Thursday, September 27

Today's show culminates with Oceana. It's Osvaldo Golijov's setting of poetry by Pablo Neruda, performed by vocalist Luciana Souza and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with Robert Spano conducting. A couple of seasons ago, GPB aired tape from the ASO concert performance. GPB's Terrance McKnight interviewed composer Osvaldo Golijov and vocalist Luciana Souza, and today we hear part of that interview as a lead-in to our first broadcast of this watery work in commercial CD form, from a 2007 Deutsche Grammophon release. (For an archived, fuller version of Terrance's interview, see the fifth interview on this page.)

The CD and the composer

Tonight the Atlanta Symphony's latest season gets underway with La Boheme by Puccini. This weekend's concerts will be recorded live for future release on Telarc. And that's not all the Puccini around Atlanta. The Atlanta Opera launches its new season Saturday, in the new Cobb Energy Centre, with Turandot.

11 AM

• Leclair: Flute Sonata in C major, Op. 2/3. Fenwick Smith et al. (Naxos 8.557440-41)
  
• Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor. James Ehnes, BBC Phil, Noseda (Chandos 10309)
• Gottschalk: Bamboula, danse negre. Cecile Licad (Naxos 8.559145)
  
• Puccini: Turandot: Nessun dorma, on trombone. Joseph Alessi, Warren Jones (NAxos 8.570232)
  

12 N

• Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor. Guher and Suher Pekinel, French Radio Phil, Janowski (Teldec 46155)
  
• Bantock: Pagan Symphony. Royal Phil, Handley (Hyperion 66630)
  

1 PM

• Beethoven: Creatures of Prometheus, Overture. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80358)
  
• Golijov: La Pasion segun San Marcos: excerpt. Luciana Souza et al. (Hanssler 98.404)
  
• Golijov: Oceana. Luciana Souza, Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Gwinnett Young Singers, members of Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Spano (DG B0009069)
• Puccini: La Boheme: Prelude and Aria. Quartetto Gelato.
  

Wednesday, September 25

Three cheers for American soprano Dawn Upshaw! Yesterday she was named a fellow of the MacArthur Foundation. As the announcement of her "genius grant" noted, "She has become a catalyst for the creation of numerous works through her passionate advocacy of contemporary composers, both established and emerging," and "Through her performances, award-winning recordings, teaching, and commissions, Upshaw is breaking down stylistic barriers and forging a new model of a performer who is directly involved in the creation of contemporary music." Here's an example with a Georgia connection: Dawn Upshaw has collaborated in recordings with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony of new music by Osvaldo Golijov.


In the noon hour we hear Upshaw and the ASO in parts of Golijov's Ainadamar and Three Songs. Today happens to be the 50th anniversary of West Side Story and the birthday of George Gershwin, and we note both those American milestones too. (Tomorrow Midday Music marks the new ASO concert season with more Golijov: listen for the ASO's new recording of Oceana.)

11 AM

• Ries: Introduction and Polonaise, Op. 174. Hinterhuber, Gavle Sym, Grodd (Naxos 8.557844)
• Beethoven: "Archduke" Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 97. Chung Trio (EMI 81751)

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile, Op. 11. Han-Na Chang, Orch of the Natl Acad of Santa Cecilia, Pappano (EMI 82390)
• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat for violin and viola, K. 364. Daniel Majeske, Robert Vernon, Cleveland Orch, Dohnanyi (London 443 175)
• Golijov: Ainadamar:"Mariana, tus ojos." Dawn Upshaw, Jessica Rivera, Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Spano (DG 6429)
• Golijov: Three Songs: "Lua descolorida." Dawn Upshaw, Atlanta Sym, Spano.

1 PM

• Bernstein/Brohn: West Side Story Suite. Joshua Bell, Philharmonia Orch, Zinman (Sony 89358)
• Amram: American Dance Suite: Blues. Manhattan Chamber Orch, Clark (Newport 85546)
  
• Gershwin: An American in Paris. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80542)
  

Tuesday, September 25

Atlanta groups take the spotlight this week.

