Thursday, June 28

Tying in to offerings at the Madison Chamber Music Festival, we hear the Milwaukee-based Fine Arts Quartet (which appears Friday in Madison - that's Madison, Georgia, not Wisconsin) and pianist Valentina Lisitsa (who plays Schumann there tonight), as well as major Mussorgsky that Vassily Primakov performs Sunday afternoon in its original piano form.

Interested in acquiring today's CDs? Here are links to the Glazunov, Brahms, Tavener, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky cited below. They should be available from PB-1 as well as Amazon, and it does benefit GPB if you go through PB-1.



(Valentina Lisitsa's performance of Schubert/Liszt comes from the Georgian Chamber Players' recent two-CD set Our Sunday Best. On the Atlanta-based ACA Digital label, it's not available nationally but should be. It includes a thrilling Mendelssohn Octet with William Preucil as first violinist, plus assorted Haydn, Dohnanyi, Shostakovich and Schubert.)

11 AM

• Glazunov: Five Novelettes, Op. 15: Alla Spagnuola. Fine Arts Quartet (Naxos 8.570256)
• Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 18. Lindsays, Williams, Watkins (ASV 4016)
• Tavener: Village Wedding. Chanticleer (Teldec 3984 24570)
  

12 N

• Mozart: Sinfonia No. 7 in D, K. 45. Concentus Musicus Vienna, Harnoncourt (DHM 63970)
  
• Schubert/Liszt: Die Taubenpost. Valentina Lisitsa (ACA 20102)
• Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence, string sextet in D minor. Ying Quartet, Dunham, Katz (Telarc 80685)

1 PM

• Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition. Oslo Phil Orch, Jansons (EMI 50824)
• Nielsen: Helios Overture. Danish National Radio Sym, Rozhdestvensky (Chandos 9287)

Wednesday, June 27

Saturday in Kansas City I visited the Bloch Building, the new wing of the Nelson-Atkins Gallery. Beyond the architecture and the art, what struck me was the quality of the text that accompanied the artworks. (Curators, help me here: what's the term for those explanations-legends-descriptions on tidy squares mounted to museum walls?) The blurbs were well written and interesting, concise yet full of information to help the viewer appreciate the art - even the artistically uninformed viewer. For me it brought to mind the role (or at least the goal) of the classical radio host: to provide a few choice comments to deepen the listener's understanding and experience of the music.

A note: At 5:30 today in Madison, Georgia, the Madison Chamber Music Festival offers a program of Civil War-era Americana music and classic spirituals. ... And now, your recommended daily allotment of Midday Music data:

11 AM

• Dowland: Fantasie No. 6 (A Fancy). Nigel North (Naxos 8.557586)
• Vorisek: Bravura Variations for piano and orchestra, Op. 14. Boris Krajny, Prague Chamber Orch, Parik (Supraphon 10 3868)
• D'Indy: Istar, Symphonic Variations. Prague Sym Orch, Fekete
• Smulders: Piano Concerto in A minor (1892). Ivo Janssen, Netherlands Radio Sym, Bakels (NM Classics 92058)

12 N

• Arnold: You Know What Sailors Are: Scherzetto. East Winds (Naxos 8.570294)
• Mozart: Violin Sonata in E minor, K. 304. Rachel Podger, Gary Cooper (Channel 24607)
• Liszt: Transcendental Etude No. 10 in F minor. Andre Watts (EMI 47381)
• Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor. Itzhak Perlman, London Phil, Ozawa
• Rodrigo: El Album de Cecilia. Artur Pizzaro (Naxos 8.557923)
  

1 PM

• Wagner: The Flying Dutchman, Overture. Berlin Phil, Karajan (EMI 76896)
• Wolf-Ferrari: La Vita Nuova, op. 9 (oratorio after Dante): Prologue and Part 1. Berlin Radio Sym, Lindsley, Fortune, Choirs of St. Hedwig's Cathedral, Baker (Koch 1267)

Tuesday, June 26

A mystery: Did Richard Strauss intentionally quote his youthful Symphony in F minor (1883) in the opening notes of An Alpine Symphony in 1915? Though not otherwise related, both symphonies start with a descending scale figure with the same rhythms and almost identical intervals. If you're aware of any references to this similarity, please write middaymusic@gpb.org. Thanks!

