Wednesday, October 31

Boo! Today, musical tricks and treats for Halloween. Also, Rome Symphony president Barbara Beninato talks about the fundraiser coming up Sunday - the Rome Fine Wine Festival - in the 11 o'clock hour. In the noon hour, conductor Donald Portnoy previews the Augusta Symphony's Saturday concert, to feature clarinetist David Shifrin (below) and music of Debussy and Dvorak.

. . .
We hear harpist Yolanda Kondonassis (above) in a Salzedo sonata she'll perform Sunday at Spivey Hall. And we wrap up with the conclusion of Brahms' Deutsches Requiem, in a magical new recording with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. That work headlines this week's Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus concerts.

11 AM

• Strauss, R.: Moonlight Music (from Capriccio) and September (from Four Last Songs). Nina Stemme, Orch of Royal Opera House, Pappano (EMI 78797)
• Caplet: Conte Fantastique, after Poe's "Masque of the Red Death." Leipzig String Quartet, Marie-Pierre Langlamet (MDG 307 1430)
• Strauss, J.: Wine, Women and Song Waltzes. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80314)
• Schumann: Ghost Variations (Variations in E-flat on an original theme). Andras Schiff (Teldec 14566)
• Haken: Walpurgisnacht, from Concerto for Five-String Viola. Rudolf Haken, orch, Benichou (Centaur 2826)

12 N

• Liszt: Mephisto Waltz. Murray Perahia (Sony 47180)
• Dvorak: The Noon Witch. Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 065)
  
• Debussy: First Rhapsody. David Shifrin, Andre Watts (Delos 3167)
  
• Dvorak: Symphony No. 8, mvts 1 and 4. Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 065)

1 PM

• Mussorgsky/Stokowski: Night on Bald Mountain. Bournemouth Sym, Serebrier (Naxos 8.557645)
  
• Salzedo: Sonata for Harp and Piano; Bolero. Yolanda Kondonassis (Telarc)
  
• Brahms: Ein Deutches Requiem, parts 6-7. Berlin Phil, sololists, Rattle (EMI)
  

Tuesday, October 30

Coming up this week from your friendly Midday Music host in Atlanta: Halloween music (spooky standards Performance Today doesn't play first!), a ticket giveaway, and lots of concert info. Look for repertoire that ties in to

• the Augusta Symphony's instrument petting zoo, open dress rehearsal and actual masterworks concert with clarinetist David Shifrin, all taking place Saturday;
• violinist Midori's dual appearances, Thursday in Athens and Friday in Atlanta;
• the Rome Symphony's Rome Fine Wine Festival Sunday;
• Brahms' German Requiem, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus;
• a soprano-and-piano recital in Hawkinsville presented by the new Ocmulgee Symphony;
• harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, appearing at Spivey Hall;
• next Tuesday's LaGrange Symphony concert;
  
• and the Magellan Quartet, wiz a beet of ze French musique Sunday in Statesboro.
  

Meanwhile, here's what's cooking on today's show.

11 AM

• Wagner: Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla (ed. Stokowski). Bournemouth Sym, Serebrier (Naxos 8.570293)
• Mozart: String Quartet in E-flat, K. 428. Alban Berg Quartet (Teldec 9031 72480)
• Ibert: Divertissement for small orchestra. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80294)
• Trad. Norwegian, arr. Smith. In my reckless, younger days. Trio Mediaeval (ECM 2003)

12 N

• Dvorak: Scherzo Capriccioso. Royal Phil, Farrer (ASV 794)
• Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor. Simon Trpceski (EMI 75586)
• Corelli: Concerto Grosso in D, Op. 6/4. Philharmonia Baroque Orch, McGegan (Harmonia Mundi 3957014)
• Sterndale Bennett: Caprice in E major for piano and orchestra. Howard Shelley, BBC Scottish Sym (Hyperion 67595)
• Buxtehude: Gen Himmel zu dem Vater mein. Kirkby, Holloway, Kraemer, ter Linden, Mortensen (Naxos 8.557251)

1 PM

• Brahms: Symphony No. 3. German Chamber Phil, Harding (Virgin 391330)
• Enescu: Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80170)
  

Monday, October 29

Free concert tonight in Tifton! The Atlanta Chamber Players (pianist/music director Paula Peace plus members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) visit South Georgia to perform Brahms' Horn Trio and other goodies at ABAC's Howard Auditorium. Open to the public; no charge; more info from South Georgia Arts. We devote a good part of the noon hour to Mozart from the Atlanta Chamber Players' new CD.