• The season opener of the Atlanta Symphony is, of all things, an opera. Robert Spano conducts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and soloists in La Boheme this Thursday through Saturday.
• If you prefer your Puccini fully staged, the Atlanta Opera presents Turandot, set in ye olde China and including the famous tenor tune “Nessun dorma.” This marks the Atlanta Opera's first production in its new home, the spanking new Cobb Energy Centre at I-75 and I-285. The show opens September 29 and repeats several times the first week of October.
• On a more intimate scale and singer-free, the Vega Quartet performs Saturday evening at Emory University, where they are quartet-in-residence. On the program at the Schwartz Center are Beethoven's "Serioso" Quartet, Dvorak's "American" Quartet and Smetana's "From My Life."
  

Meanwhile, in whatever venue you find yourself, today's Midday Music offers...

11 AM

• Milhaud: Scaramouche. Sabine Meyer, Oleg Maisenberg (EMI 79787)
• Corelli: Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 6/3. Brandenburg Consort, Goodman (Hyperion 66741/2)
• Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor. Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis (EMI 82879)

12 N

• Leclair: Flute Sonata in C major, Op. 1/2. Fenwick Smith, John Gibbons, Laura Blustein (Naxos 8.557440-41)
• Shostakovich: Festive Overture. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80595)
• Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13. Cleveland Quartet (Telarc 80142)

1 PM

• Dvorak: Rondo for cello and orchestra, Op. 94. Han-Na Chang, Natl Acad of Santa Cecilia, Pappano (EMI 82390)
• Haydn: Symphony No. 99 in E-flat. English Chamber Orch, Tate (EMI 88666)
• Wegelius: Rondo quasi Fantasia for piano and orchestra. Margit Rahkonen, Finnish Radio Sym, Sakari (Yleis 0002)

Monday, September 24

The BFG by Roald Dahl is about a Big Friendly Giant who catches dreams and catalogs them in jars before distributing them to sleepers. In this passage (pp. 97-98), our young heroine Sophie is grilling the BFG on the process:

"Can you really and truly tell what sort of a dream it's going to be simply by listening to it?" Sophie asked.
"I can," the BFG said, not looking up.
"But how? Is it by the way it hums and buzzes?"
"You is less or more right," the BFG said. "Every dream in the world is making a different sort of buzzy-hum music. And these grand swashboggling ears of mine is able to read that music."
"By music, do you mean tunes?"
"I is not meaning tunes."
"Then what do you mean?"
"Human beans is having their own music, right or left?"
"Right," Sophie said. "Lots of music."
"And sometimes human beans is very overcome when they is hearing wonderous music. They is getting shivers down their spindels. Right or left?"
"Right," Sophie said.
"So the music is saying something to them. It is sending a message.
I do not think the human beans is knowing what that message is, but they is loving it just the same."
"That's about right," Sophie said.

Human beans of listener land, I is hoping you will be similarly overcome with shivers down your spindels as you hear the wonderous pieces on Midday Music. Today's discs are new releases, and all but one come from EMI Classics:



11 AM

• Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture. New Philharmonia Orch, Atzmon (EMI 81888)
• Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2. David Oistrakh, Philharmonia Orch, Galliera (EMI 81487)
• Rosza: Duo for Violin and Piano, Op. 7. Philippe Quint, William Wolfram (Naxos 8.570190)

12 N

• Glazunov: Melodie, Op. 20/1. Han-Na Chang, Orch of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, Pappano (EMI 82390)
• Hadyn: Symphony No. 101, "The Clock." English Chamber Orch, Tate (EMI 88666)
• Saint-Saens: Clarinet Sonata in E-flat, Op. 167. Sabine Meyer, Oleg Maisenberg (EMI 79787)

1 PM

• Taneyev: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30. Lilya Zilberstein and friends at the Lugano Festival 2006 (EMI 89241)

Friday, September 21

Requests with Alan Cooke will be back next Friday. Today's show is hosted by Eric Nauert at GPB's Savannah station, WSVH. Playlist here. See you next week.