Back in the realm of the known, we do know that there are concerts aplenty going on at the Madison Chamber Music Festival. Tonight's concert with cellist Lynn Harrell is sold out, but you can hear him play Rozsa and Beethoven on this program instead, and catch a later concert in Madison.

Here are some of the best recordings aired today: music of Moravec (including his Pulitzer-winning Tempest), Harrell and Ashkenazy fiercely playing Beethoven, Vladar doing Mozart, and Zacharias and friends doing justice to Schumann. Friendly reminder: Though these are Amazon links, we encourage you to buy through PB-1 .


11 AM

• Strauss: Symphony in F minor, Op. 12 (1883). Slovak Philharmonic, Halasz (Records International 7005)
• Rozsa: Cello Concerto: Finale. Lynn Harrell, Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80518)

12 N

• Moravec: Scherzo (2002). Trio Solisti (Naxos 8.559323)
• Pichl: Sinfonia in B-flat, "Melpomene." Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon (Naxos 8.557761)
• Grieg: Bridal Procession Passes By. Royal Scottish National Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557854)
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. Lynn Harrell, Vladimir Ashkenazy (London 417 628)

1 PM

• Mozart: Rondo in D, K. 382. Stefan Vladar, Camerata Salzburg (Harmonia Mundi 901042)
• Vierdanck: Passamezzo in A minor. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44. Christian Zacharias, Cherubini Quartet (EMI 50819)

Monday, June 25

If you head east from Atlanta on I-20 to a spot almost due south of Athens, you find the exit for Madison, Georgia. And you might especially want to find Madison over the next couple of weeks because of the Madison Chamber Music Festival. Directed by Atlanta Symphony principal cellist Christopher Rex, this year's festival offers performances by the Fine Arts String Quartet, pianist Valentina Lisitsa, cellist Lynn Harrell, the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet, the Vega Quartet and more. Concerts run from tonight (launching the festivities with a program of jazz-influenced classics including Milhaud's La Creation du Monde) through July 3. Please see the complete festival schedule via the link above.

And now, a couple of notes on two of today's less familiar works. Locatelli called the last of his eye-crossingly difficult Opus 3 violin concertos "The Labyrinth," adding to the score the Latin phrase "Facilis aditus, difficilus exitus," which loosely translates as: "Sure, it's easy enough to get in, but just try to find your way out the other side." By contrast, Patrick Zimmerli's piano trios were written not to stump the players, but rather to play with styles - mixing classical and jazz idioms. Our recording of his Piano Trio No. 2 features the musicians he wrote it for, and I especially get a kick out of the momentum at the end. Hope you caught it and got caught up in it as well.

11 AM

• Puccini: Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro." Renee Fleming, London Phil, Mackerras (Decca 289 467 049)
• Locatelli: "The Labyrinth," Violin Concerto No. 12 in D major from Op. 3, L'Arte del Violino). Mela Tenenbaum, Pro Musica Prague, Kapp (Ess.a.y 1069)
• Mendelssohn: "Italian" Symphony (No. 4 in A major). Vienna Phil, Gardiner (DG 289 459 156)

12 N

• Joplin: A Breeze from Alabama. Benjamin Loeb (Naxos 8.559277)
• Milhaud: La Creation du Monde. Branford Marsalis, Orpheus Chamber Orch (Sony 89251)
• Zimmerli: Piano Trio No. 2. Yoo, Mermagen, Novacek (Arabesque 6785)

1 PM

• Heinichen: Sonata for two in C minor for oboe and bassoon (and archlute). Epoca Barocca (CPO 777 115)
• Mozart: String Quartet in G major, K. 387. Klenke Quartet (Profil 04032)
• Ravel: Mother Goose Ballet, selections transcr choir. Accentus, Anorga, Equilbey (Naive 5048)

Thursday, June 21

It's the solstice and we've got ourselves a theme. Break out the summer music, laddies!