Two other concerts I mentioned:

• Tango Buenos Aires performs at Atlanta's Fox Theatre tonight.
• Pianist Chu-Fang Huang plays at the Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt College in Waleska.

11 AM

• Haydn: Symphony No. 92, "Oxford." Berlin Phil, Rattle (EMI 94237)
• Paderewski: Variations and Fugue, Op. 11. Jonathan Plowright (Hyperion 67562)
• Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E major, Op. 3/12. Kallweit, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin (Harmonia Mundi 901975)
• Satie: Gnossienne No. 1. Peter Fletcher, guitar (Centaur 2731)

12 N

• Traditional Norwegian: A Little Child. Trio Mediaeval (ECM 2003)
• Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Orpheus Chamber Orch (DG 437 782)
• Mozart: "Kegelstatt" Trio in E-flat for piano, clarinet and viola. Atlanta Chamber Players (MSR 1190)
• Gandolfi: Vientos y Tangos. United States Marine Band, Colburn (USMC 21)
• Mackey: Redline Tango. Univ of Kansas Wind Ensemble, Lynch (Naxos 570074)
  

1 PM

• Khatchaturian: Spartacus: Adagio. London Sym, Khatchaturian (EMI 93229)
  
• Schubert/Liszt: Ständchen. Murray Perahia (Sony 66511)
  
• Mussorgsky: Khovanshchina, five excerpts. Berlin Phil, Kotcherga, Tarasova, Abbado (Sony 62034)
• Traditional Norwegian: Dance from Vestfold. Trio Mediaeval (ECM 2003)

Friday, October 26

The return of Friday Requests with Alan Cooke! Call 1-866-RADIO-GA and then listen to GPB from 11:00 to 2:00.

Sidebar: Can't tell the difference between Haydn and Mozart? (I don't always get 'em straight myself.) See if this Slate article by Erik Tarloff, with audio examples, helps.

Thursday, October 25

Triple treat or triple threat? Just after noon, I speak with Macon Symphony music director Adrian Gnam about Saturday's MSO program, "Triple Treat," which will be highlighted by the multitalented Janice Martin
who sings and plays piano and plays violin and arranges. Saturday at Macon's Grand Opera House she does all four of those in her Paganini Mania Concerto.

On Midday Music, in addition to rep from that Macon concert, we sample pieces to be performed by the Augusta Choral Society (Brahms, Friday), Atlanta Symphony (Gershwin and Ravel, through Saturday) and Georgia Philharmonic (Ippolitov and Barber, Saturday in Roswell). Tomorrow on GPB: the return of Alan Cooke's Friday requests edition of Midday Music!

11 AM . . .

• Ippolitov-Ivanov: Turkish Fragments. Singapore Sym, Hoey (Marco Polo 220217)
• Barber: Adagio for Strings. Saint Louis Sym, Slatkin (Telarc 80503)
• Brahms: Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny). Marilyn Horne, Atlanta Sym, Shaw (Telarc 80176)
• Hindemith: Concerto for Winds, Harp and Orchestra. Czech Phil, Belohlavek (Chandos 9457)

12 N . . .

• Sullivan: H.M.S. Pinafore, Overture. Welsh National Opera Orch, Mackerras (Telarc 80374)
• Prokofiev: Love for Three Oranges: March. French Radio Phil, Jarvi (Virgin 45609)
• Gershwin: An American in Paris. Cleveland Orch, Chailly (London 417 326)
• Ravel: Valses Nobles et Sentimentales. Cleveland Orch, Boulez (DG 289 449 213)
• Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582. Anthony Newman (Sony 60990)
  

1 PM . . .

• Melartin: Marionettes, suite. Finnish Radio Sym, Godzinsky (YLE 9802)
• Grieg: Ballade in G minor, Op. 24. Leif Ove Andsnes (EMI 94399)
• Broschi: Idaspe: "Ombra fedele anch'io." Vivica Genaux, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi o01778)
  

Wednesday, October 24

Georgia concerts of note, all connected to today's Midday Music:

• Atlanta Symphony harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson performs Debussy and Ravel with the orchestra, and Robert Spano also conducts Milhaud and Gershwin, Thursday through Saturday in Atlanta. (For my chat with Elisabeth a couple of years ago, listen to the second-to-last interview here.)
  