Thursday, September 20

John Hsu grew up in Shanghai, came to the States after World War II and trained at the New England Conservatory at a time when Asian musicians in this country were few and far between. Then followed a distinguished 50-year career as a cellist, conductor and pioneering expert on such early string instruments as the viola da gamba and baryton. Now in his 80s and recently retired from Cornell University, he keeps on his toes as music director of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.



In the noon hour, John Hsu introduces some of the trumpety fare he'll be conducting at the ABO's festive tenth anniversary concert Sunday. Also on Midday Music, we hear selections by Jean Sibelius, who died 50 years ago today, and Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei, based on liturgy from the solemn Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which begins Friday evening.

11 AM

• Sibelius: Humoresque, Op. 89/5. Gringolts, Gothenburg Sym, Jarvi (DG 2249)
• Sibelius: Swanwhite, Suite. Kuusisto, Tapiola Sinfonietta (Ondine 1074-5)
• Sibelius: Four choral songs. Accentus, Ericson (Naive 5037)
• Mozart: Sinfonia in G major, K. 45a, "Lambach." Concentus Musicus Vienna, Harnoncourt (DHM 63970)

12 N

• Wagner: Lohengrin: Act 3 Prelude. Philadelphia Orch, Thielemann (DG 289 453 485)
• Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 4, Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80619)
• Chopin: Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat. Mikhail Pletnev (DG 453 456)
  
• Orlando di Lasso (de Lassus): Pentitential Psalms of David No. 4, "Miserere mei Deus." Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901931.32)

1 PM

• Sibelius: Symphony No. 5. Iceland Sym, Oramo (Naxos box 8.505179)
• Paganini: Cantabile in D major. Sarah Chang, Charles Abramovic (EMI 56161)
  
• Bruch: Kol Nidrei. Matt Haimovitz, Chicago Sym, Levine (DG 427 323)
  

Wednesday, September 19

Alan Cooke: The Exit Interview. As listeners in the Augusta area may have already noticed, Alan Cooke - station manager and music host at WACG since 1979 - has retired. (Other GPB listeners shouldn't register much difference, as he is continuing to host Midday Music Friday requests for the network, glory be!) To note this milestone, GPB presents a conversation Alan Cooke and I had two days ago, looking back and looking forward. Four segments of our interview air during the noon hour. Thanks for everything, Alan, and best of luck in your new Monday-through-Thursday life!



11 AM

• Dohnanyi: Symphony No. 1 in D minor. London Phil, Botstein (Telarc 80511)

12 N

• Interview segments with Alan Cooke, plus...
• Schumann: Kinderszenen: Traumerei. Vladimir Horowitz (CBS 42409)
• Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major: Finale. Ann Gastinel, Moscow Soloists, Bashmet (Naive 4969)
• Haydn: Piano Trio in G major, "Gypsy." Vienna Piano Trio (Nimbus 5535)
• Haydn, J.M.: Flute Concerto in D, 1st mvt; and Haydn, F.J.: Scherzando No. 1 in F major. Emmanuel Pahud, Haydn Ensemble Berlin, Schellenberger (EMI 56577)
• Haydn: The Creation: The Heavens Are Telling. Radio Sym Orch & Chorus Stuttgart, Marriner (EMI 50842)

1 PM

• Mozart: Gran Partita (Serenade in B-flat for 12 wind instruments and double bass), K. 361. Moonwinds, Lluna (HMI 987071)
• Haydn: The Creation: Stimmt an die Seiten. Orch & Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, Chung (DG 289 459 156)
  

Tuesday, September 18

Your attention, please, fans of Alan Cooke! Although Alan will keep hosting GPB's Midday Music Friday requests show for fun, he has just retired from full-time work. This after almost three decades as station manager and music host at WACG Augusta. Tomorrow, to mark Alan's retirement, I talk with him about his life and times in radio. He takes music and community more seriously than he takes himself, making his conversation both inspirational and funny. Please listen Wednesday at noon for our interview, interspersed with music throughout the hour by one of his favorite composers, Haydn.

