Classical Spotlight: Rounding out the summer

Nicolas Gilles, with a cello he created
 - photo by John Clare

As the regular concert season closes, a few more concerts and releases entertain South Texas. Round Top International Music Festival has its 40th season and violinist Angele Dubeau has a summer blockbuster, A Time For Us!
Exciting times at Terra Nova Violins as renowned Luthier Nicolas Gilles visited San Antonio with a new violin and cello! Hear about all of these on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoon at 1pm on KPAC & KTXI.
- host John Clare

Sharing music

How do you share music or learn about new pieces? Obviously, you can listen to KPAC & KTXI for all the great classical music...but just recently Spotify was released in the US and we see lots of friends sharing playlists. Check out Troy Peter's spotify playlist and its usefulness for YOSA, http://open.spotify.com/user/troypeters
Pandora has been a longtime favorite for many. What do you use and why? What are your favorites?

Simple gift ideas

Still shopping for that right gift for that person? Didn't find what you wanted on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Check out our suggestions from the KPAC staff for your holiday needs: http://www.tpr.org/articles/2010/12/simplegifts.html
There's more to come, as well as the year's best of list and don't forget to check out the KPAC 100: http://www.tpr.org/articles/2009/09/kpac100.html

Stay abreast of holiday concerts this season too on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoons at 1pm on KPAC & KTXI.

Top Ten Classical Makeout Songs

It is toward the end of the movie "Ten" that Dudley Moore hears what Bo Derek's character likes to focus on while listening to Ravel's Bolero. Perhaps you have a babysitter, or it's date night...what do you want to listen to with your sweetheart? KPAC host John Clare has some listening selections for you, some classical kisses if you will.

10. Philip Glass Modern Love Waltz [listen here]
9. Ravel Piano Concerto in G, ii Adagio assai (listen here)
8. John Corigliano Red Violin, 11. Coitus Musicalis (listen here)
7. Edgar Meyer If I knew [listen here]

6. Verdi La Traviata, "Wild my dream of ecstasy" "De' miei bollenti spiriti" (listen here)
5. Paul Moravec Vince & Jan 1945 (listen here)
4. Korngold Die Tote Stadt, Marietta's Lied ("Glück das mir verblieb") (listen here)
3. Isaac Albeniz Leyenda (listen here)
2. Tchaikovsky Symphony #5, ii andante cantabile (listen here)
1. Rachmaninoff Symphony #2, iii Adagio (listen here)

What songs do you put on for romance? Tell us in the comments below.

We're also going to countdown the Top 1oo in San Antonio in October...be sure to let us know your favorites by visiting TPR dot org!

Check out our Top Ten Classical Breakup Songs too!

Artist Interview: Leif Ove Andsnes

The latest release by Leif Ove Andsnes is music by Dalbavie, Lutoslawski, Kurtag and Sorenson. The disc includes two concerti and solo piano music. Host John Clare spoke with Andsnes about the music and upcoming projects.
Listen to the interview here (mp3 file).

Andsnes presents a new project with Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition this fall.

Five Browns in Kerrville

The Five Browns performed Monday and Tuesday in Kerrville. They spoke with John Clare, and also gave an outreach concert Tuesday morning, see some of it below!

You can hear their Tuesday night concert on KPAC & KTXI on Sunday, May 17th at 12 noon!

Composer Interview: Jake Heggie

Composer Jake Heggie was in residence last week at TLU in Seguin. Host John Clare sat down with Heggie in between rehearsals and learned more about the composer, including his start in composition, the new opera for Dallas Opera and coaching young singers & composers.

Listen for more insights with musicians on Classical Spotlight, every Thursday afternoon at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI.

Tenor-itis

Mexican tenor Villazon needs larynx surgery
Rolando Villazon's (seen left) concert organizer in Germany says the Mexican tenor needs surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx and has canceled two performances in the country.
Deutsche Entertainment AG said in Wednesday's statement that Villazon should be well enough to return to the stage by the end of the year.
Villazon apologized to his fans for canceling a concert slated to take place in Berlin on Thursday and another in Hamburg on May 8. They are to be rescheduled for 2010.
Earlier this month Villazon was forced to cancel a series of performances at New York's Metropolitan Opera due to acute laryngitis.

