Midday Music Wednesday 11/26/08

Please tune in to GPB Thursday at 11:00 for the cooking-oriented special program Turkey Confidential, followed at 1:00 by Giving Thanks. Friday brings the usual requests edition of Midday Music with Alan Cooke. Happy Thanksgiving!

11 AM

  • Mozart: "Paris" Symphony (No. 31 in D major, K. 297). Frieburg Baroque Orch, von der Goltz. Harmonia Mundi 901897.
  • Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81. Ensemble Explorations, Braley. Harmonia Mundi 901880.
12 N
  • Ungar: Ashokan Farewell. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason. Angel EMI 56720.
  • Bernstein: Divertimento for orchestra. Bournemouth Sym, Alsop. Naxos 8.559245.
  • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5. Donna Brown, Antonio Meneses, cellists of the Sao Paolo Sym, Minczuk. BIS 1410.
  • Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks. Boston Baroque, Pearlman. Telarc 80594.
  • Tchaikovsky: Seasons: November, Troika. Wu Han. Artist Led 10701.
1 PM
  • Kreisler/Rachmaninoff: Liebesfreud. Wu Han. Artist Led 10701.
  • Beethoven: "Emperor" Piano Concerto (No. 5 in E-flat). Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 06311.

Midday Music Tuesday 11/25/08

New releases again, this time heavier on beloved warhorses, to speed you on your way over the river and through the woods.

11 AM

  • Wagenseil: Symphony in A, WV 421. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Goritzki. CPO 777 112.
  • Franck: Violin Sonata in A major. Sergey Khachatryan, Lusine Khachatryan. Naive 5122.
  • Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat. Alison Balsom, German Chamber Phil Bremen. EMI 16213.
12 N
  • Grieg: Cello Sonata in A minor: Andante molto tranquillo. Emmanuelle Bertrand, Pascal Amoyel. Harmonia Mundi 901986.
  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major. Evgeny Kissin, London Sym, Davis. EMI 06311 (set of all five concertos).
  • Liszt: Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, arr. cello and piano. Mark Kosower, Jee-Won Oh. Naxos 8.570570.
  • Bazzini: Calabrese, Op. 34/6. Chloe Hanslip, Caspar Frantz. Naxos 8.570800.

1 PM

  • Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68. Revolutionary and Romantic Orch, Gardiner. SDG 702.
  • Turina: Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 67: Vivo. Ames Piano Quartet. Albany 1052.

Midday Music Monday 11/24/08

All of today's music comes from new (2008) releases. Giving music as gifts? Please consider ordering CDs through PB-1 (Public Broadcasting One); its Music Service kicks back a bit of each purchase to GPB. The toll-free number is 1-877-448-4719. And if physical discs are too 20th century for you, many of these recordings are available as downloads as well.

11 AM

  • Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonata Canonica for two guitars. Brasil Guitar Duo. Naxos 8.570778.
  • Veracini: Violin Sonata in B minor, Op. 1/3. Enrico Casazza, La Magnifica Comunita. Brillant 93809.
  • Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K. 482. Jonathan Biss, Orpheus Chamber Orch. EMI 17270.
12 N
  • Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor: 3rd mvt. Capucon, Capucon, Causse, Angelich. Virgin 519310.
  • Alwyn: Suite of Scottish Dances. Royal Liverpool Phil, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570704.
  • Saint-Saens: Tristesse, arr. oboe and piano. Bart Schneemann, Paolo Giacometti. Brilliant 93688.
  • Stanford: Clarinet Concerto, Op. 80. Robert Plane, Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570356.
  • Wagenseil: Symphony in D, WV 374. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Goritzki. CPO 777 112.
1 PM
  • Glinka: Grand Sextet in E-flat for piano, violins, viola, cello and bass. Alexader Mogilevsky et al. EMI 18333.
  • Schumann: Violin Concerto in D minor. Ilya Kaler, Bournemouth Sym, Inkinen. Naxos 8.570321.

