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)

Thursday, May 24

As a follow-up to Monday's post, in which I bemoaned the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's decision to prune its full-time classical music critic and other important staffers, here are some links of interest:

• the text of Robert Spano's letter to the editor,
• a petition organized by the Atlanta Symphony, to remain online until June 7,
• and an article, "Atlanta Arts Coverage in Turmoil," in Musical America.

Discovery of the day: Alexander Glazunov's String Quintet, from his mid-twenties. Lovely piece. Nice recording, too. Glazunov wasn't a ground-breaking, path-forging sort of composer - he would stay true to the Romantic style of his youth - but what a natural, don't you think?

This is my last playlist for a few days. Alan Cooke not only hosts the Friday requests show as usual; he'll also be with you Memorial Day and all next week. For details on Alan's shows, please see his blog.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake: Dance of the Little Swans. London Sym, Thomas (Sony 46592)
• Glazunov: String Quintet in A major, Op. 39. Fine Arts Quartet, Nathaniel Rosen (Naxos 8.570256)
• Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole. Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montreal (Analekta 9897)

12 N

• Vierdanck: Passamezzo in A minor; La sua Gagliarda. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Brahms: Rondo alla Zingarese from Piano Quartet No. 1. Quartetto Gelato (QG 2 70025)
• Liszt: Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Tunes. Louis Lortie, Residentie Orch, Pehlivanian (Chandos 10371)
• Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat, Op. 53. Evgeny Kissin (RCA 82876-68668)
• Aston: Gaude, virgo mater Christi. Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi 907419)

1 PM

• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10/1: Prestissimo. Andras Schiff (ECM 1942)
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major. Vienna Phil, Kleiber (DG 447 400)
• Couperin: Les Baricades Mysterieuses. Alexandre Tharaud (Harmonia Mundi 901956)
  

Wednesday, May 23

A couple of you have asked whether this blog will become interactive so you can post comments and converse right here. The idea of a widespread community of music lovers becoming a community of chatters under the Midday Music umbrella sounds great to me. However, I'm told it takes lots of time to monitor public postings and keep a blog clean (with appropriate language, general decorum, etc.). Not that the Midday Music fans I know are anything but well behaved, but given our resources and mission GPB has to think about the potential time commitment in connection with all our blogs. In short: maybe later.

Concerts of note: the LaGrange Symphony's Memorial Day program, and the Atlanta Symphony's pairing of Beethoven's "Pastorale" and Gandolfi's Garden.

11 AM

• Bach, J.C.: Symphony in E-flat, Op. 6/2. Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Mal (Harmonia Mundi 901803)
• Schubert: Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 100, D. 929. Storioni Trio (PentaTone 5186 050)

12 N

• Offenbach: Four Impressions: Reverie au bord de la mer. Schiefen, WDR Radio Orch Cologne (CPO 777 069)
• Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez. Sharon Isbin, New York Phil, Serebrier (Warner 2564 60296)
• Friedman: Variations on the Rag. Louisville BRass (Centuar 2821)
• Offenbach: Concerto Rondo for cello and orchestra. Schiefen, WDR Radio Orch Cologne (CPO 777 069)

1 PM

• Alfven: Andante Religioso. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)
• Paderewski: Cracovienne Fantastique. Sang Mi Chung (Centaur 2758)
• Fasch: Overture (Suite) in G major. La Stravaganza Cologne (CPO 777 015)
• Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Barthold Kuijken, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Sony 48405)

Tuesday, May 22

This weekend the LaGrange Symphony plays a Memorial Day concert. The Atlanta Symphony performs Beethoven's Sixth ("Pastorale") and Michael Gandolfi's Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Besides those, things are getting pretty quiet in concert land.

But at GPB the show must go on! And it does, with a symphony by a septuagenarian Swede, sounds from South America, and a birthday nod to Wagner, winding up with the bridal chorus from Lohengrin, best known as "Here Comes the Bride."

