Thursday, April 5

Extreme emotions on today's show. First: the "Ascension" Symphony by Heitor Villa-Lobos, which as you might guess has an upward, optimistic thrust. Last: most of Antonin Dvorak's Stabat Mater, exploring the Virgin Mary's sorrow on seeing her son crucified. Dvorak wrote it after the deaths of three of his own children. Between those two hours: new releases with less of a psychic back story.

11 AM

• Villa-Lobos: Symphony No. 2, "Ascencao" (Ascension). Radio Sym Orch Stuttgart, St. Clair (CPO 999 785)
• Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria. Lamosa, Nashville Sym cellos, Schermerhorn (Naxos 557460-62)

12 N

• Vivaldi: Lute Concerto in D major, RV 93. Lislevand and friends (Naive 30429)
• Saint-Saens: Tarantelle for flute, clarinet and piano. Schulz, Schmidt, Inui (Naxos 8.570309)
• Serebrier: Fantasia for strings. London Phil, Serebrier (Naxos 8.559303)
• Harbison: Gatsby Etudes for piano. Aizawa (Nazos 8.559243)
• Fasch: Bassoon Sonata in C major. Epoca Barocca (CPO 777 204)

1 PM

• Dvorak: Stabat Mater (except mvts 1-2). Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Goerke, Simpson, Olsen, Berg, Shaw (Telarc 80506)

Note: Tomorrow at 11:00 for Good Friday we're airing The Seven Last Words of Christ, music by Haydn played by the Vermeer String Quartet. The following two Fridays are devoted to our spring on-air fund drive (please support the music you love!). Requests with Alan Cooke return April 27.