Midday Music Thursday 11/20/08

In today's Opera Chat, I speak with Renee Wilson-Wicker, chair of the Georgia Music Educators Association's choral division, about The Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz. The Metropolitan Opera will be broadcasting its matinee of that work in high definition to theaters across the country this Saturday, November 22 at 1:00.

GPB and GMEA have teamed up with the Met to allow young Georgians to experience opera performance at the highest level. If you are a music teacher and a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, you are eligible for free tickets to take one of your students to attend The Damnation of Faust at the theater nearest you. There are participating cinemas in Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Chamblee, Fayetteville, Gainesville, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville, Lithonia, Marietta, Morrow, Savannah, Valdosta and Warner Robins. For a teacher-student pair of tickets, e-mail Renee Wilson-Wicker at choral@gmea.org. If you are not a GMEA member and would like to buy tickets to attend Saturday's high-definition live theater broadcast, click here.


11 AM

  • Borodin: String Quartet No. 2. Borodin Quartet. Onyx 4002.
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 8. Tafelmusik Orch, Weill. Analekta 9947.
12 N
  • Rodrigo: Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez. Goran Sollscher, Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 429 232.
  • Piazzolla: Tango Suite: Tango No. 2. Patrick Gallois, Goran Sollscher. DG 449 185.
  • Pugh: Trombone Concerto. James Pugh, Colorado Sym, Tyzik. Albany 926.
  • Glazunov: Five Novelettes: Alla Spagnuola. Fine Arts Quartet. Naxos 8.570256.
  • Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust: selections. Orch of Paris, Pretre. EMI 81493.
  • Opera Chat with Renee Wilson-Wicker
1 PM
  • Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Sa Chen, Gulbenkian Orch, Foster. PentaTone 5186 341.

Midday Music Wednesday 11/19/08

11 AM

  • Grenet: Drume negrita. Lauro: Venezuelan Waltz No. 3. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56578.
  • Serra: Rural Impressions. El Valles Sym, Brotons. Naxos 8.555871.
  • Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor. Emerson Quartet. DG 6344.
12 N
  • Svendsen: Symphony No. 1. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.
  • Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-flat, K. 191. Gustavo Nunes, Concertgebouw Chamber Orch. PentaTone 5186 079.
1 PM
  • Mussorgsky: Khovashchina: Prelude (Dawn on the Moscow River); Dance of the Persian Slave Girls. Russian National Orch, Ponti. PentaTone 5186 332.
  • Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 1 in A major, Op. 18. Fine Arts Quartet, Rossi. Naxos 8.570488.
  • Barber: Commando March. Royal Scottish National Orch, Alsop. Naxos 8.559133.

Classical Calendar, November 18-23, 2008

Tuesday, November 18

  • The LaGrange Symphony presents "Music: The Invisible Art," featuring pieces by Lee Johnson and Richard Wagner plus the Korean folksong Arirang. Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, 7:30.
  • Mercer University presents a free guest artist recital by pianist Dianne Reed. Fickling Hall, Macon, 7:30 p.m.
  • Guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs as part of CSU's Legacy Live series. RiverCenter, Columbus.
Thursday, November 20
  • The Borealis String Quartet plays Schubert, Mendelssohn and Grieg, presented by the Auburn Chamber Music Society. Goodwin Recital Hall, Auburn University, 7:30.
  • Guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs at 7:30 at Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College, part of the music department's Callaway Concert Series.
Friday & Sunday, November 21 & 23
  • Robert Spano conducts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and a cast led by Gerald Finley (as scientist Robert Oppenheimer) in a semistaged performance of John Adams' opera Doctor Atomic, about the final hours leading up to the first test of an atomic bomb in 1945. Atlanta's Symphony Hall, Friday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.
Friday, November 21
  • The Fine Arts Quartet is presented by the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society. Maxwell Theatre, Augusta State University, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 22
  • The Ocmulgee Symphony offers a Pulaski Bicentennial Concert, celebrating the county's 200th anniversary with patriotic American music and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Hawkinsville Opera House, 7:30.
  • Swedish guitarist Goran Sollscher plays Bach, Dowland and Lennon/McCartney. Spivey Hall, Morrow, 8:15 p.m.
  • The Augusta Choral Society and friends present a semistaged concert version of Menotti's Christmas classic, Amahl and the Night Visitors, with chorus, soloists, dancers and orchestra. Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
  • The professional male vocal ensemble Cantus, in collaboration with Theatre Latte Da, presents Peter Rothstein's All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which recreates an unusual Christmas Day event during World War I when thousands of German and Allied soldiers put down their guns and left their trneches to meet their enemies, exchange gifts, play soccer and sing carols - before resuming the war. In the style of a radio musical drama. UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 23
  • Columbus State University's Trombone Ensembles offer a fall concert including Gordon Jacob's Octet for Trombones and larger-scale music by Schubert, Crespo, Wagner and Lauridsen. The CSU Trombone Choir has been invited to perform at the 2009 Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., and proceeds from the modest ticket charge for this conert will help cover travel costs. RiverCenter, Columbus, 4 p.m.
  • The Davidson Fine Arts School Chorale, St. John Choir, soloists and Custer's Last Band present A Thanksgiving Feast of Song, featuring "Gloria" from The World Beloved, A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett. Free admission; an offering will be taken for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. Part of the "Concerts with a Cause" series. St. John United Methodist Church, Augusta, 3 p.m.