• The Augusta Choral Society performs Maurice Durufle's Requiem and more in a Friday concert dedicated to the memory of Melvin Brown, the ACS's longtime artistic director.
• Saturday the Macon Symphony offers Piazzolla, Prokofiev, Kodaly, and the "triple treat" of violinist-pianist-soprano Janice Martin.
• Edgar Meyer, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas bring their bass-mandolin-dobro combo to Atlanta's Ferst Center on Friday and Columbus's RiverCenter on Saturday.

11 AM

• Nielsen: Helios Overture. New York Scandia Sym, Matson (Centaur 2780)
• Fasch: Quadro in F. Epoca Barocca (CPO 777 204)
• Beethoven: "Ghost" Trio (Piano Trio in D, Op. 70/1). Chung Trio (EMI 81751)
• Durufle: Requiem: Sanctus. Santa Cecilia Nat'l Acad, Chung (DG 459 365)

12 N

• Pickering: The Queen's Treble. Baltimore Consort (Dorian 90601)
• Debussy: Sacred and Profane Dances. Yolanda Kondonassis, strings (Telarc 80622)
• Meyer: Double Concerto for Cello and Bass. Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, St. Paul Chamber Orch, Wolf (Sony 60956)
• Piazzolla: Four Seasons in Buenos Aires: Autumn (Otono Porteno). Katona Twins (Channel 19804)
• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 3. Cologne Radio Sym, Skrowaczewski (Denon 78840)
  

1 PM

• Durufle: Requiem. Santa Cecilia National Academy Chorus and Orchestra, Chung (DG 459 365)
• Vivaldi: Trio Sonata in C for violin, lute and continuo, RV 82. Rold Lislevand et al. (Naive 30429)
  

Tuesday, October 23

Thank you, you wonderful listeners who joined GPB or renewed your membership during the fall fund drive that ended yesterday. We heard from over 1,700 listeners total, and of those, 340 callers (and an unspecified number of web contributors) made contact during Performance Today and Midday Music.

Overall we did not reach our goal for the drive. You can still become a member or freshen up your membership online at www.gpb.org (or call 1-800-333-4788 till the end of this week). On behalf of music fans across Georgia and beyond, thank you. Your support makes public radio go.

And here we are again, go-go-going with music as usual! Some nice long pieces in gratitude, including new releases of a Martinu double concerto, Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata (named for a musician who pooh-poohed the piece and the dedication), Mendelssohn's entire "Reformation" Symphony, and the "Irish" Symphony by Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame:



11 AM

• Martinu: Concerto in D major for Two Violins and Orchestra. Matousek, Koh, Czech Phil, Hogwood (Hyperion 67671)
• Beethoven: "Kreutzer" Sonata (Sonata No. 9 for piano and violin in A major, Op. 47). Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov (Harmonia Mundi 901944)

12 N

• Chopin: Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp minor; "Black Key" Etude in G-flat. Vladimir Ashkenazy (Decca 289 466 462)
• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, "Reformation." New Philharmonia Orch, Muti (EMI 81788)
• Haydn: Symphony No. 88 in G major. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Davis (PentaTone 5186 126)

1 PM

• Bolcom: Three Ghost Rags: The Graceful Ghost. Richard Dowling (Klavier 77035)
• Handel: Overture to Otho. City of London Sinfonia, Ward (Naxos 8.553430)
• Sullivan: Symphony in E, "Irish." Royal Liverpool Phil, Lloyd-Jones (Naxos 8.570351)

October 12-22, GPB's Fall 2007 Fund Drive

Well, it's been thrilling to hear from listeners in recent days. If you inadvertently let the final day of the drive slip by without calling, you can still contribute online and be factored into the total, as we inch as close to that overall goal as possible. Thank-you gifts are listed here as well. Thanks so much for supporting public radio for Georgia and playing a vital role on the GPB team.

Late but not forgotten, below are condensed Midday Music playlists from the past week. In addition to the works listed, I also sprinkled in many selections from CDs offered as thank-you gifts: Handel's Messiah (with Boston Baroque on Telarc) and the Menus and Music CD-and-cookbook sets.

