Bach plus seven

We thought you would enjoy this take on Bach's Prelude from the Cello Suite #1:

Flavorful (and flowerful) Mozart

For your enjoyment, an upcoming release on DG

Cello there!

Over the past two years, David Finckel has been posting Cello Talks, his innovative, one-of-a-kind series of short videos that cover a remarkably wide range of topics relating to David's vast knowledge of the cello and cello technique. The videos have been filmed on the road by David in a multitude of locations, ranging from Japan to Russia to Scandinavia and even one in-flight from 30,000 up in the sky! Cello talks have attracted an exuberant and devoted following around the globe.
To commemorate the Cello Talks, a website (http://www.cellotalks.com/) has been created where you can search all the videos by topic. The videos can also be found on David and Wu Han's blog, their YouTube and Vimeo channels.
Here is the first one:

Talk 1: Introduction from David Finckel and Wu Han on Vimeo.
And the most recent one:

Talk 100: Bridges and Strings from David Finckel and Wu Han on Vimeo.

Ein Hundeleben

Do you have a pet who keeps you company? Here is a pooch that entertains as well!


When will we see him on David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks?

POTUS Music

About a year ago, artists and musicians were invited to the White House to discuss the arts and perform.  These performances are now available to watch free online.  Enjoy musicians like Alyssa Weilerstein, Sharon Isbin, Joshua Bell and Awadagin Pratt:


There are more videos from the White House here with musical performances: Hulu

Houston, we have a performer

Joyce DiDonato just finished up in Europe and is coming to Houston in January to perform in Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie.
She just posted some wonderful videos showing how things work behind the scenes for her...it's both brilliant and sweet, enjoy:



Check out Part two as well here!

New composer in town

Violinist and Composer Daniel Kobialka has recently relocated to San Antonio. He stopped by the TPR studios for a chat with host John Clare. Hear some of his music and their conversation Thursday on Classical Spotlight.
You can also see Daniel in the studio here:

Artist Interview: Walden Chamber Players

The Walden Chamber Players were in town as part of their residency with Trinity University...they sat down with John Clare for an interview. Professor Carl Leafstedt also joined the talk, who coordinated the visit!

They also played a selection from their program, Saariaho's I feel a second heart:

SA Sym: Sebastian Lang Lessing

SA Sym: Sebastian Lang Lessing from Classical Spotlight on Vimeo.

Gil on Sarasate - Run Gil Run!

Very funny video promoting his new cd!


Check him out here in San Antonio as well.

Gil in SA

A great discussion about violin, concertos of the 1930s, and teaching:

Shaham in SA from Classical Spotlight on Vimeo.

James Dick @ Round Top

This last Saturday audiences got a preview of the August to April series @ Round Top. Host John Clare was on hand to emcee and film some of the concert...here is the finale, with founder & pianist James Dick. He plays two impromptus by Franz Schubert.

Founder of Round Top

The International Festival-Institute at Round Top continues through July 11th. Host John Clare recently sat down with James Dick, educator-pianist-founder of the festival.

Conductors over the summer

Lots of things going on this summer, including some of our San Antonio Symphony music director candidates...
On July 21st, Napa Valley Festival del Sole, one of the world's most distinctive summer festivals, presents a unique evening of exquisite music, food and wine. A portion of the proceeds from the evening benefit the Redford Center, a year-round haven for independent thinking, inspired creativity and social change, located in the Bay Area.
The benefit evening starts off with a concert at Castello di Amorosa, Dario Sattui's dramatic medieval-style Tuscan castle and winery at 6:30pm. The concert features Antonio Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons,' performed by 14-year old wunderkind violinist Chad Hoopes and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas under the baton of Alondra de la Parra. Robert Redford takes the stage to narrate the four sonnets Vivaldi wrote to accompany this much-loved work.
After the concert, artists and patrons are treated to dinner under the stars with Agustin and Valeria Huneeus at their home on the grounds of Quintessa winery. Their beautiful Rutherford estate includes a lake, a river, five mountains and 170 acres planted to classic Bordeaux grape varieties. The evening's menu showcases the finest in organic and local ingredients, and includes seasonal fruits and vegetables from Quintessa's gardens. The featured wines will be the 2008 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc and the classic 2006 Quintessa.
The pre-concert luncheon will be held at HALL Napa Valley and hosted by former US ambassador to Austria Kathryn Hall and her husband, investor Craig Hall. This luncheon features innovative seasonal cuisine representing the four seasons paired with three of HALL's fine wines: the 2008 HALL Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 HALL Napa Valley Rose and 2008 HALL Darwin Red.
Also, just down the road at the ROUND TOP INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, Saturday, June 27, at 8:00 pm in the Festival Concert Hall, you can hear Johannes Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Texas Festival Orchestra and conductor Christoph Campestrini (seen left with host John Clare).

Then Saturday, July 4,at 8:00 pm in Festival Concert Hall, hear Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra with the Texas Festival Orchestra and conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
See the all of the music director candidates in video interviews here, and be sure to catch the San Antonio Symphony this weekend in Strauss, Mendelssohn, and Mussorgsky! Several of the candidates return for the 2009-10 season, watch for more here.

SOLI gone mad: Webisode 1

SOLI Chamber Ensemble plays music by Jennifer Higdon, Michael Torke and Peter Maxwell Davies this next week. Tuesday night you can hear them at Ruth Taylor Recital Hall at 7:30 and Wednesday they present "SOLI gone mad!" at the McNay Art Museum at 7:30pm.
Recently host John Clare caught up with the ensemble rehearsing, see the video:

You can also hear an interview with composers Higdon and Torke with Clare on the Classical Spotlight page here.

Classical Spotlight: Native American Flute

Recently flutist Gary Stroutsos stopped by the TPR Studios to talk about his San Fernando Cathedral performance. He spoke with Host John Clare and played a selection.

Listen to Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoons @ 2pm on KPAC & KTXI.

Maestro Rossen Milanov

Texas Public Radio will speak with all the candidates for the San Antonio Symphony Music Director Search and have them on Classical Spotlight. You'll get a chance to learn more about the maestros - don't forget to attend the symphony and fill out the questionaire as well!

This week we talk with Rossen Milanov. John Clare asked about the program and music.

Welcher Fifth: complete interview

Tonight the Austin Symphony premieres Dan Welcher's Fifth Symphony. Host John Clare went to UT-Austin to speak with the composer about the new work.

You can also hear more about the concert, and other happenings in and around San Antonio on Classical Spotlight.

Welcher Fifth: webisode 3

Later this week, the Austin Symphony premieres Dan Welcher's Fifth Symphony. Host John Clare went to UT-Austin to speak with the composer about the new work.



Listen for more this next Thursday on Classical Spotlight, starting at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI. We'll have more webisodes with the composer here as well!

Welcher Fifth: webisode 2

This Friday, the Austin Symphony premieres Dan Welcher's Fifth Symphony. Host John Clare went to UT-Austin to speak with the composer about the new work.



Listen for more this next Thursday on Classical Spotlight, starting at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI. We'll have more webisodes with the composer here as well!