Midday Music Tuesday 11/18/08

Concert list to follow in a separate post.

11 AM

  • Bach/Sitkovetsky: Goldberg Variations, arr. string trio. Crow, McNabney, Haimovitz. Oxingale 2014.
12 N
  • Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F-sharp minor. Ruth Laredo. Nonesuch 73035.
  • Albinoni: Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9/2. Anthony Robson, Collegium Musicum 90, Standage. Chandos 0579.
  • Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture. Orch & Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Pappano. EMI 70065.
  • Lennon/McCartney: songs arr. guitar. Goran Sollscher. DG 447 104.
1 PM
  • Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F minor, Op. 80. Eroica Quartet. Harmonia Mundi 907288.
  • Johnson, Lee: Every Matter under Heaven, An Oratorio for Humanity: Conclusion (A Time for Peace, Circle, A Time to Finish). Russian National Orch, Spiritual Renaissance Concert Choir, Yanovsky, Beasley, Johnson. CCn'C 03062.
  • Barrios: Cueca; Danza paraguaya; Una limosna por el amor de Dios. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56578.

Midday Music Monday 11/17/08

Cinderella meets opera in Rossini's La Cenerentola. And in Atlanta this month, mezzo-soprano star and Marietta native Jennifer Larmore returns home to star in this opera.

On GPB in the 1 o'clock hour I speak with Canadian baritone Hugh Russell. He is in town to play Dandini, the prince's valet who dresses up as the prince to check out the girls in Cinderella's household. He walks us through much of the comedy's plot. (Spoiler alert: no glass slippers.) And we hear Jennifer Larmore herself sing selections from a Covent Garden recording on Teldec.

The Atlanta Opera's production of La Cenerentola continues November 18, 21 and 23 at the Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta.

11 AM

  • Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G major. Augustin Hadelich, Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.570483.
  • Giuliani: Menuetto, Op. 73/9. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.
  • Arensky: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor. Claremont Trio. Tria Records 3860.
12 N
  • Mussorgsky: Sorochintsy Fair: Introduction. Russian National Orch, Ponti. PentaTone 5186 332.
  • Telemann: Concerto in A major for four violins. Musica Antiqua Cologne, Goebbel. Archiv 289 471 492.
  • Schumann: String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 51/3. Fine Arts Quartet. Naxos 8.570151.
  • Wagner: Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg. Berlin Phil, Tennstedt. EMI 86248.
1 PM
  • Rossini: La Cenerentola, excerpts. Jennifer Larmore et al., Orch & Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Rizzo. Teldec 4909-94553.
  • Interview with baritone Hugh Russell.
  • Regondi: Etude No. 6. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.