Friday, October 12
Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole. Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montreal (Analekta 9897)
Ravel: Tzigane. Maxim Vengerov, Philharmonia Orch, Pappano (EMI 57593)
Infante: Danzas Andaluzas. Lechner, Tiempo (EMI 58472)
Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony, second half. Bastille Opera Orch, Chung (DG 435 854)
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat. Zacharias, Cherubini (EMI 50819)

Monday, October 15
Borodin: Prince Igor, Overture. Russian National Orch, Pletnev (DG 439 892)
Elgar: Froissart Overture. New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 9.557577)
Wagner: Flying Dutchman, Overture. Berlin Phil, Karajan (EMI 76896)
Joplin: Magnetic Rag. Benjamin Loeb (Naxos 8.559277)
Bach: Violin Concerto in E major. Wallfisch, Orch of Age of Enlightenment (Virgin 59319)
Bax: Nympholept. Royal Scottish National Orch, Lloyd-Jones (Naxos 8.555343)
- & -
Music based on the Lutheran chorale tune "A mighty fortress is our God":

• Bach: Cantata No. 80, "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott," choruses. English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Gardiner (SDG 110)
• Jarnefeldt: Korsholm Castle. Finnish Radio Sym, Soderblom (YLE 9701)
• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, "Reformation": Finale. New Philharmonia Orch, Muti
• Bach: Cantata No. 80, opening chorus, for brass and organ. Empire Brass, Kuhlman (Telarc 80614)

Tuesday, October 16
Pachelbel: Canon in D. Tafelmusik, Lamon (Reference 2101)
Copland: Rodeo, Four Dance Episodes. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80339)
Albeniz: Sevilla; Asturias. Jason Vieaux (Azica 71224)
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: start of second tableau. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80674)
Kabalevsky: Colas Breugnon, Overture. Minnesota Orch, Oue (Reference 92)
Horovitz: Clarinet Sonata. Peyer, Pryor (Chandos 8549)
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain. Bournemouth Sym, Serebrier (Naxos 8.557645)
Scriabin: Divine Poem: Divine Game. Royal Concertgebouw, Kondrashin (RCO 06004)
Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture. Lausanne Chamber Orch, Menuhin (Virgin 363284)
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364: Mvts 2-3. Majeske, Venon, Cleveland Orch, Dohnanyi (london 443 175)
Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp: Mvt 2. Pahud, Langlamet, Berlin Phil, Abbado (EMI 57128)

Wednesday, October 17
Bach: Wachet Auf, orch. Bantock. BBC Phil, Slatkin (Chandos 9835)
Dvorak: Wind Serenade, second half. Oslo Wind Phil Soloists (Naxos 8.554173)
Elgar: Cockaigne (In London Town). Scottish National Orch, Gibson (Chandos 6652)
Albeniz: Cadiz. Jason Vieaux (Azica)
Brahms: F.A.E. Sonata, mvt 3. Zukerman, Barenboim (DG)
Bantock: Celtic Symphony for strings and harps. Royal Phil, Handley (Hyperion 66450)
Liszt: Totentanz. Zimerman, Boston Sym, Ozawa (DG 423 571)
Lyadov: Polonaise, Op. 55. BBC Phil, Sinaisky (Chandos 9911)
Brahms: Haydn Variations, Op. 56a. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80349)
Svendsen: Symphony No. 2: mvt 1. Oslo Phil, Jansons (EMI 115616)

Thursday, October 18
Vierdanck: Pazzamezzo in A minor. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
Chaminade: Flute Concertino. Robison, Charleston Sym, Stahl (Pergola 1032)
Bottesini: Grand Duo Concertant. Bell, Meyer, St. Paul Chamber Orch, Wolff (Sony 60956)
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana: Regina Coeli. Brewer, Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)
Galbraith: Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble: mvt 1. Amato, Cargenie Mellon Wind Ens, Colwell.
Aston: Gaude, virgo mater Christi. Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi 907419)
Vivaldi: Four Seasons: Autumn. Kremer, Kremerata Baltica (Nonesuch 79568)
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23, "Appassionata": mvts 2-3. Jonathan Biss (EMI 85894)
Sibelius: Finlandia. Philadelphia Orch, Ormandy (Sony 47281)
Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. National Orch of Lyon, Krivine (Denon 78774)