11 AM

• Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: "Summertime." Kathleen Battle, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Previn (DG 427 787)
• Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Overture. Vienna Phil, Thielemann (DG 289 474 5022)
• Delius: Summer Night on the River. Welsh National Opera Orch, Mackerras (Argo 433 704)
• Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Ete, selections. Measha Brueggergosman, Quebec Sym, Talmi (CBC 5236)
• Glazunov: The Seasons: Spring and Summer. Royal Phil, Ashkenazy (London 433 000)

12 N

• Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March. Boston Sym, Ozawa (DG 439 897)
• Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Summer. Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica (Nonesuch 79568)
• Rodrigo: Concierto de Estio. Mikhail Ovrutsky, Castille and Leon Sym Orch, Bragado-Darman (Naxos 8.555840)
• Alfven: The Mountain King: Summer Rain. Royal Stockholm Phil, Jarvi (BIS 585)
• Alfven: Midsummer Vigil (Swedish Rhapsody No. 1). Minnesota Orch, Oue (Reference 80)

1 PM

• Grondahl: Fantasy Pieces, Op. 45: Summer Song. Iceland Sym, Engeset (Naxos 8.557017)
• Prokofiev: Summer Night, op. 123: Suite. Russian National Orch, Pletnev (DG 445 830)
• Bax: Summer Music. Royal Scottish National Orch, Lloyd-Jones (DG 445 830)
• Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Kathleen Battle, Orch of St. Luke's, Previn (DG 437 787)
  

Wednesday, June 20

The newest recordings today feature two pianists: Alexandre Tharaud in a Couperin keyboard miniature with a multidextrous twist, and Denis Matsuev in Tchaikovsky's anything-but-miniature First Piano Concerto.

Also of recent issue are lute music by Dowland, splendiferous choral Monteverdi and Bach arranged for trumpet:


11 AM

• Beethoven: Octet in E-flat for winds. Members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (ASV 807)
• Dowland: Mrs. Vaux's Galliard for lute. Nigel North (Naxos 8.557586)
• Franck: Violin Sonata in A major. Leonidas Kavakos, Anne Epperson (Koch 7009)

12 N

• Dvorak: Scherzo Capriccioso. Royal Liverpool Phil, Pesek (Virgin 90797)
• Francaix: Quartet for English horn and strings. Patrick McFarland et al. (Arundax 80140)
• Couperin: Musete de Taverni for five hands. Alexandre Tharaud (Harmonia Mundi 901956)
• Monteverdi: Magnificat II for 7 voices, from Vespers of the Blessed Virgin. Concerto Italiano (Naive 30403)

1 PM

• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. Denis Matsuev, St. Petersburg Phil Orch, Temirkanov (RCA 88697002332)
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055, for trumpet. Alison Balsom et al. (EMI 58047)

Tuesday, June 19

Today's recent releases include a lesser-known overture by Elgar, Rameau played anachronistically but well on piano, Respighi's tale of female gnomes who seduce and kill an innocent man, a Shostakovich ballet about a communist-capitalist soccer match and a Mozart violin sonata with period instruments.

Please note: While these images link you to details at Amazon.com, we respectfully encourage you to order your CDs through Public Broadcasting One (PB-1, 877-448-4719), because then a wee bit of the price comes back to support GPB. Thanks for keeping that helpful option in mind.