Midday Music Thursday 11/13/08

Are you near Columbus, Macon, Eatonton, Morrow, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, LaGrange, Auburn or Athens? There's high-caliber musicmaking close by, and soon. See details and support live classical music in your community.

The highlight of today's Midday Music is a novelty - it's Margaret Brouwer's percussion concerto Aurolucent Circles from 2002, written for and performed by Evelyn Glennie.

Friday's Midday Music will be a requests day with Alan Cooke in Augusta. See you Monday.

11 AM

  • Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage: First Year, "Switzerland": selections. Stephen Hough. Hyperion 67424.
  • Stamitz: Flute Concerto in G major. Barthold Kuijken, Tafelmusik, Lamon. Sony 48045.
  • Farrenc: Nonette for strings and winds, Op. 38. Barnold, Leleux, Guyot et al. Naive 5033.
12 N
  • Dvorak: Largo from Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi. Telarc 80616.
  • Brouwer: Aurolucent Circles, Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra: Floating in Dark Space, Stardance, Cycles & Currents (2002). Evelyn Glennie, Royal Liverpool Phil, Schwarz. Naxos 8.559250.
  • Lecuona: Cuban Dances: Danza Lucumi. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56757.
    Ibert: Two Interludes for flute, viola and harp. Aureole. Koch 7102.
1 PM
  • Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 2 in B-flat. Fine Arts Quartet, Rossi. Naxoso 8.570488.
  • Wagner: Prelude to Act 3 of Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg. Met Orch, Levine. DG 447 764.
  • Schumann: Liebesbotschaft. Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber. RCA 88697168172.

Midday Music Wednesday 11/12/08

These musical selections tie in to concerts by the Macon Symphony (in Macon and Eatonton), guitarist Manuel Barrueco (in Columbus and LaGrange) and pianist Stephen Hough and baritone Christian Gerhaher (each in Morrow's Spivey Hall), as well as stagings of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Pirates of Penzance in Columbus and Athens and Rossini's opera Cinderella in Atlanta. And that's not all that's going on! See this week's Classical Calendar for details, and then go, Go, GO!

11 AM

  • Bach/Webern: Ricercare No. 2 from A Musical Offering. Munich Chamber Orch, Poppen. ECM 1774.
  • Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Marc-Andre Hamelin, Dallas Sym, Litton. Hyperion 67550.
12 N
  • Bach: Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005. Manuel Barrueco. EMI 56416.
  • Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5. Stephen Hough, City of Birmingham Sym, Oramo. Hyperion 67331/2.
  • Schumann: Liederkreis after Eichendorff, Op. 39: Nos. 1-2, 12. Christian Gerhaher, Gerold Huber. RCA 88697168172.
1 PM
  • Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon in E-flat, K. 297b. Freiburg Baroque Orch, Kaiser, Bruggemann, Zafra, Wieringa, Goltz. Harmonia Mundi 901897.
  • Paganini: Variations on a Theme from Rossini's La Cenerentola. Salvatore Accardo, London Phil, Dutoit. DG 423 717.
  • Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance, Overture. Nimbus 5066. Scottish Chamber Orch, Faris.

Midday Music Tuesday 11/11/08

Best Veterans' Day wishes to you.

11 AM

  • McKinley: Patriotic Variations. Slovak Radio Sym, Stankovsky MMC 2032.
  • Granados: Goyescas: The Young Men in Love: Conversation through the Bars. Eric Parkin. Chandos 9412.
  • Beach: Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Anne-Marie McDermott, Escher String Quartet). CMS Studio 82524.
  • Copland: Letter from Home. Buffalo Phil, Falletta. Naxos 8.559240.
12 N
  • Chopin: "Heroic" Polonaise in A-flat, Op. 53. Olga Kern. Harmonia Mundi 907402.
  • Daugherty: UFO for solo percussion and wind symphony: Mvt 2. Evelyn Glennie, North Texas Wind Sym, Corporon. Klavier 11121.
  • O'Connor: Double Violin Concerto (Swingin', Midnight on the Dance Room Floor, Dixieland). Mark O'Connor and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Colorado Sym Orch, Alsop. OMAC-8.
  • O'Connor: Appalachia Waltz. Mark O'Connor and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. OMAC-8.
  • Traditional (American revival song): I'm on My Journey Home. Anonymous 4. Harmonia Mundi 907400.
1 PM
  • Beethoven: "Pastorale" Symphony (No. 6 in F major). BBC Scottish Sym, Vanska. BBC Music Mag Vol. 8, No. 3.

