For The Birds

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Ottorino Respighi loved to dress up old music in new clothes; his "Ancient Airs and Dances" suites were a huge success — and are still often heard today. Tonight we'll hear his treatment of Baroque pieces that imitate birdsong, in the appropriately titled "Gli ucelli" (The Birds).

In a similar vein, the La Scala Philharmonic perform Nino Rota's delightful dance suite from his score to Luchino Visconti's 1963 film, "Il Gattopardo" (The Leopard). Things really get moving later on as Benjamin Luxon serves up a robust account of Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Songs of Travel" and Rachel Barton Pine offers a "Medley of Scots Tunes." Bringing the evening to a sweeping close are Dag Achatz and Yukie Nagai in the two-piano version of Debussy's lush tone poem, "La mer" (The Sea).


America's First Lady of the Piano

Monday, November 20, 2006

For many years, Ruth Laredo was an important presence on the New York music scene and all over the world. dubbed "America's First Lady of the Piano" by the press, she left us landmark recordings of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin before her death last year. Today marks the anniversary of her birth; we'll honor the occasion with her thrilling performance of Beethoven's "Tempest" sonata.

Two other Americans figure prominently in the evening's playlist: we'll hear Roy Harris's Seventh Symphony, which was first performed on this date in 1952. Also, John Harbison's Second String Quartet premiered nineteen years ago today; we'll hear a performance from the ever-excellent Emerson Quartet. Music by Fauré, Haydn and Brahms rounds out the evening.

» Ruth Laredo on WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show (08/14/2003)


Schubert on Guitar

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Schubert's Quartet for Flute, Guitar, Viola and Cello is rarely performed. Based on Austrian composer Wenzel Matiegka's "Notturno," Schubert composed the first two movements of the quartet but then inxplicably abandoned the work. Tonight we'll hear a unique interpretation of the quartet, with the last movement completed by the guitarist JoAnn Falletta.

Later tonight, we'll hear four songs from Ralph Vaughan Williams' cycle "Ten Blake Songs." In addition, we'll hear works by Webern and Saint-Saens, as well as less familiar works by American composer Bruce Simonds and conga player Mongo Santamaria.


Spotlight on: Inna Faliks and Jamie Titus

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Tonight's spotlight is on pianist Inna Faliks and the new Arium Center for the Art's Creative Director, Jamie Titus. On Sunday, Faliks will perform Mozart and Schubert at Atrium. Arium is a new performing arts venue, gallery and café in the Meatpacking District, featuring a rebuilt Steinway B piano as the centerpiece of its gorgeous space.

Tonight we'll also hear Bach's justly famous Italian concerto, performed by the inimitable Bach specialist Angela Hewitt, and a symphony by Bach's son, C.P.E. Bach. In addition, we'll hear less familiar works by 18th century Ukrainian composer Dmitry Bortiansky and contemporary American composer Margaret Brouwer.


Happy Birthday, David Amram!

Friday, November 17, 2006

This evening on WNYC, we're celebrating American composer David Amram's 76th birthday. Amram is known for his orchestral and chamber works as well as his film scores, and is considered one of the pioneers of the jazz French horn. Tonight we'll hear selections from Amram's oeuvre interspersed throughout the evening, including his Theme and Variations on "Red River Valley," "American Dance Suite," "Triple Concerto a tre," and selections from his 1962 film score for "The Manchurian Candidate."

Also on the program tonight, we'll be hearing works by Bach and Handel, as well as Spanish dances by Camargo Guarnieri and Joaquin Turina. We'll also hear Berg's violin concerto "To the Memory of an Angel," which Leonidas Kavakos plays with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall this Tuesday at 8:00.


Mysterious Mountain

Thursday, November 16, 2006

No it's not a theme park ride - unless you're talking music, of course. Armenian American composer Alan Hovhannes wrote his Symphony No. 2 as a tribute to the "whole idea of mountains" — hence the subtitle "Mysterious Mountain." We'll hear it tonight from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under Jesus Lopez-Cobos.