11 AM

• Elgar: Froissart Overture. New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 8.557577)
• Rameau: Pieces de Clavecin (1724): selections from Suite in E. Tzimon Barto (Ondine 1067)
• Respighi: Ballad of the Gnomes. Philharmonia Orch, Simon (Cala 4028)
• Pinkham: Introduction, Nocturne and Rondo for mandolin and guitar. William Buonocore, John Curtis (Koch 7180)

12 N

• Shostakovich: The Age of Gold, Suite. Seattle Sym, Schwarz (Artek 0037)
• Mozart: Violin Sonata in E-flat, K. 302. Rachel Podger, Gary Cooper (Channel 24607)
• D'Indy: The Death of Wallenstein. Prague Sym, Fekete (Supraphon 11 1116)
• Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana: Regina Coeli. Christine Brewer, Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)

1 PM

• Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38. David Finckel, Wu Han (ArtistLed 10501)
• Moscheles: Piano Concerto No. 7 in C minor, "Pathetique." Howard Shelley, Tasmanian Sym (Hyperion 67385)

Monday, June 18

I love that there's always more worthwhile music out there to explore. From the new recordings pile, we've got late choral music by Schutz, a pretty viola showcase by Holst and a Bach solo cello suite with Steven Isserlis.

Also, from the shelved-but-obscure pile, we've got a piano quintet by the young Saint-Saens (arranged as a sextet and recorded in North Carolina), a fascinating sonata for harp and flute, chamber pieces with catchy hooks, a filigree portrait of spring by Glazunov, a tuneful clarinet sonata by Devienne and ... more. I was familiar with almost none of these before programming today's show. Viva serendipity!

11 AM

• Glazunov: Spring (Vesna). Hong Kong Phil, Schermerhorn (Records International 7001)
• Saint-Saens: Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 14, with added double bass. Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival: Ciompi Quartet, Drew, Ransom (Wirl WCD 510)
• Schutz: German Magnificat. Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Palatino, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901895)
• Serra: Romantica. El Valles Sym, Brotons (Naxos 8.555871)

12 N

• Biber: Violin Sonata No. 8 in A major. Holloway, Assenbaum, Mortensen (ECM 1837)
• Frumerie: Musica per Nove: Allegro misterioso. Kerstin Hindart et al. (Caprice 21400)
• Lambert: Concerto for Piano and Nine Players: Overture. Kathryn Stott et al. (Argo 436 118)
• Holst: Lyric Movement for viola and small orchestra. Andriy Viytovych, English Sinfonia, Griffiths (Naxos 8.570339)
• Mozetich: Sonata for Harp and Flute: Mvts 1 and 3 (1983). Aitken, Goodman (BIS 320)

1 PM

• Bach: Suite No. 1 in G major for Solo Cello. Steven Isserlis (Hyperion 67541/2)
• Bottesini: Grand Duo Concertant for violin, double bass and strings. Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer, Saint Paul Chamber Orch, Wolf (Sony 60956)
• Devienne: Sonata No. 1 for Clarinet and Piano. Ron Samuels, Frances Renzi (Koch 7186)
• Sarasate: Danza Espanola No. 1, Malaguena. Tianwa Yang, Markus Hadulla (Naxos 8.557767)
  

Thursday June 14

Call for info! I'm in the process of assembling a master concert calendar to refer to on air during the 2007-2008 season. If you run a professional classical music ensemble or venue in the GPB listening area (no student or church concerts, please) e-mail middaymusic@gpb.org about your series or send a brochure to:

Sarah Zaslaw
GPB
260 14th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

Thanks for helping to keep our joint audience informed in the season ahead!