Classical Calendar, November 11-20

Concerts around Georgia over the next week or so, featuring artists from the homegrown to the globetrotting.

November 13-14 and 16

  • Percussion star Evelyn Glennie (right) joins the Atlanta Symphony in Atlanta for John Corigliano's Percussion Concerto. Donald Runnicles also conducts Gershwin's Cuban Overture and Dvorak's "New World" Symphony.
Friday, November 14Saturday, November 15
  • Acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough (right) performs at Spivey Hall, Clayton State, Morrow. Bach, Faure, Franck, Copland and Chopin.
  • The Macon Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Adrian Gnam and pianist David Gross, offer "the three B's" - Beethoven ("Pastorale" Symphony), Brahms (Second Piano Concerto) and Bach (the Fugue/Ricercare from A Musical Offering, orchestrated by Webern) - at Macon's Grand Opera House.
  • Soprano, string quartet and interactive audio and video combine in the world premiere of Ophelia's Gaze, a new chamber opera by Emory University composer Steven Everett, based on poetry by Pulitzer-winning Emory poet Natasha Trethewey, at Atlanta's Schwartz Center.
November 15, 18, 21 and 23
  • Marietta-born star soprano Jennifer Larmore (right) returns home for her debut with the Atlanta Opera as Cinderella in Rossini's opera La Cenerentola. At the Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta.
Sunday, November 16
Tuesday, November 18
  • The LaGrange Symphony presents "Music: The Invisible Art," with German, Korean and American pieces (the last by LaGrange's own Lee Johnson). Patricio Cobos conducts at Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange College.
  • Famed guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs on Columbus State's Legacy Live series at RiverCenter, Columbus. (He also plays in LaGrange Thursday.)
Thursday, November 20

Midday Music Monday 11/10/08

Why isn't the Piano Quartet by American composer Arthur Foote (1853-1937) better known? It's got great tunes, a gorgeous slow movement and a thrilling finale. In the first hour of Midday Music, we hear a performance by the Atlanta Chamber Players. Also oddly unfamous is Britain's Sir Charles Stanford (1854-1924), and possibly for similar reasons: both Foote and Stanford crafted lovely Romantic music past Romantic's prime. But a century on, our ears don't care if these guys were cutting edge or simply good. We'll hear Stanford's Sixth Symphony ("In honour of the life-work of a great artist: Goergia Frederick Watts") in the one o'clock hour on GPB.

11 AM

  • Mozart, L.: Sinfonia in A major. Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon. Naxos 8.570499.
  • Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending. Pinchas Zukerman, English Chamber Orch, Barenboim. DG 289 453 909.
  • Foote: Piano Quartet in C major. Atlanta Chamber Players. ACA Digital 20082.
12 N
  • Svendsen: Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2. Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen. CPO 777 372.
  • Regondi: Etude No. 10 in A major. David Starobin. Bridge 9272.
  • Telemann: Oboe d'Amore Concerto in G major. Thomas Stacy, Toronto Chamber Orch, Mallon. Naxos 8.570735.
  • Schumann: Waldszenen. Claudio Arrau. Philips 420 871.
1 PM
  • Stanford: Symphony No. 6, "In honour of the life-work of a great artist: George Frederick Watts." Bournemouth Sym, Lloyd-Jones. Naxos 8.570355.
  • Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in B-flat, RV 408. Christophe Coin, Il Giardino Armonico, Antonini. Naive 30457.