Other mountains are "heard" as well this evening: Pierre Monteaux leads the San Francisco Symphony in Vincent D'Indy's "Symphony on a French Mountain Air," followed by Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer in the traditional Chinese melody "Mido Mountain." Music for winds is heard in flutist (and composer) Valerie Coleman's Concerto for Wind Quintet (featuring her group the Imani Winds); we'll also hear J.S. Bach's Third Cello Suite from Ralph Kirshbaum. The evening is capped off by another big symphony, Dvorak's Eighth; Wolfgang Sawallisch conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra.


Psalmic Symphony

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Speaking about his "Symphony of Psalms," Igor Stravinsky said that "it is not a symphony in which I have included Psalms to be sung. On the contrary, it is the singing of the Psalms that I am symphonizing." Written for the semicentennial anniversary of the Boston Symphony and premiered on this date in 1930, the "Symphony of Psalms" represents a return by Stravinsky to the Russian Orthodox Church after a sixteen year hiatus. We'll hear Stravinsky's own recording of it tonight, made just one year after the premiere.

Later on we'll offer a little preview of cellist Ralph Kirshbaum's upcoming concert at the Frick Museum on Sunday with Brahms's Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor. Leon Botstein leads the London Sinfonietta in Karol Szymanowski's Second Symphony, and we'll bring the evening to a grand close with Gustav Holt's "The Planets" (which premiered on this date in 1920); the composer himself conducts the London Symphony Orchestra.

» Visit the Frick Museum online.


Paul McCartney's "Ecce Cor Meum" live from Carnegie Hall

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

WNYC, co-presenting with NPR, brings you a special event tonight at 7:30pm as we broadcast the American premiere of Paul McCartney's classical oratorio "Ecce Cor Meum" (Behold My Heart), live from Carnegie Hall.

Scored for choir and orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke's under Gavin Greenaway joins the Concert Chorale of New York and the American Boychoir, with soprano Kate Royal as soloist.

Commissioned by Magdalen College, Oxford, McCartney's goal was to write "a choral piece which could be sung by young people the world over in the same way that Handel's Messiah is." The texts combine English and Latin, which McCartney concieved of after performing in a concert of composer John Tavener's work at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York. The resulting oratorio in four movements combines tradition and innovation into a cohesive and deeply affecting whole.

WNYC's John Schaefer and NPR's Fred Child co-host the broadcast, which includes a live interview with Sir Paul during intermission.


Young Schubert

Monday, November 13, 2006

Franz Schubert wrote his Symphony No. 3 in D major in 1815, a few months after his eighteenth birthday. Often overshadowed by the mighty "Unfinished" Symphony No. 9, the boisterously youthful Symphony No. 3 sparkles with robust rhythms and pastoral melodies. We'll hear an inspired (as well as extremely speedy) interpretation by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Carlos Kleiber.

Also tonight, we'll hear a violin concerto by Vivaldi, a violin sonata by Mozart, as well as less familiar works by Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi and contemporary composer Martin Bresnick. Finally, we'll hear two unexpected classical guitar arrangements of Beatles songs in anticipation of tomorrow night's broadcast of Paul McCartney's "Ecce Cor Meum," live from Carnegie Hall.


Tavener's Hidden Face

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Like many another modern composer, Sir John Taverner began his career writing neoclassical works in the mold of Igor Stravinsky. When he became involved in the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1970s, his music took a turn towards religious mysticism; tonight we'll hear an example in his melismatic work for oboe, countertenor, and viols, "The Hidden Face."

Also tonight, we'll be celebrating the anniversary of chemist (and avocational composer) Alexander Borodin's birthday in 1833; we'll hear his String Quartet No. 2 from the Brodsky Quartet. Another Tavener piece is in the works as well, along with Dvorak's Serenade in E from the London Chamber Orchestra under Christopher Warren-Green


Spotlight on: Paquito D'Rivera

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Legendary Cuban saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Paquito D'Rivera chats with us tonight. Born in 1948, D'Rivera was celebrated as a child prodigy before becoming one of the most sought-after performers and composers of both the jazz and classical worlds. We'll hear his works "Aires Tropicales" and "Dizzyness" performed by the versatile quintet Imani Winds, "Carinhoso" for cello, clarinet, guitar and percussion, and "Milonga par Tre" for bandoneon, violin, piano and saxophone.