11 AM

• Alfven: Symphony No. 5 in A minor: Finale. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)
• Glazunov: Raymonda, Ballet Suite. Royal Scottish National Orch, Serebrier (Warner 2564 61939)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in G, Op. 79: Finale. Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901903.05)

12 N

• Elgar: Carissima. New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 8.557577)
• Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, "Enigma." London Sym, Davis (LSO 0109)
• Elgar/Cameron: Lux Aeterna (Nimrod). Choir of New College, Higginbottam (Erato 14634)
• Medtner: Skazki (Tales), Op. 48. Hamish Milne (Hyperion 67491/2)

1 PM

• Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, Ballet Suite No. 2. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Haitink (PentaTone 5186 167)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C minor, Op. 53, "Waldstein." Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901903.05)
• Sarasate: Zapateado. Tianwa Yang, Markus Hadulla (Naxos 8.557767)

Wednesday, June 13

Debussy only ever spent one afternoon in Spain before capturing the place orchestrally in Iberia. In addition, Debussy was tired from conducting tours when he composed the piece. He wrote his wife: "My nerves are on edge and I find that a composer of music is required to excel in those qualities of toughness possessed by a traveling salesman." Nevertheless, Iberia succeeded. Manuel de Falla, an actual Spanish composer, said: "The entire piece down to the smallest detail makes one feel the character of Spain."

11 AM

• Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major. Hamelin, Leopold String Trio (Hyperion 67471/2)
• Friml: Bygone Days. Stephanie Chase, Sara Davis Buechner (Koch 7662)

12 N

• Debussy: Images for Orchestra: Iberia. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos (Telarc 80574)
• Grovlez: Lamento & Tarantelle. James Jones, Karen Schlabaugh (Centaur 2738)
• Handel: O Sing unto the Lord. Choir of the Chapel Royal, soloists, Musicians Extra-ordinary, Gant (Naxos 8.557935)
• Friml: Valse Sihouette. Stephanie Chase, Sara Davis Buechner (Koch 7662)
• Tower: Tambor. Nashville Sym, Slatkin (Naxos 8.559328)

1 PM

• Couperin: L'Atalante; and Duphly: Le Pothouin. Alexandre Tharaud (Harmonia Mundi 901956)
  
• Tartini: Violin Concerto in A major, D. 96. Adriadne Daskalakis, Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl (Naxos 8.570222)
• Bird: Suite in D major for ten winds, Op. 29. Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Parker (Naxos 8.570403)

Tuesday, June 12

Well, after a week of broadcasting from the studio one over, we're back in GPB Radio's master control room, now outfitted with a console that is (a) new, (b) functioning and (c) wired to every possible source of input in the building. All that wiring is what took the most time. Three cheers for engineers.

11 AM

• Mozart: Quintet for piano and winds in E-flat, K. 452. Uchida, Black et al. (Philips 422 592)
  
• Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in G, RV 414. Christophe Coin, Giardino Armonico (Naive 30426)
  
• Svoboda: Symphony No. 1, "Of Nature," mvts 2 and 4. Oregon Sym, DePreist (Albany 604)
  

12 N

• Nilovic: Suite Balkanique: "Macedonien." Paris Trombone Ensemble, Nilovic (Crystal 223)
  
• Dvorak: Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3. Czech Phil, Neumann (Teldec 8.48270)
  
• Schumann: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor. Murray Perahia (Sony 62786)
  
• Turina: La Procesion del Rocio. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos (Telarc 80574)
  

1 PM

• Cherubini: Symphony in D major. Sanremo Sym, Bellugi (Naxos 8.557908)
  
• Joplin: Swipesy. Benjamin Loeb (Naxos 8.559277)
  
• Tower, Joan: Made in America. Nashville Sym, Slatkin (Naxos 8.559328)
  

Monday, June 11

Obscure musical abbreviation of the day: WoO. WoO stands for "Werke ohne Opuszahl," meaning "work without opus number." It is not pronounced "woo." WoO numbers allow music geeks to keep track of pieces by, say, Beethoven that went unpublished during his lifetime and never received a proper opus number. One example is a little piece famous for frequent manglings by beginners: Beethoven's "Für Elise." It's cataloged as his 59th piece without an opus number, or WoO 59 (and it's in the first hour of the show). Just a little something to add to your store of trivia.