Midday Music Thursday 11/06/08

Many tie-ins to Georgia concerts lurk among the pieces and players on today's Midday Music playlist. So much going on! This weekend our state boasts performances by the Columbus, Albany, Augusta and Atlanta symphonies - as well as by violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Claude Frank, the Tetzlaff Quartet, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and Antoni Wit with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

In the noon hour I speak with conductors George Del Gobbo of the Columbus Symphony and Claire Fox Hillard of the Albany Symphony. Intrigued about the other concerts too? Then hie thee unto the weekly Classical Concerts posting below and forsooth, there shalt thou find links.

11 AM

  • Vivaldi: Concerto in B minor for Four Violins, Op. 3/10. Cologne Chamber Orch, Muller-Bruhl. Naxos 8.554606.
  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major. Martha Argerich, Royal Concertgebouw, wallberg. EMI 56974.
  • Dvorak: Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra. Pamela Frank, Czech Phil, Mackerras. London 289 460 316.
12 N
  • Piazzolla: Four Seasons in Buenos Aires: Autumn (Otono Porteno). Katona Twins. Channel 19804.
  • Ravel: Bolero. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel. Telarc 80703.
  • Adams: Nixon in China: The Chairman Dances. Baltimore Sym, Zinman. Argo 444 454.
  • Szymanowski: Nocturne and Tarantella. Warsaw Phil, Wit. Naxos 8.557981.
  • Ewazen: Trombone Concerto. Doug Farwell, Albany (Ga.) Sym, Hillard. Concert, October 2005.
1 PM
  • Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major. Joshua Bell, Cleveland Orch, Dohnanyi. London 444 811.
  • Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A major: Finale. Christian Tetzlaff, Czech Phil, Pesek. Virgin 391346.

Midday Music Wednesday 11/05/08

According to his public Facebook page, Barack Obama's favorite music includes "Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites) and The Fugees." We'll home in on the Bach part of the president-elect's list right after the noon news on GPB.

11 AM

  • Mozart: Cosi fan tutte, Overture. Lausanne Chamber Orch, Menuhin. Virgin 363284.
  • Copland: Third Symphony. New York Phil, Bernstein. Sony 63155.
  • Thomson: Three Portraits. Philippe Quint, William Wolfram. Naxos 8.559364.
12 N
  • Bach: Suite in G major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007. Steven Isserlis. Hyperion 67541/2.
  • Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Chailly. London 289 458 142.
  • Franck: Psyche and Eros, from Psyche. Berlin Phil, Giulini. DG 419 605.
1 PM
  • Dvorak: "American" Quintet. Vlach Quartet, Kyselak. Naxos 8.553376.
  • Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat: Dances. Orch of the Suisse Romande, Ansermet. London 414 039/10.

Midday Music Tuesday 11/04/08

It's an all-American lineup on Midday Music, to escort you to your polling place. (For details on concerts mentioned on air please check out this week's Classical Calendar posting below.) Happy election day!

11 AM

  • Ives: Variations on "America." Columbus State Univ Wind Ensemble, Rumbelow. Summit 374.
  • Barber: Violin Concerto. James Ehnes, Vancouver Sym, Tovey. CBC 5241.
  • Joplin: Scott Joplin's New Rag. Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.559277.
  • Zohn: Variations on Three Appalachian Tunes. Andrew Zohn.
12 N
  • Summer: Julie-O. Mark Summer, David Ying. Telarc 80630.
  • Boyer: Celebration Overture. Moravian Phil, Golan. Albany 1027.
  • Corigliano: The Red Violin Caprices. Philippe Quint. Naxos 8.559364.
  • Copland: Appalachian Spring. Nashville Chamber Orch, Gambill. Naxos 8.559069.
  • Perkinson: Quartet No. 1 based on "Calvary": Allegro. New Black Music Repertory Ensemble Quartet. Cedille 087.
1 PM
  • O'Connor: Trio No. 1, "Poets and Prophets," inspired by Johnny Cash. Eroica Trio. EMI 07351.
  • Nelson: Savannah River Holiday. Boston Pops, Lockhart. BMG RCA 68786.
  • Perkinson: Louisiana Blues Strut. Ashley Horne. Cedille 087.
  • Bernstein: Candide: Make Our Garden Grow. Joshua Bell, Philharmonia Orch, Zinman. Sony 89358.