Tonight's particularly eclectic program also includes an unexpected solo classical guitar arrangement of the Beatles' "Michelle," a sitar work by Ravi Shankar, Elizabethan lute ballads, as well as pieces by Scarlatti, Holst, and Mendelssohn.


Beaucoup de Couperin

Friday, November 10, 2006

Baroque composer Francois Couperin conceived of his "Concert Royals" for the weekly Sunday concerts of King Louis XIV. Perhaps contrary to their titles, the pieces are suites in the French tradition (rather than traditional three-movement concerti) with elements of lyrical Italian style. In addition to the Concert Royal No. 2 in D, we'll hear six other pieces by Couperin scattered throughout the evening.

Also on the program tonight are less familiar works by composers Adrian Schaposhnikoff, Arthur Bohme and Sir Arthur Bliss, juxtaposed with favorites from Debussy and Bach. We'll also hear Rossini's Overture from the Barber of Seville; tonight is opening night of a new production of the work at the Metropolitan Opera, starring Juan Diego Flores and Samuel Ramey, among many others.

» Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Metropolitan Opera


Tenors? Who Needs Tenors?

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Given the dearth of tenors in today's ranks who match up to their forebears, singers like bass-baritone Bryn Terfel have stepped in to claim superstar status in the world of opera. We'll celebrate this dynamic singer's 41rst birthday today with some selections by Gabriel Fauré and Georges Bizet.

Dennis Russell Davies leads the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra in Stravinsky's "Danses Concertantes"; we'll also enjoy dances of a different kind via Alexander Borodin in the "Polovestian Dances" — more commonly know as the melodic source for "Stranger in Paradise" from the musical "Kismet." Later on, wolf-enthusiast (and pianist) Hélène Grimaud tackles Brahms's Rhapsody in G Minor, first performed on this date in 1881 by the composer himself.


Reich Redux

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The New York Times counts Steve Reich as being "among the great composers of the century." Make that two centuries, so far — Reich turned 70 last month; tonight we continue our week-long series of Reich performances from the Whitney with the mesmerizing "Eight Lines" from the Manhattan School of Music Chamber Ensemble.

We'll also present some music inspired by upcoming concerts at Bargemusic: Schumann's Adagio and Allegro for cello and piano, and Gabriel Faure's First Violin Sonata. More violin comes our way courtesy of John Holloway, in Bach's Violin Sonata No. 3; Stephen Hough takes up the piano in Saint-Saëns's Fourth Piano Concerto. And, even though it just passed us by, we'll hear Shostakovich's "October Symphony" from the BBC Symphony under Mark Elder.

» Steve Reich @ 70 (Whitney Museum)

» Upcoming concerts at Bargemusic


Apples and Oranges

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

We'll enjoy some tasty fruit-flavored music this evening, including Morton Gould's "Apple Waltzes" from the American Symphony Orchestra. Also on the plate: Prokofiev's March from "The Love for Three Oranges" and Marga Richter's "Blackberry Vines and Winter Fruit."

Continuing our week-long presentation of Steve Reich at the Whitney, we'll hear flutist Ransom Wilson in "Vermont Counterpoint." Also, today marks the anniversary of the premiere of Rachmaninoff's stellar "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" — we'll hear it with Vladimir Feltsman and the Israel Philharmonic. Later on, Mitsuko Uchida channels Schubert in his "Three Piano Pieces"; we'll also preview Friday's "Musicians from Marlboro" Concert at the Metropolitan Museum with a Carl Nielsen Quintet for Woodwinds.

» Musicians from Marlboro at the Met Museum

» Steve Reich Exhibition at the Whitney Museum

Please Note: Due to extended election coverage on WNYC-FM, tonight's Evening Music will be heard on WNYC2.

» Listen to WNYC2 Classical 24/7 - 128k MP3 stream


L'Arlésienne

Monday, November 06, 2006

Even though he's most famous for his sultry opera "Carmen," Georges Bizet also wrote some great instrumental works (though they remained under-appreciated during his lifetime). Tonight we'll hear the delightful suite he crafted from his incidental music to the play "L'Arlésienne."