Friday, October 19
Rain music in hopes of torrents of precipitation and donation
Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage: Pastorale; By a Stream; Storm. Berman (DG 437 206)
Britten: Four Sea Interludes: Moonlight; Storm. BBC Sym, Davis (Teldec 73126)
Beethoven: Pastoral Symphony: mvts 3-5. Rev & Rom Orch, Gardiner (Archiv 439 900)
Alfven: Mountain King: Summer Rain. Royal Stockholm Phil, Jarvi (BIS 585)
Rossini: William Tell, Overture. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80334)
Novak: In the Tatra Mountains. Royal Liverpool Phil, Pesek (Virgin 45251)
Bridge: The Sea: Storm. Royal Liverpool Orch, Groves (EMI 66855)
Debussy: Gardens in the Rain. Jacobs (Nonesuch 71365)
Beethoven: Tempest Sonata: Finale. Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901902)
Grieg: Peer Gynt: var. incl. Stormy Evening. Estonian National Sym, Jarvi (Virgin 45722)
Vivaldi: Four Seasons: Summer. Lin, Sejong (Naxos 8.557920)

Monday, October 22
Handel: Messiah: segments from parts 1, 2 and 3. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc)
Dining and the Opera in Manhattan (Menus and Music CD/cookbook set): selections featuring Leontyne Price, Jussi Bjorling, Beverly Sills and others
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Delos 3185)
Guastavino: Guitar Sonata No. 1. Villadangos (Naxos 8.55058)
Mozart: Symphony No. 27 in G. Amsterdam Baroque Orch, Koopman (Erato 45544)

Thanks again for supporting GPB!

Thursday, October 11

Dear Listener,

You hear our voices all the time. Now we get to hear from you, during GPB's fall fund drive, October 12-22. Public radio can only do what we do with a helping hand from the Georgians we serve. Starting Friday, please make a contribution of any size toward our programming budget - by calling 1-800-222-4788 or going to www.gpb.org. (The Friday requests show with Alan Cooke returns October 26.)

Leave a comment or two when you donate, and feel free to pick a gift by way of thanks. You can see a list of all the thank-you gifts here. My favorite this time round is this stellar two-disc set of Handel's Messiah with Boston Baroque.



Fundraising time is a whirlwind. I might neglect this blog for a few days. Meanwhile, thank you for putting the "public" in public radio. Member dollars collectively do pay for all the programs GPB brings you.

Yours in music,

Sarah

P.S. Today's playlist follows. Both "Funeral March" piano sonatas, the Spohr concerto and the Schubert mass are new releases (or new rereleases).

11 AM

• Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Funeral March. Boston Sym, Ozawa (DG 439 897)
• Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, "Funeral March." Simon Trpceski (EMI 75586)
• Gounod: Funeral March of a Marionette. Orch of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Gibson (Harmonia Mundi 901906.08)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat, Op. 26, "Funeral March." Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901906.08)
  

12 N

• Galbraith: Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble: 1st mvt. Donna Amato, Carnegie Mellon Wind Ens, Colwell (Carnegie Mellon 03-0006)
• Spohr: Clarinet Concerto No. 4. Sabine Meyer, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sillito (EMI 79786)
• Borodin/Glazunov: Petite Suite. Royal Stockholm Phil, Rozhdestvensky (Brilliant 93348)

1 PM

• Schubert: Mass in A-flat major, D. 678. Bavarian Radio Sym Orch and Chorus; Donath, Fassbaender, Araiza, Fischer-Dieskau; Sawallisch (EMI 81519, a rerelease of a 1980 recording)

Wednesday, October 10

Just past noon on GPB, Barbara Beninato, president of the Rome Symphony board, introduces the Rome Symphony Orchestra's fresh season. The RSO is filling 2007-2008 with guest conductors from around the region as it begins a national search for a new music director. (Top contenders from that search will grace the Rome podium in 2008-2009.) First up this Saturday, October 13, is guest conductor Richard Prior, director of orchestral studies at Emory University. He'll lead a Bach concerto featuring Emory faculty pianist William Ransom, pictured below. Also on their program: a Beethoven overture and Mozart's Fortieth.



For other classical concerts in Georgia this week, please see the blog entries below. I also ask you to remember, as GPB's Fall Fund Drive approaches (October 12-22), that the best musical bang for your buck is probably GPB. (Isn't it?) Starting Friday, please call 1-800-222-4788 to support music on Georgia Public Broadcasting so we can keep doing what we do for you and your community. Many thanks.