Classical Calendar, November 3-9

Violinists Joshua Bell, Philippe Quint and Christian Tetzlaff. Pianists Valentina Lisitsa and Jeremy Denk. Concerts in Columbus, Augusta, Morrow, Athens, Atlanta, Kennesaw and Albany. Take your pick and fill a seat!

Monday, November 3

Tuesday, November 4
  • Also in Columbus, Columbus State's Schwob School of Music presents pianist Jeremy Denk performing Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata and more. The concert begins at 7:30, and they say you'll be out by 9:00 - in plenty of time to catch election returns on GPB Radio.
Thursday-Friday, November 6-7
  • In Atlanta, violinist Joshua Bell and the Atlanta Symphony perform Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. Also on the program, Robert Spano conducts Copland's Appalachian Spring and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.
Friday, November 7
Saturday, November 8
  • The Augusta Symphony welcomes to Augusta another potential new music director, Benjamin Loeb, for a concert at First Baptist of Augusta including Beethoven's First Piano Concerto (with soloist Andrew Armstrong), Ron Nelson's Savannah River Holiday, Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.
  • And in Albany's Municipal Auditorium, Claire Fox Hillard leads the Albany Symphony in a fascinating program of music connected to myth. The Tantalus Quartet stars in "The Feast" (a concerto for four guitarists and orchestra) by Paraskevas. There are the Greeks myths of Orpheus (Gluck, Offenbach) and Psyche (Franck). And the orchestra plays a piece by its own member Steven Landis, "Through the Gate of Horn."
  • And in Columbus, violinist Philippe Quint joins the Columbus Symphony and music director George Del Gobbo for Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The program at RiverCenter, "A Passion for the Tango," also features Ginastera's Estancia Dances, Falla's Three-Cornered Hat and Ravel's Bolero.
Saturday-Sunday, November 8-9
  • At the Murray Arts Center in Kennesaw, the Cobb Symphony Orchestra, with the Cobb Symphony Chorus and cellist Matthew Allen offer Prokofiev's Cello Concerto and Borodin's Polovetsian Dances, as well as selections from The Sound of Music, Candide and Phantom of the Opera. Michael Alexander conducts.
Sunday, November 9
  • The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra (plus singers) perform Vivaldi's Gloria, plus Bach's transcription of a Vivaldi concerto at Atlanta's Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
  • The Tetzlaff Quartet performs Mozart, Berg and Sibelius at Spivey Hall in Morrow. Christian Tetzlaff is the quartet's lead violinist; his sister Tanja is its cellist.
  • It's Darton Guitar Day in Albany. Darton College's second annual guitar workshop includes an afternoon recital, master class and lecture, all free and open to the public.

Midday Music Monday 11/03/08

11 AM

  • Beethoven: "Hammerklavier" Sonata (No. 29 in B-flat, Op. 106). Rudolf Serkin. Sony 47666.
  • Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem: Part 1 (Selig Sind). Atlanta Sym Orch & Chorus, Spano. Telarc 80701.

12 N
  • Joplin: Rag-Time Dance. Benjamin Loeb. Naxos 8.559277.
  • Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg. PentaTone 5186 058.
  • Beriot: Violin Concerto No. 3 in E minor. Philippe Quint, Slovak Radio Sym, Trevor. Naxos 8.570360.
  • Gluck: Orpheus and Euridice: Dance of the Furies; Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Orpheus Chamber Orch. DG 437 782.
1 PM
  • Schubert/Liszt: Die Taubenpost. Valentina Lisitsa. ACA 20102.
  • Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1. Lise de la Salle, Lisbon Gulbenkian Foundation Orch, Foster. Naive 5053.
  • Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. New Zealand Sym, Judd. Naxos 8.555867.
  • Mozart: Rondo in C major. Christian Tetzlaff, Northern Sinfonia, Schiff. Virgin 91489.