Also, tonight marks the beginning of a week-long celebration of Steve Reich's 70th birthday on Evening Music, with performances from the Whitney Museum's recent tribute concerts. Tonight we'll hear the complex yet fascinating "New York Counterpoint" from the PRISM Saxophone Quartet. Finally, our last hour brings a preview of Hélène Grimaud's upcoming Carnegie Hall concert on November 8th, as the dynamic young pianist performs Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

» Hélène Grimaud at Carnegie Hall this Wednesday

» More about the Steve Reich exhibition at the Whitney Museum


Parlez-Vous Francaix?

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Jean Francaix composed his winsome Octet for Clarinet, Horn and String Quintet in 1972. Dedicated to Schubert, Francaix uses the same scoring as in his predecessor's famous Octet, and achieves an uncannily effective blend of instrumentation. Uniquely French, the Octet combines a jaunty rhythmic sense with lyrical grace.

Tonight we'll also hear a 12th Century Cistercian Chant, as well as an orchestral suite by Georg Philip Telemann. We'll round out the evening with a fiesty two-guitar and cello trio by Brazilian film composer Sergio Assad, entitled "Menino."


Noh Problem

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Composer Garrett Fisher's chamber work "Moon in the Bucket" was inspired by "Matzukaze," a 14th century traditional Japanese Noh play. Unlike Western theatre, Noh drama concentrates on the tone and feeling words create, rather than a defined plot arc. Fisher's piece translates the Noh's purpose into music, creating an intensely evocative "mood poem."

In addition to another traditional Japanese song, we'll hear works by contemporary composers Frank Danzi and Alec Wilder. We'll round out the evening with a favorite gem, Bach's Cantata No. 98 "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan," performed by the English Baroque Soloists under John Eliot Gardiner.


Puttin' on the Glitz

Friday, November 03, 2006

Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 15 in B major is perhaps the most virtuosic of all the composer's concerti. Written in 1782, this bravura showstopper reflected Mozart's then-newfound reputation as one of Vienna's glitziest and most fashionable composers. We'll hear a brilliantly nuanced performance by pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli with the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by Cord Garben.

Also tonight, we'll be mixing it up with less traditional fare. Among the featured works are a marimba piece by Philip Glass, a series of viola-piano duos by Frank Bridge, and a Russian folk song interpreted by the Red Army Choir, as well as miscellaneous works by Arnold Schoenberg, Steven Foster, Richard Winslow, and Steve Reich.


Strauss's Farewell

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The octogenarian Richard Strauss never lived long enough to hear the premiere of his gorgeous "Four Last Songs," written as they were just a year before his passing. They have, however, been a staple of the Straussian soprano repertoire ever since; we'll hear them tonight from Karita Mattila and the Berlin Philharmonic.

The dream duo of Peter Serkin and Andreas Schiff take up Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D; we'll also mark the 49th birthday of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec with his "Tempest Fantasy." Cellist Leslie Parnas appears with pianist Doris Stevenson at Bargemusic tomorrow in a program of sonatas by Britten, Chopin and Shostakovich; we'll hear the latter work tonight with Parnas and Malcolm Frager.


The Saint That Saved Paris

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

As the story goes, St. Geneviéve's presence in Paris averted an attack by Attila the Hun in the year 451; nearly 1300 years later the French composer Marin Marais took her as his inspiration for "The Bells of St. Geneviéve." We'll hear this Baroque gem of a chaconne tonight from the Trio Sonnerie.

Also tonight, a Mozart favorite — the Symphony No. 25 — from Jane Glover and the London Mozart Players. Our second hour features Aaron Copland's biographical ballet, "Billy the Kid," followed by Mendelssohn's Victor Hugo-inspired overture, "Ruy Blas" from the Bamberg Symphony. J.S. Bach's "Brandenberg" Concerto No. 6 rounds out the evening, and we end up much where we began, with Mozart, as Alexander Schneider leads the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in the "Prague" Symphony.