11 AM

• Vivaldi: Double Cello Concerto in G minor, RV 531. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin (Harmonia Mundi 901975)
• Ireland: Fantasy-Sonata for clarinet and piano. Gervase de Peyer, Gwenneth Pryor (Chandos 8549)
• Schumann: Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish." Cleveland Orch, Dohnanyi (London 421 643) [Pictured: 452 214]
  

12 N

• Beethoven: Creatures of Prometheus, Overture. German Chamber Orch, Harding (Virgin 45364)
  
• Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor. Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski (Archiv 6506)
  
• Howells: Three Dances for Violin and Orchestra: No. 3. Royal Liverpool Phil, Handley (Hyperion 66610)
• Ravel: Bolero. Minnesota Orch, Oue (Reference 92)
  

1 PM

• Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor. Leif Ove Andsnes, Berlin Phil, Jansons (EMI 94399)
• Schumann: Fantasiestucke, Op. 73, on flugelhorn and piano. Sergei Nakariakov, Martha Argerich (EMI 89241)
  
• Verdi: Aida: Grand/Triumphal Scene. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 80364)

Tuesday, October 9

My guest at noon is Patricio Cobos, music director of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and for many years a member of the Columbus State faculty. Before and after a recording of Beethoven's Third, Cobos speaks about his choice to teach in Columbus rather than play in an orchestra, his evolving listening preferences and the growth of the LaGrange Symphony. He even speaks musically, with that gentle Chilean accent. Listen to our interview on air or online at www.gpb.org, right after the noon news and again just before one. Tonight's concert launches Cobos's seventh season with the LSO.

Midday Music selections listed below have connections to the following concerts :

• LaGrange Symphony, tonight at 7:30 (Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College) with conductor Patricio Cobos and violinist Anastasia Agapova. Beethoven's Eroica Symphony (which we hear at noon) and Tchaikovsky's violin concerto.
• Inman Piano Trio, Thursday at the Falany Performing Arts Center (Reinhardt College, Waleska). Music of Shostakovich (as heard in the 11:00 hour), Kirchner, Howells.
• Atlanta Symphony, Thursday through Saturday, with guest conductor Pinchas Zukerman and violinist Viviane Hagner. Chausson's Poeme (which we hear today), Ravel's Tzigane, Haydn's Hen Symphony, Saint-Saens's Organ Symphony.
• Talich Quartet (who conclude today's broadast with Mendelssohn) - Czechs playing Schubert and more, Friday at Augusta State's Maxwell Theatre.
• Camelot, presented by the Augusta Opera at Augusta's Imperial Theatre this Friday and Saturday.
• Rome Symphony, Saturday with guest conductor Richard Prior and pianist William Ransom. Mozart's "Great G minor" Symphony (No. 40) and Bach's D minor keyboard concerto (which we hear at 1:00).

11 AM . . .

• Rubinstein: Melody in F major. Gregor-Smith, Wrigley (ASV 2103)
• Chausson: Poeme. Itzhak Perlman, New York Phil, Mehta (DG 423 063) [Pictured: 437 737, which contains the same performance.]
  
• Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67. Trio Wanderer (Harmonia Mundi 901825, pictured)
• Paganini: Guitar Sonata No. 4 in D major. Marco Tamayo (Naxos 8.557598)

12 N . . .

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, "Eroica." Revolutionary and Romantic Orch, Gardiner (Archiv 445 944) [Pictured: 439 900, complete Beethoven symphonies.]
  

1 PM . . .

• Loewe: Camelot, Overture. Original Broadway cast recording (Sony 60542)
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052. Murray Perahia, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (Sony 89245, pictured)
• Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E minor, Op. 44/2. Talich Quartet (Calliope 9302) [Pictured: 3311/3, complete Mendelssohn quartets.]
  

Monday, October 8

Couple of concerts of note:

• Tomorrow, October 9, the LaGrange Symphony performs Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with soloist Anastasia Agapova and Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony. Please tune in to Tuesday's Midday Music, noon hour, for a chat with the LaGrange Symphony's music director, Chilean-born conductor and violinist Patricio Cobos, and a recording of Beethoven's Third. (Today on GPB we hear the Tchaikovsky, with violinist Julia Fischer.)
• Thursday through Saturday, Pinchas Zukerman guest-conducts the Atlanta Symphony. They'll play Saint-Saens' "Organ" Symphony, a couple of French violin showpieces, and Haydn's "Hen" Symphony (which we hear this morning).
• Tonight in Columbus, it's organ time. CSU's Schwob School of Music presents organist Boyd Jones in a free concert at 7:30 in RiverCenter's Legacy Hall, playing Charles Ives' Variations on America, Bach's Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel Hoch and more.
  