As for today's playlist:



11 AM

• Marcello: Flute Sonata in B minor. Arita, Arita, Nakano (Denon 18013)
  
• Orlando di Lasso (de Lassus): Penitential Psalms of David No. 5. Domine, exaudi orationem meam (Psalms 101-102). Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901831.32)
  
• Rubinstein: Romance, Op. 44/1. Mischa Maisky, Pavel Gililov (DG 5831)
  
• Bax: Nympholept, nature poem for orchestra. Royal Scottish National Orch, Lloyd-Jones (Naxos 8.555343)
  

12 N

• Janacek: Sinfonietta, Op. 60. Berlin Phil, Abbado (DG 427 313)
  
• Brahms: Variations on a Hungarian Song, Op. 21/2. Olga Kern (Harmonia Mundi 907392)
  
• Borodin: Prince Igor, Overture. Russian National Orch, Pletnev (DG 439 892)
  
• Barrios: Three guitar pieces (Pais de Albanic, Faniniana, Tango No. 2). Jeffrey McFadden (Naxos 8.557807)
  

1 PM

• Bach: Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042. Elizabeth Wallfisch, Orch of the Age of Enlightenment (Virgin 7077 59319)
  
• Schubert: Rosamunde (Magic Harp) Overture. Chamber Orch of Europe, Abbado (DG 423 656)
  
• Diepenbrock: The Birds, Overture. Residentie Orch, Vonk (Chandos 8821)
  
• Strauss: Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos (Telarc 80371)
  

Monday, September 17

Not too many concerts to report for next weekend. Thus, more space here for CD art. But I do want to mention the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra's tenth anniversary gala concert, "Rejouissance," Sunday at 3:00, featuring trumpet and woodwind soloists in festive Telemann and Vivaldi concertos and Bach's Fourth Orchestral Suite, John Hsu conducting. And now, on to today's illustrated Midday Music playlist:

11 AM

• Vierdanck: Capriccio in D minor. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major. Fazil Say (Naive 5070)
• Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, Suite No. 1. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Haitink (PentaTone 167)
• Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Murray Perahia, Israel Phil, Mehta (Sony 44922)

12 N

• Moravec: Mood Swings. Trio Solisti (Naxos 8.559323)
• Vivaldi: "Il Gardellino," Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10/3. Patrick Gallois, Orpheus Chamber Orch (DG 437 839)
• Dvorak: Violin Sonatina in G major, Op. 100. Gil Shaham, Orli Shaham (DG 449 820)
• Orlando di Lasso (de Lassus): Penitential Psalms of David No. 6, "De profundis clamavi." Collegium Vocale Gent, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901831.32)

1 PM

• Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1. Sviatoslav Richter (RCA 82876 60860)
• Beethoven: Sextet in E-flat for horns and strings, Op. 81b. Consortium Classicum (MDG 301 0594)
  

Wednesday, September 12

Today's Midday Music focuses on Augusta, especially in the noon hour.

Hear recordings by two guest artists on the Augusta Symphony's 2007-2008 masterworks series: guitarist Sharon Isbin (in one of the works she brings to Augusta this weekend, Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez) and clarinetist David Shifrin (in the quintet for clarinet and strings by Brahms). Also, conductor Donald Portnoy talks about Saturday's Augusta Symphony concert, and we hear the Augusta Symphony itself in an overture by Rossini. And Brenda Durant of the Greater Augusta Arts Council tells us about the international food and varied music at the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. The festival runs Friday through Sunday, with a focus on Ireland.

Thursday I'm out. Russell Wells of WSVH Savannah brings you the show, with music related to Rosh Hashanah. Friday Alan Cooke does his usual requests juggling act out of WACG Augusta.

