Nicole Video

Nicole Narboni is a pianist familiar to San Antonio audiences. With training stretching from UT Austin to the Peabody Institute, her experiences and repertoire are wide ranging and profound. Her latest recording features composer Jean Francaix. Composing since he was a child, his outlook on life and music is as bright and full of wonder as one could wish.

To see a video where Nicole talks about her exploration of this little heard music click here.

Pearl Violins

The Daniel Pearl Foundation congratulates teen violin and fiddle players Ian Stewart (16) of Austin and Sam Weiser (14) of Norwalk, winners of the 2008 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins. Recently selected at the Mark O'Connor Strings Conference in San Diego, California, these up and coming musicians will have full use of the handcrafted instruments for a year; including appearances in October to be dedicated as part of the 7th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days.

The Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins were crafted by luthier Jonathan Cooper of Maine, in honor of Daniel Pearl, the journalist and talented musician who played violin and fiddle wherever he traveled. Past winners from the U.S.and Canada have become ongoing ambassadors for the Daniel Pearl World Music Days; using the power of music to transcend boundaries and unite people in Harmony for Humanity. The winners join our global network of concerts in dedicating their October performances to commemorate Danny's October 10th birthday.

"Each year at my String Camp, students who demonstrate great potential and/or exceptional talent are awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins, said American classical and multi genre violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, a member of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Honorary Committee. As these students practice and perform with the Pearl violins for a year -until the following Camp, when new students receive the instruments - they may come to appreciate the thirst for knowledge and message of healing that defined Pearl's life and career."

String Camp Students Spread Message Of Hope - Ian Stewart and Sam Weiser will play on the Pearl violins for one year

16 year old violinist, fiddler, and mandolin player Ian Stewart of Austin, Texas began studying classical violin at the age of six in his hometown of Austin, Texas. His musical journey took a turn when he attended his first Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp at the age of 10 where he discovered traditional American and world music. He has excelled in region and state contests and will be performing at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December. Ian is also one of the founding members of the cross-genre Americana band The Fireants; 2008 winners of the New Talent Competition at the local Old Settlers Music Festival and a regular fixture on the vibrant Austin music scene.

"Being this years recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin is an incredible opportunity for me to be part of this visionary mission. The message is formed from the simple idea that music is one of the common languages of mankind and can bridge what divides us. I am overwhelmingly honored to have this award pass through my hands and I hope to bring Daniels message to the widest possible audience."

Fourteen-year old Sam Weiser of Norwalk, Connecticut began Suzuki violin at the early age of 3. Talented on violin, viola, mandolin and guitar, he has played for numerous charitable and civic organizations at diverse venues including Carnegie Hall. Currently, the First Violinist in the Apollo Quartet; he was Concertmaster for the Norwalk Youth Symphony from 2004-2007, and in 2008 became the youngest first violinist in its Principal Orchestra. A runner up in the 2007 ASTA's National Alternative Strings Competition, Sam has performed professionally with both Mark O'Connor and with Yale Strom, one of the country's leading Klezmer musicians.

"It is an honor for me to receive the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin. It has brought upon me the determination and commitment to send a message of peace through the language of music. It also has inspired me to explore new ways of connecting to people and promoting Daniel's mission of tolerance."

October Is The Month That Musicians Can Dedicate Their Concerts To Raising Awareness

Daniel Pearl's murder by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002 touched millions who never knew him. By developing international programs focused on journalism, music and dialogue, the Daniel Pearl Foundation seeks to counter the hatred and intolerance that took his life. www.danielpearl.org.

Daniel Pearl World Music Days is an awareness raising network, not a fundraiser, and there is no financial obligation to participate. Musicians of every genre- professional, amateur, and youth- simply register their prescheduled or specially planned October performances at www.danielpearlmusicdays.org, and make a statement from the stage or in the printed program in support of the Harmony for Humanity theme. Since its inception in 2002, more than 2000 concerts in 75 countries have been dedicated.

New Glass Opera opera opera opera opera ooooo pppp eee rr a

Gerard Mortier, General Manager Designate of New York City Opera, has announced that City Opera is commissioning Philip Glass to compose a new opera, The Perfect American which imaginatively explores the life and career of Walt Disney. Based on the recent novel Der König von Amerika by Peter Stephan Jungk, the opera, presented in collaboration with Improbable, is scheduled to open City Opera's 2012-2013 season.

The world premiere of this work, the 24th opera by Philip Glass, will honor the 75th birthday of the distinguished composer, whose association with City Opera dates back to the 1980s, when the company presented the New York premiere of his Akhnaten and recorded his Satyagraha.

Mr. Mortier has also scheduled a Philip Glass work for his inaugural 2009-2010 season when City Opera will present the landmark opera Einstein on the Beach. This will be the first staged production of the work in New York since 1992, reuniting director and co-creator Robert Wilson with the Philip Glass Ensemble and the Lucinda Childs Dance Company. Einstein on the Beach will be City Opera's first production in the newly refurbished New York State Theater, to be re-named the David H. Koch Theater.

Peter Stephan Jungk's novel The Perfect American imagines the final months of Walt Disney's life as recounted by the fictional Austrian cartoonist Wilhelm Dantine, who worked for Disney in the 1940s and 50s. Through the prism of Dantine's European sensibility, and his feelings of admiration and resentment toward his boss, the novel presents a multilayered image of the mid-20th-century American dream.