11 AM

• Dvorak: Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3. Slovak Phil, Kosler (Naxos 9.501701)
• Milhaud: Flute Sonatine. Vanessa Gunter, Timothy Gunter (M & P Systems)
• Schutz: Psalm 100, "Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord." Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Palatino, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901895)
• Haydn: "The Hen," Symphony No. 83 in G minor. London Mozart Players, Glover (Sanctuary 203)

12 N

• Albinoni: Concerto in C major for Two Oboes, Op. 7/11. Heinz Holliger, Hans Elhorst, Camerata Bern (Archiv 427 111)
• Vierne: Rhapsody for harp, Op. 25. Pascale Zanlonghi (Timpani 2019)
• Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto. Julia Fischer, Russian National Orch, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 095)

1 PM

• Wagner: Rienzi Overture. Vienna Phil, Thielemann (DG 289 474 5022)
  
• Saint-Saens: Allegro Appassionato, Op. 43. Han-Na Chang, Orch Natl Acad Santa Cecilia, Pappano (EMI 82390)
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491. Mikhail Pletnev, German Chamber Phil (Virgin 0946 365467)

Thursday, October 4

Results just in for the 2007 Gramophone Awards! (That's a UK-based award, associated with the British magazine Gramophone, and not to be confused with the American Grammys.) German violinist Julia Fischer won the Gramophone Award for Artist of the Year, while a concert recording of Brahms piano concertos with Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire won Gramophone's Record of the Year. We hear Fischer at noon and Freire at one.

Concocting a musical weekend around Georgia? This is Anastasia Agapova, a prize-winning Russian violinist now studying at Columbus State. Tuesday she plays Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Patricio Cobos and the LaGrange Symphony. Tonight in Carrollton, guest piano duo Kevin Hampton and Lyle Indergaard play four-hand piano music by Schubert, Corigliano and others at the University of West Georgia. Saturday the Albany Chorale sings folksongs from around the world at Darton College. The Savannah Sinfonietta is giving concerts too. And here's a new article on the new Valdosta Symphony season.

Earlier this week I also mentioned imminent performances by the Talich Quartet (in Augusta), Atlanta Symphony (with Garrick Ohlsson), Atlanta Opera (Turandot) and Polina Leschenko (at Spivey Hall). For links, please see Tuesday's and Wednesday's entries below. Happy concertgoing!

11 AM

• Berlioz: Romeo and Juliet, dramatic symphony. Philharmonia Orch, Giulini (EMI 47616) [Pictured: a more recent recording with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony on LSO Live.]
  

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Valse-Scherzo. Julia Fischer, Russian National Orch, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 095)
  
• Stanford: Serenade (nonet). Capricorn (Helios 55061)
  
• Vivaldi: Four Seasons: Autumn. Cho-Liang Lin, Sejong, Newman (Naxos 8.557920)
  
• Buck: Festival Overture on the American National Air. London Sym, Klein (Albany 235)

1 PM

• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Nelson Freire, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orch, Chailly (Decca B0006588) - Winner, Gramophone Award for RECORD OF THE YEAR

Wednesday, October 3

They're coming thick and fast, those concerts.

Straight from the Czech Republic, the Talich Quartet appears in Augusta next Friday, October 12 at Augusta State's Maxwell Theatre, playing Haydn's "Lark" Quartet, Janacek's "Intimate Letters" and Schubert's "Death and the Maiden." (We hear the Talich Quartet three times today: first in that Schubert, and later in Borodin and Mendelssohn.)

At 23 she became concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony. Diana Cohen visits Valdosta to solo in the Chaconne from The Red Violin with the Valdosta Symphony. (On GPB today we hear that music by Corigliano at noon.) For more on Saturday's concert, also see yesterday's entry below.

Among the piano works on Polina Leschenko's Spivey Hall debut recital Saturday in Morrow is the sixth of Liszt's Grand Paganini Etudes (which we hear in the noon hour). See more on Leschenko below.

Tuesday, October 9 the LaGrange Symphony, with its new and improved website, performs Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, and Weber's Overture to Der Freischutz (which opens today's Midday Music) at LaGrange College.

And now, playlist time.