Tune in this Sunday for the artistry of Juan Diego Florez (seen right) on Itinerarios with James Baker. Sunday night at 7pm, we'll have his latest cd and an interview with the Peruvian tenor! The reigning “King of the high C” tells what it’s like to sing an encore at the Met and of his love for the sentimental Latin song. Only on KPAC & KTXI, your classical oasis!

Classical Spotlight: St. Mark's Trio

St. Mark's Episcopal Church presents a recital of Mendelssohn's music this Sunday. Last Monday morning host John Clare heard musicians prepare including choral music, an organ sonata and this d minor piano trio:

Listen to Classical Spotlight for more, every Thursday afternoon at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI.

Classical Spotlight: TX Mysterium

Live at the TPR Studios...
Here is the first work, Call up the storm:

And the other, rain music:


Hear the interview at here. Mysterium of Modern Music from Texas State University at San Marcos plays in San Antonio Saturday night at 7pm.

Classical Spotlight: Angela Malek

Recently soprano Angela Malek and pianist Kristin Roach came by the TPR Studios to talk about their performance of French songs, Sunday March 22nd at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. They also sang some Jacques Leguerney!



Tune in for the full interview on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoon at 2pm on KPAC and KTXI.

Soley SOLI: Webisode 4

SOLI Chamber Ensemble presents works by John Williams, Kevin Puts, Diego Vega and Robert Xavier Rodriguez next week at Gallery Nord and Trinity University. TPR will feature interviews and music with SOLI, continuing today with this webisode: John Clare speaks with composer Robert Xavier Rodriguez about Musica por un tiempo.


Stay tuned for more interviews, music and be sure to listen to Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoons at 2pm for more of the music scene in and around San Antonio!

Classical Spotlight: March 5

This week we feature several local concerts and a new release from Koch International Classics!

Tonight and Sunday don't miss the Symphony of the Hills in a program, "For the Young and Young at Heart". They'll play Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Smetana and Tubby the Tuba. Conductor Jay Dunahoo, pictured right, spoke with host John Clare about the concert. Find out more here.

Tuesday night, the Olmos Ensemble presents a concert of "Romance and Humor" with special guests, Anne Epperson, piano and Linda Poetschke, soprano. Founder and Artistic Director Mark Ackerman, pictured left, came by the TPR studios and talked to us about the program that includes Robert and Clara Schumann, Francaix and Alfred Bachelet.

Finally, Anne Akiko Meyers, pictured right, has a new cd out from Koch called Smile. It features pieces by Piazzolla, Messiaen, Schubert and traditional folk tunes. She spoke from Carnegie Hall about the new release.

Listen to Classical Spotlight every Thursday afternoon at 2pm on KPAC and KTXI, your classical oasis in San Antonio and the Hill Country.

Joshua Bell Reception

Thanks for everyone who attended the post concert reception at Bohanan's Prime Steaks & Seafood (courtyard seen left from the reception above), especially Antonio Strad Violins, the San Antonio Symphony and the Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts.

Enjoy some photos of the evening:
Joshua enters and is greeted by TPR members and fans!
Remember that one spot in the Ysaye? That was awesome! Joshua Bell with Dr. Ted Kniker
David Mollenauer and Joshua Bell catching up.
Joshua with friends of the Russell Hill Fund for the Arts.
Cheers with fans!
Folks enjoying drinks and desserts.
Music Director Randy Anderson and Jan.
Bass player Yuan Xiong Lu and resident conductor Ken David Masur.
Joshua and announcer John Clare.
Do you have some post-concert photos or thoughts about the concert? Share them with us in the comments.

Our thanks to Joe Murgo for taking such great photos!