11 AM

• Kodaly: Dances of Galanta. Philharmonia Hungarica, Dorati (Mercury 432 005)
  
• Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B minor. David Shifrin, Chamber Music Northwest (Delos 3066)
  

12 N

• Traditional Irish: Pull Down the Shade. Carol Thompson (Dorian 90273)
  
• Harty: In Ireland. National Sym Orch of Ireland, O'Duinn (Naxos 8.554732)
  
• Traditional Irish: Down by the Sally Gardens. Aureole (Koch 7660)
• Rossini: Italian Girl in Algiers, Overture. Augusta Sym, Giuliani
  
• Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez. Sharon Isbin, Lausanne Chamber Orch, Foster (Virgin 7590242)
  
• Ginastera: Estancia: Malambo. Boston Pops, Lockhart (RCA 63717)
  

1 PM

• Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks. Philadelphia Orch, Sawallisch (EMI 55185)
  
• Mendelssohn: Octet in E-flat, Op. 20. Guarnieri and Orion quartets (Arabesque 6714)
  

Tuesday, September 11

On MM today there's a Handel flute sonata with Frans Bruggen, Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto with Yefim Bronfman and a Beethoven overture with the Atlanta Symphony. In the noon hour, Columbus Symphony conductor George Del Gobbo gives us an introduction to the rhythmic patterns that pervade Beethoven's Seventh. (He and the CSO perform it Saturday. Info.) Then we hear that piece with Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic. Hey, when you don't have the Columbus Symphony on disc, you make do.



11 AM

• Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Kyung-Wha Chung, Royal Phil, Dutoit (London 417 118)
  
• Handel: Sonata for Transverse Flute and Continuo in E minor, HWV 359b. Bruggen, Bylsma, Asperen (Sony 60100)
  
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor. Yefim Bronfman, Philharmonia Orch, Salonen (Sony 47183)
  
• Saint-Saens: The Swan. Blaker, Palmer (Etcetera 1111)
  

12 N

• Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 1. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80358)
  
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major. Vienna Phil, Kleiber (DG 447 400)
• Beach: Scottish Legend. Alan Feinberg (Argo 436 121)
  

1 PM

• Spohr: Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra. Lark Quartet, San Francisco Ballet Orch, LeRoux (Arabesque 6723)
• Mozart: String Quartet No. 22 in B-flat, K. 589. Endellion String Quartet (Arabesque 6723)
  

Monday, September 10

Two conductors in the listening area of GPB Columbus station WJSP have their say on Midday Music. First, Columbus Symphony Orchestra music director George Del Gobbo tells us about the up-and-coming violinist who performs Brahms with them Saturday - Michi Wiancko. (Ticket info here or here.)

Then, Auburn Community (/University) Orchestra conductor Howard Goldstein explains who all plays in that group. We hear them play a snippet of Respighi, and Goldstein introduces the Finzi concerto that new Auburn University clarinet faculty David Odom performs with them Sunday at 3:00. (The concert, at AU's Jule Collins Smith Museum, is free, but tickets must be reserved: 334-887-2832.)

Later this week on Midday Music . . .

• Tuesday: George Del Gobbo, Columbus Symphony music director, introduces Beethoven's joyous and rhythmic Seventh Symphony.
• Wednesday: Hear about the Augusta Symphony's season opener from music director Donald Portnoy. Also, tidbits on the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival from the executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, Brenda Durant.
• Thursday: Russell Wells of WSVH Savannah is guest host, with music suitable for the Jewish New Year. (WSVH's September playlists are here.)
• Friday: Alan Cooke at WACG Augusta plays listener requests. (Playlist here.)
  

Meanwhile, here's today's playlist:

11 AM

• Handel: Trio Sonata in F major, Op. 2/4. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble (Philips 412 595)
• Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major. Hilary Hahn, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Marriner (Sony 89649)

12 N

• Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances: Suite 1. Orpheus Chamber Orch (DG 437 533). Suite 2, mvt 1. Auburn Community Orch, Goldstein (private recording)
  
• Finzi: Clarinet Concerto in C minor. Alan Hacker, English String Orch, Boughton (Nimbus 5101)
• Tchaikovsky: Cherevichki: Russian Dance and Cossack Dance. State Sym Orch, Svetlanov (Melodiya 411-412)
  

1 PM

• Mozart: Serenade in E-flat for winds, K. 375. Holliger, Pellerin et al. (Philips 420 183)
• Holst: Hammersmith. North Texas Wind Sym, Corporon (Klavier 11070)
  
• Schuman, W.: Circus Overture. Seattle Sym, Schwarz (Naxos 8.559254)
  

Friday, September 7

Alan Cooke hosts Friday requests. Phone in your classical requests to 1-866-RADIO-GA.