"The story of the last days of Walt Disney, American Icon and creator of perhaps the most pervasive fantasy world on our planet, is surprisingly gripping and at times disturbing. But, on the face of it, how could it be anything else? The pulse of his life has to be the pulse of our own American culture. And, like other aspects of life here, it is unimaginable, alarming, and truly frightening. I am looking forward to beginning these collaborations with Gerard Mortier at the New York City Opera," stated Philip Glass.

Illegal? Let's dance!

Why is the forbidden fruit the most desirable? In the New World the Zarabanda, named after a beaked flute instrument of Guatemala, was sung and danced. It was performed by women and was so suggestive that Philippe II of Spain outlawed its use. We now know this work as the Sarabande and outside of Spain the dance flourished due to its naughty beginnings.

On the Piano this Sunday we explore the history and evolution of what could once get you excommunicated into a beautiful and respected art form. Sinful no more, the Sarabande, this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host Randy Anderson

Classical Spotlight - Passionate Stars

This week we feature the Emerson String Quartet, a local violinist performing tomorrow night, and the cast of San Antonio Opera. Tune in for Classical Spotlight this afternoon at 2pm and listen to the show online here.

First we head backstage at the Lila Cockrell Theater to talk with Carmen, Audrey Babcock; Don Jose, San Antonio's own Michael Wade Lee; Micaela, Sandra Lopez; Escamillo, Franco Pomponi; and Director Michael Scarola. They perform tomorrow through Sunday, find out more here. And read the TPR news report here.

Next, Stephanie Tepley, violin and Brent Watkins, piano, talk about their program of Mozart, Franck and Debussy at UTSA tomorrow night at 7:30. Admission is free. Learn more here.

Finally the Emerson String Quartet plays at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church as guest of the San Antonio Chamber Music Society. We'll talk with violinist Eugene Drucker and violist Lawrence Dutton about their music and recordings. Find out more, including ticket information online here or by calling 408 1558.

Next week we'll hear from the San Antonio Symphony and learn about some new music in Austin!

New Release: A Flowering Tree

Today marks the release of John Adams' A Flowering Tree from Nonesuch Records. It was commissioned for the 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth - and features soprano Jessica Rivera, tenor Russell Thomas, and baritone Eric Owens with the London Symphony Orchestra and composer John Adams conducting.

It's the story of an impoverished young Indian girl, Kumudha, who has the magical ability to transform herself into a tree and sells her blossoms at the palace to help her ailing mother. The Prince falls in love with her, and they marry but are torn apart by his jealous sister. After Kumudha is cast out into a netherworld as half woman, half tree, and the Prince becomes a wandering beggar, they meet again years later at the prince’s sister’s palace. No longer physically recognizable, Kumudha reunites with her prince through her beautiful singing voice.

John Clare spoke with Eric Owens, who created the role of General Leslie Groves in Adams' Dr. Atomic, about this new recording, and his debut at the Met this fall.

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Genius!

Congratulations to Alex Ross for receiving a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant. Alex is one of four music-related prizewinners (Out of 25 total). Listen to Alex read from his book, The Rest is Noise.

If you heard the Austin Symphony last weekend, you saw another winner: Violinist Leila Josefowicz is also officially a genius! Listen to our conversation about Beethoven Concerto and more here.

Other music "Geniuses" are jazz saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón, and composer-instrument builder Walter Kitundu. The NY Times has the rest of the of winners in this story. Congrats!

Opera Fury

She's been taking the opera world by storm, from the Met to La Scala, and from Carnegie Hall to Wigmore Hall, Joyce DiDonato is one of the world's great singers and performers. She also makes time to share thoughts and photos on her blog, YankeeDiva.
This January she'll release a new cd, Furore, with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques on Virgin Classics, take a sneak peak:

And tune in for Thursday night at the Opera, with host Ron Moore at 8 pm for the romantic and passionate Werther by Jules Massenet on KPAC and KTXI.

It's your birthday too?

Paying attention to birthdays as we do in the radio business, one can't help but notice some interesting coincidences in who was born on which day. Now, Beverly Sills and Miles Davis shared a birthday. Can you imagine them both checking their horoscope and wondering if these two have anything in common? Well, they...they, were both musicians!

Some days have few musical births and others are chock-a-block with them, like the 25th and 26th of September. On those fecund days we have Rameau, Shostakovich, Colin Davis, Glenn Gould, Alfred Cortot, Charles Munch and George Gershwin. Since so many of these musicians were also pianists, the Piano programming this Sunday came together quite easily. It's call the Birthday show and I hope you tune in this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Classical Spotlight: Symphonic Starts

We'll hear from two orchestras this week, The Symphony of the Hills and the Austin Symphony Orchestra on Classical Spotlight.

First, director Jay Dunahoo (left) stops by the Texas Public Radio studios to discuss the Symphony of the Hills opening program, U.K. is Okay. The performances are September 28th & October 2nd at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater - City Center for the Performing Arts in Kerrville. They'll play Eric Coates' London Again Suite; Mendelssohn's Fingal’s Cave Overture, Op. 26; Vaughn Williams' Rhosymedre - Prelude on a Welsh Hymn Tune; Haydn's Symphony No. 104 in D (London); and Percy Grainger's Irish Tune from County Derry. Tickets and information are available here.

Then we talk with virtuoso violinist Leila Josefowicz (right) about her Beethoven Concerto performance with the Austin Symphony; and discuss the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis' Field of Infinite Forms with music director Peter Bay (left).

They also play Wagner and Stravinsky on September 19 & 20, at 8:00 p.m. in the The Long Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Listen to the interviews on the TPR website here. Don't miss Classical Spotlight tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 2 p.m. on KPAC and KTXI.