Mendelssohn at 200

Tuesday marks the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth. Celebrations and concerts will take place honoring his music - do you have a favorite work or performance? Let us know in the comments.
One of my all time favorite pieces to hear and play of Mendelssohn is his youthful Octet for Strings. You can hear it Tuesday afternoon on KPAC and KTXI.
I remember one performance in Wichita, KS years ago with the Pro Arte Quartet and the Fairmount String Quartet...the performance was musical and quite brisk, but marred in the cute and concise Scherzo by a chirping cricket in the hall. After the finale, an astute audience member killed the offending cricket that had been lurking near the exit. The audience on its feet and shouting for an encore got to hear the scherzo again, this time without the chirping - "senza cicada".

Musicians and those curious to see the actual music of Mendelssohn can visit the IMSLP/Petrucci Library online - it's completely free.
This is another great link to everything Mendelssohn, FelixMendelssohn.com.

Finally, I thought I'd share a youthful memory of mine about Mendelssohn - actually at the time my violin teacher was learning Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto herself - the Hooked on Classics version of Mendelssohn!

Inaugural Music

Just before Barack Obama was sworn in as America's 44th president this morning, violinist Itzhak Perlman, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gabriela Montero, performed the premiere of "Air and Simple Gifts," composed for the occasion by John Williams. Hear it again in an exclusive national radio broadcast on Wednesday's Performance Today, with Fred Child, from American Public Media - 12pm on KTXI and 6pm on KPAC.

One for the kids

Are you out of school for the Holidays and need something to do? Just by reading this blog you could win a free music load from NAXOS records! Just tell us your name, school and your favorite piece of Classical Music and you might win!
Send us your name, school and your favorite piece of classical music to Letters@tpr.org or send a 3x5 notecard to:
Young Person Blog
Texas Public Radio
8401 Datapoint Suite 800
San Antonio, TX 78229

Entries must be received by December 31st, 2008

Here are some classics for kids of all ages with the Muppets!




Rules: Winners will be determined by a random drawing; one entry per person; no monetary value to download(s); young person is defined as an individual under the age of 19 currently enrolled in a public or home school as of January 1, 2009. Winners will be notified by email.

New Release: American Muse

Did you know William Schuman created and conducted the Alamo Society Orchestra as a young man? He was sixteen and it was his first musical organization, "Billy Schuman and his Alamo Society Orchestra" playing for proms, bar mitzvahs and weddings!

Joseph Polisi (left) has just written American Muse: The Life and Times of William Schuman. He recently spoke with host John Clare about the new biography about the great American composer and administrator in his office at the Juilliard School in New York City.
See the video interview here or click on the video below.



You can purchase American Muse here at Amazon and a portion will benefit Texas Public Radio.

Classical Spotlight: Voices

We touch base with lots of voices in the community on today's Classical Spotlight!

First we hear from Stephanie Key and Ertan Torgul from Soli, about a concert tonight at Blue Star Art Center's Main Gallery at 7:30pm.

Then Karem Sezen, conductor with the Vienna Boys Choir talks about their tour and performing at Laurie Auditorium Friday night at 7:30pm.

The Tuesday Music Club presents Opera to Broadway with Alissa Anderson, mezzo soprano; Marianne Cope, soprano; and Christopher DeVage, baritone. The concert is November 18th at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 2:00 pm.

Tuesday night at Bjorn’s a cd release party is scheduled for Voci di Sorelle from 7 to 8:30pm. Their second cd is called Magnificat, Early Christmas Music.

Also, violinist Craig Sorgi plays a recital Tuesday night at 7:30 in Ruth Taylor Recital Hall on the Trinity University campus. More info at 999-8406.

Ribbit, Rippit: Haydn's Frog Quartet

The Prazak Quartet is in town, playing for the San Antonio Chamber Music Society and performing in schools as outreach.
They stopped by the Texas Public Radio studios to talk with John Clare (seen right with the quartet) and performed in the studio as well!
Here they show why Haydn's Opus 50 is called the "Frog" - listen and watch the first violinist who plays the same note on two different strings (he's on the left hand side of the screen.)

They think Haydn wrote this to amuse his audience, including the Prince and Emperor! You can also see the Prazak's play a movement of Haydn here.