And a correction to yesterday: The Macon Symphony and pianist Damon Denton perform Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, not the Third, on their season opening concert this Saturday. So sue me, I named and aired the wrong concerto. Here's a rain check for Rach 2, coming next week on Midday Music.

Thursday, September 6

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti died early today in Modena, Italy at the age of 71.



You can still listen to this morning's tribute to Pavarotti - with biographical background, interviews and plenty of that unmistakable voice in action - at the Performance Today website. It's hard to believe that force of nature is gone. At least his recordings live on.

Beyond Pavarotti, most of Midday Music goes to Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto and Brahms' Fourth Symphony - the two headliners in the Macon Symphony Orchestra's season opener Saturday. Introducing those works on air is MSO maestro Adrian Gnam. Full playlist below, but first...

Concerts are back in season all over! Events of note:

• This evening over wine and light hors d'eouvres, the Columbus Symphony presents "Symphony Revealed"- a chance to ask conductor George Del Gobbo and musicians anything you ever wanted to know about the orchestra and classical music but were afraid to ask.
• Tonight in Waleska, prizewinning young tenor Philippe Castagner performs at Reinhardt College's Falany Peforming Arts Center.
• Saturday at Rome's Berry College you can bring food and drink and a blanket to an outdoor concert with Sam Baltzer and the Clock Tower Jazz Ensemble, presented by the Rome Symphony.
• And in middle Georgia there's the big, romantic Macon Symphony concert mentioned above, with Verdi, Rachmaninoff and Brahms.
  

And finally, the Midday Music playlist du jour:

11 AM

• Verdi: Rigoletto: "Ella mi fu rapita...Parmi veder le lagrime" and "La donna e mobile." Luciano Pavarotti (London 417 570)
• Verdi: La Forza del Destino, Overture. Berlin Phil, Abbado (DG 289 459 555)
• Bernstein: On the Town: Three Dance Episodes. New York Phil, Bernstein (Sony 60559)
• Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Cincinnati Sym, P. Jarvi (Telarc 80660)
• Vivaldi: Sinfonia in G, RV 149. Academy of Ancient Music, Manze (Harmonia Mundi 907273)
• Puccini: Tosca: "Recondita armonia." Luciano Pavarotti (London 421 124)

12 N

• Puccini: Turandot: "Nessun dorma." Luciano Pavarotti (London 421 123)
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3. Arcady Volodos, Berlin Phil, Levine (Sony 64384)
• Ravel: Piece en Forme de Habanera. Grauwels, Belgian Sym, Vandernoot (Naxos 555977)
• Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore: "Una furtiva lagrima." Luciano Pavarotti (London 417 638)

1 PM

• Massenet: Werther: "Pourquoi me reveiller." Luciano Pavarotti (London 421 124)
• Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor. Vienna Phil, Kleiber (DG 289 457 706)
• Verdi: La Traviata: "Lunga da lei...De' miei bollenti spiriti." Luciano Pavarotti (London 417 570)

Wednesday, September 5

I'm pleased to present conversation with Donald Portnoy as he begins his seventeenth and final season as music director of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. Over the course of the noon hour he talks about the growth of the orchestra, his own background, his memories of Aaron Copland and the stellar roster of guest soloists ahead for this year. You'll also hear concert tape from recent Augusta Symphony seasons. And you'll hear a recording of the first headline soloist of the new season, guitarist Sharon Isbin, who performs Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez September 15 in Augusta. That all starts right after the noon news.