11 AM

• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D, K. 218. Leonidas Kavakos, Camerata Salzburg (Sony 82876 842412)
• Beethoven: Für Elise (Albumleaf in A minor, WoO 59). Julia Zilberquit (Naxos 8.570237)
• Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 47. Schubert Ensemble (ASV 4021)

12 N

• Joplin: Magnetic Rag. Benjamin Loeb (Naxos 8.559277)
• Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in F, RV 410. Christophe Coin, Giardino Armonico (Naive 30426)
• Arensky: Suite No. 4 for Two Pianos. Stephen Coombs, Ian Munro (Hyperion 66755)
• Tchaikovsky: The Maid of Orleans: Dances. State Sym Orch, Svetlanov (Melodiya 411-412)
• Zenamon: Sonata Andina for two guitars. Julian Gray, Ronald Pearl (Dorian 90230)

1 PM

• Sibelius: Pohjola's Daughter. London Sym, Davis (LOS 0105)
• Schubert/Krawczyk: Night and Dreams, D. 827. Accentus, Equilbey (Naive 5048)
• Weill: Symphony No. 2. Bournemouth Sym, Alsop (Naxos 8.557481)

Thursday, June 7

I was already planning to start the show with Schubert when I came across the poem for today's Writer's Almanac, "The Junior High School Band Concert" by David Wagoner, which begins:

When our semi-conductor
Raised his baton, we sat there
Gaping at Marche Militaire,
Our mouth-opening number.
It seemed faintly familiar
(We'd rehearsed it all that winter),
But we attacked in such a blur,
No army anywhere
On its stomach or all fours
Could have squeezed though our cross fire.

It then became imperative to end the show with Schubert too - played by a thoroughly professional ensemble, I hasten to add.

11 AM

• Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, "Great." Scottish Chamber Orch, Mackerras (Telarc 80502)

12 N

• Handel: Esther: "Tune your harps." Mark Padmore, English Concert, Manze (Harmonia Mundi 907422)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata." Fazil Say (Naive 5016)
• Arnold: Dream City. East Winds (Naxos 8.570294)
  
• Gershwin: An American in Paris. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80542)
• Schmelzer: Sonatae Unarum Fidium: Sixth Sonata. Holloway, Assenbaum, Mortensen (ECM 1668)

1 PM

• Orff: Carmina Burana: excerpts for winds. Indiana State Univ Faculty Winds (Elf 1011)
  
• Stanford: Symphony No. 7 in D minor. Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones (Naxos 8.570285)
• Schubert: Marche Militaire. Vienna Phil, Knappertsbusch (London 421 634)

Wednesday, June 6

Before closing shop for the summer, the Albany Chorale Saturday presents "The Wicked Road to Oz," with songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz and the recent Broadway hit Wicked; and over three evenings the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus wrap up their season with Orff's Carmina Burana and Szymanowski's Third Symphony. Meanwhile the Rome Symphony launches its summer pops series Saturday with "Cool Classics" - the atmosphere of an outdoor concert in air-conditioned indoor comfort.

11 AM

• Stanford: Symphony No. 4 in F major. Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones (Naxos 8.570285)
• Buxtehude: Was mich auf dieser Welt betrubt. Emma Kirkby et al. (Naxos 8.557251)
• Liadov: The Enchanted Lake. Mexico City Phil, Batiz (Resonance 3074)

12 N

• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat, K. 595. Alfred Brendel, Scottish Chamber Orch, Mackerras (Philips 289 468 367)
• Morton: Fantasy for Wizards! Double-reed ensemble Wizards! (Crystal 872)
• Gottschalk: Danza. Double-reed ensemble Wizards! (Crystal 872)
• Arnold: Suite Bourgeoise. East Winds (Naxos 8.570294)

1 PM

• Szymanowski: Concert Overture. London Phil, Botstein (Telarc 80567)
• Szymanowski: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat. London Phil, Botstein (Telarc 80567)
  

Tuesday, June 5

If you watch DVDs, I'd like to make a suggestion: opera. You can now rent (or buy) dozens and dozens of fully staged operas, with top-notch casts, handy subtitles, and intermissions whenever you want them. Over the last two nights I watched a fantastic production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro from 1994, with stellar leads including Renee Fleming and Gerald Finley (and Alison Hagley - incredible singer and endearing actor). Two evenings well spent, courtesy of Netflix. Just something to keep in mind.