11 AM

• Weber: Der Freischutz, Overture. Bavarian Radio Sym, Kubelik (DG 415 840)
• Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, "Death and the Maiden." Talich Quartet (Calliope 9234)

12 N

• Corigliano: Chaconne from The Red Violin. Chloe Hanslip, Royal Phil, Slatkin (Naxos 8.559302)
• Liszt: Grandes Etudes de Paganini, No. 6. Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion 67370)
• Borodin: Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2. Talich Quartet (Calliope 9202)
• Krommer: Concerto for Two Clarinets and Orchestra. Sabine Meyer, Julian Bliss, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sillito (EMI 79786)

1 PM

• David: Trombone Concertino. Christian Lindberg, Bamberg Sym, Segerstam (BIS 378)
• Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-flat, Op. 44/3. Talich Quartet (Calliope 9302)

Tuesday, October 2

Before today's playlist, let's connect with this week's real, live performances and performers across Georgia.

The Valdosta Symphony Orchestra sports several guest conductors in 2007-2008. First up is Mary Woodmansee Green, music director of the Hilton Head Symphony. Saturday at Valdosta State she leads the VSO in "America the Beautiful." Guest violinist is Diana Cohen. Tickets: ArtSouth, (229) 333-2150. Note: The Valdosta Symphony has a new website. Also online is a blog by executive director James Shrader, where you can hear his interview with Maestra Green about Saturday's all-American program.

Spivey Hall in Morrow opens for the fall with a gala piano recital by pianist Polina Leschenko. Born in 1981 in St. Petersburg, Leschenko is already on note-mingling terms with some of the world's greatest. We hear her and Martha Argerich in a Brahms piano duo recorded at the Lugano Festival. She makes her Spivey debut Saturday. And guess what? Spivey's director, Sam Dixon, has a blogspot blog too.

The Atlanta Symphony, conductor Robert Spano and guest pianist Garrick Ohlsson perform a program of Franck, Berlioz and Chopin. Thursday through Saturday they're at Atlanta's Symphony Hall; Sunday afternoon they take the show to the UGA Performing Arts Center in Athens. (To hear Garrick Ohlsson talk about Chopin with GPB's Terrance McKnight, check out the thirteenth interview here.)

And finally: It's not too late to experience Atlanta Opera's Turandot. The production continues October 2, 5 and 7 at the new Cobb Energy Centre at I-285 and I-75.

On to the playlist! On the GPB airwaves today Midday Music brings you...

11 AM

• Handel: Water Music, Suite No. 1 in F. London Classical Players, Norrington (Virgin 391334)
• Haydn: Symphony No. 89. Berlin Philharmonic, Rattle (EMI 94237)
• Scriabin: Le Poem Divin: finale, Jeu Divin. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Kondrashin (RCO box 06004)
  

12 N

• Rosza: Ben Hur: Parade of the Charioteers. Hollywood Bowl Sym, Rosza (Sony 60991)
• Massenet: Hungarian Scenes (Orchestral Suite No. 2). New Zealand Sym, Ossonce (Naxos 8.553124)
• Brahms: Haydn Variations, Op. 56b. Martha Argerich and Polina Leschenko (EMi 58471)
• Franck: The Accursed Huntsman. Minnesota Orch, Oue (Reference 82)

1 PM

• Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D. 958. Leif Ove Andsnes (EMI 84321)
• Tuur: Igavik (Eternity). Estonian National Male Choir, Estonian National Sym Orch, Jarvi (Virgin 385785)

Monday, October 1

October greetings to you! I'm continuing to merrily pilfer a recent shipment of discs from EMI and Virgin Classics. Today it yields Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, flute music by Reinecke, orchestral Zemlinsky and Sibelius's Lemminkainen Legends, all available from PB-1.



11 AM

• Vivaldi: Concerto in G minor, RV 156. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Seiler (Harmonia Mundi 901975)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor. Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, Pappano (EMI 53258)

12 N

• Mozart: Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), Overture. Lausanne Chamber Orch, Menuhin (Virgin 363284)
• Reinecke: Flute Sonata, "Undine." Emmanuel Pahud, Yefim Bronfman (EMI 73708)
• Zemlinsky: Es War Einmal, Overture; Kleider machen Leute, Entr'acte. Gurzenich Orch, Conlon (EMI 72481)
• Albeniz: Iberia, Book 1. Cincinnati Sym, Lopez-Cobos (Telarc 80470)

1 PM

• Sibelius: Lemminkainen Legends. Philadelphia Orch, Ormandy (EMI 88679)