11 AM

• Veracini: Overture No. 2 in F. Musica Antiqua Koln, Goebel (Archiv 439 937)
• Piazzolla: Histoire du Tango: Cafe 1930. Manuel Barrueco, Emmanuel Pahud (EMI 56578)
• Ravel: Mother Goose, Ballet. Royal Concertgebouw, Haitink (PentaTone 5186 167)

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien. Augusta Sym, Nicola Giuliani (rec Alan Cooke 2007)
• Copland: Billy the Kid Suite. Augusta Sym, Donald Portnoy (rec Alan Cooke 2003)
• Albinoni/Giazotto: Adagio. Sharon Isbin, Zurich Chamber Orch, Griffiths (Warner 45312)
• Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1. Quebec Sym, Talmi (Analekta 3156)

1 PM

• Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major. Nikolaj Znaider, Israel Phil, Mehta (RCA 82876 69217)
• Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 19. Quebec Sym, Talmi (Analekta 3156)

Tuesday, September 4

If you were away for Labor Day, welcome back. And a special welcome to our WACG listeners in the greater Augusta area, who, with Alan Cooke's semi-retirement, this month join the family of listeners to the Atlanta-originated edition of Midday Music. Alan intends to continue hosting Friday Requests and subbing for me as needed, as our eminence-grise-in-residence.

Ahead this week on Midday Music: an interview with conductor Donald Portnoy of the Augusta Symphony (Wednesday) and a concert preview with Adrian Gnam of the Macon Symphony (Thursday).

Musical highlights today: Stenhammar's Excelsior! Oveture, Sibelius with Sarah Chang, Haydn's "Hen" Symphony, Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, the "Devil's House" by Boccherini, and early Saint-Saens.



11 AM

• Stenhammar: Excelsior! Royal Stockholm Phil, Jarvi (Virgin 45244)
• Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor. Sarah Chang, Berlin Phil, Jansons (EMI 56418)
• Sibelius: Finlandia. Philadelphia Orch, Ormandy (Sony 47281)

12 N

• Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 21. Vienna Phil, Abbado (DG 429 364)
  
• Haydn: Symphony No. 83, "The Hen." Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orch, Fischer (Nimbus 5419/20)
  
• Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty, selections. Dallas Sym, Litton (Delos 3196)
  

1 PM

• Schumann, C.: Scherzo in D minor. Susanne Grutzmann (Profil 07065)
  
• Boccherini: "La Casa del Diavolo," Sinfonia Op. 12/4. Il Giardino Armonico, Antonini (Naive 30399)
  
• Saint-Saens: Suite for Cello and Piano, Op. 16. Kliegel, Thiollier (Naxos 8.557880)
  

Monday, September 3

Happy Labor Day! Not heard today: "I've been working on the railroad," "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go," or "It's been a hard day's night." But for your end-of-summer R & R we do have Lang Lang playing Schumann, Boston Baroque with Bach, Levine leading Wagner, Ferde Grofe's Hudson River Suite, a clappy part of Daniel Bernard Roumain's "Rosa Parks" Quartet, and Beethoven's Seventh with Benjamin Zander.



11 AM

• Hanson: Merry Mount: Maypole Dances. Seattle Sym, Schwarz (Delos 3105)
• Schumann: Kinderszenen. Lang Lang (DG 5827-72)
• Honegger: Pastorale d'Ete. New Zealand Sym, Yuasa (Naxos 555974)
• Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 4. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80619)

12 N

• York: Lotus Eaters. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (Sony 89100)
• Schubert/Liszt: Du Bist Die Ruh. Oxana Yablonskaya (Naxos 8.553062)
• Wagner: Siegfried: Forest Murmurs. The Met Orch, Levine (DG 447 764)
• Porter: Four Pieces (1947): No. 4. Fritz Gearhart, John Owings (Koch 7439)
• Grofe: Hudson River Suite. Bournemouth Sym, Stromberg (Naxos 8.559017)
• Roumain: Quartet No. 5 "Rosa Parks": Klap Ur Handz. Lark Quartet (Endeavour 1018)
• Billy Joel: Root Beer Rag. O-zone Percussion Group (Klavier 11115)

1 PM

• Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80619)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7. Philharmonia Orch, Zander (Telarc 80471)
• Beethoven: Romance in G, Op. 40. Kremer, COE, Harnoncourt (Teldec 74881)