But back to aural media. Except the concertino at noon, today's selections are all recent releases.

Note: One of our own - a fellow GPB listener - tries her hand at Bruce Adolphe's Piano Puzzler on Wednesday's Performance Today. Listen tomorrow morning at 9:00.

11 AM

• Bach: Concerto in C minor for Oboe and Violin. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin (Harmonia Mundi 901876)
  
• Rodrigo: Prelude to the Dawn of a Cockerel. Artur Pizzaro (Naxos 8.557923)
  
• Sinding: Piano Concerto in D-flat, Op. 6. Piers Lane, Bergen Phil, Litton (Hyperion 67555)
  
• Rodrigo: Dance of the Poppy. Artur Pizzaro (Naxos 8.557923)

12 N

• Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Concertino for harp, string quartet and clarinets. Stockton, Slatkin (Crystal 171)
  
• Couperin: Pieces de Clavecin: Le Tic-Toc-Choc; Les Tricoteuses; Le Carillon de Cithere. Alexandre Tharaud (Harmonia Mundi 901956)
  
• Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem): Parts I-II & IV. Berlin Phil, Berlin Radio Chorus, Roschmann, Quasthoff Rattle (EMI 65393)
  

1 PM

• Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, continued from above: Parts VI-VII.
  
• Schumann: String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, Op. 44/1. Cherubini Quartet (EMI 50819)
  

Monday, June 4

Hi again. I trust Alan Cooke took good care of you during my week off. (His playlists are here.) Glad to be back.

And what an exciting day to return. Lots going on behind the scenes in GPB's Atlanta radio studios. We're installing new consoles - "boards," as we call them in radio lingo. Since the new boards are not only more reliable and more flexible but also bigger, the desk-like furniture on which they rest must be rebuilt to accommodate them. That means abandoning our main control room for a while. So today at lunchtime, mid-Bizet, with flocks of engineers hovering and tweaking, the point of origin of our signal moved from master control to another studio just up the hall where one of the spiffy new consoles had already been installed. After nine years of monogamy with one board (it had its quirks but we were used to each other), I just marched right over and back-announced the symphony from a different room with different equipment. No turning back now!

For a few days we'll broadcast in exile here while the master control room gets reconfigured and rewired. And then we'll move back. Hopefully none of this dislocation will be audible to you. What I hope was audible today was this:

11 AM

• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestr, K. 364. Maxim Vengerov, Lawrence Power, UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orch (EMI 78374)
• Handel: Semele: "Where'er you walk." Mark Padmore, English Concert, Manze (Harmonia Mundi 907422)
• Beethoven: String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132: Heilige Dankgesang. Cleveland Quartet (Telarc 80427)

12 N

• Alfven: Andante Religioso. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)
• Bizet: Symphony in C. Orchestra of Paris, Bychkov (Philips 432 096)
• Barrios: Caazapa; Don Perez Freire; Vals Tropical. Jeffrey McFadden (Naxos 8.557807)
• Arnold: Three Shanties; Hobson's Choice, Overture. East Winds (Naxos 8.570294)

1 PM

• Couperin: Les Bagatelles (Rondeau); and Liadov: Bagatelle. Julia Zilberquit (Naxos 8.570237)
• Dvorak: Piano Concerto in G minor. Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Royal Concertgebouw, Harnoncourt (Teldec 8573 97630)
• Barrios: Fabiniana. Jeffrey McFadden (Naxos 8.557807)