Featured on new releases: the Accentus chamber choir (Transcriptions 2), Parkening and Sykes (Jubilation), the Georgian Chamber Players (Our Sunday Best), and music of Alfven and Weiss (on Naxos). If it seems as if Naxos discs are proliferating on GPB playlists these days - well, they are. Few labels release as many classical recordings as Naxos, or provide copies as willingly to radio stations.

11 AM

• Alfven: Symphony No. 5 in A minor, Op. 54. Norrkoping Sym, Willen (Naxos 8.557612)

12 N

• Schubert: Litany, D. 334 (transcr Gottwald). Accentus, Equilbey (Naive 5048)
• Weiss: Sonata No. 20 in D minor. Schwab, lute; Ahlert, mandolin (Naxos 8.557716)
  
• Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1: Fugue - Conversation. Nashville Sym cellos, Mogrelia (Naxos 8.557460-62)
  
• Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto. Sharon Isbin, New York Phil, Serebrier (Warner 2564 60296)
  
• Pantoje, Rique: Ciranda Bambole; Lamento. Jubilant Sykes, Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)

1 PM

• Wagner: Die Walkure: Ride of the Valkyries. Met Orch, Levine (DG 447 764)
• Wagner: Tannhauser: Entrance of the Guests. Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)
• Haydn: String Quartet in G major, Op. 77/1. Preucil, Georgian Chamber Players (ACA 20102)
• Wagner: Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music. Royal Phil Orch, Stokowski (RCA 74321 70931)
• Wagner: Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus. Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)

Monday, May 21

NEWS FLASH: Creative Loafing reports that the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Atlanta's daily newspaper, is eliminating its classical music reviewer position. Other AJC arts critics are also losing their slots. For Atlanta-area music lovers, rational responses to this news might include howling like a coyote or tearing out one's hair (or someone else's). Or one could do what Atlanta Symphony music director Robert Spano did and fire off a letter to the editor. In today's paper, Spano writes:

Ours is a city of growth, and this loss would strike a disheartening blow to our ambitious aspirations. If the AJC follows through with this decision, it will distinguish Atlanta as the largest city in the country without a classical music, book or art critic on staff at its major newspaper. ... A newspaper's practice of regularly reviewing fine arts is intrinsic to its civic mission. ... Art matters.

Share your thoughts with me. If, like most GPB listeners, you live outside Atlanta, does your local paper review classical concerts? How do you value that service? If you do read the AJC, how do you feel about the cuts? Is this an inevitable consequence of the shift from a print world to an online world? Please write middaymusic@gpb.org.

And as for today's playlist:

11 AM

• Guastavino: Guitar Sonata No. 3. Victor Villadangos (Naxos 8.557658)
• Rachmaninoff: Russian Rhapsody for piano duo. Bakke and Kafarova (Centaur 2822)
• Mozart: String Quartet in A major, K. 464. Klenke Quartet (Profil 04032)

12 N

• Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue. Jon Nakamatsu, Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Dittersdorf: Sinfonia in A major. Lisbon Metropolitan Orch, Cassuto (Naxos 8.570198)
• Myers: Cavatina. Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)
• Grainger: Danish Folk-Music Suite. Melbourne Sym, Simon (Cala 4033)

1 PM

• Holst: A Fugal Concerto, Op. 40/2. Pyne, Harmer, English Sinfonia, Griffiths (Naxos 8.570339)
• Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit. Tzimon Barto (Ondine 1095)
• Glazunov: Overture No. 1 on Three Greek Themes. USSR Sym, Svetlanov (Melodiya 00164)

Thursday, May 17

It's rare you find a piano concerto this topical. John Field subtitled his fifth concerto "L'Incendie par l'orage" - that is, "Fire by Lightning" or "Kindled by the Storm." We hear that work, but in hopes of quelling fire and drought in Georgia, I'm also dousing Field's piece with plenty of soggier pieces. Call today's show the Midday Music rain dance.

(Before we get to the playlist, a notable concert alert. Have you ever seen a double bass concerto? Atlanta Symphony principal bass Ralph Jones is giving his fraction of a world premiere of one tonight. It's John Harbison's Concerto for Bass Viol, commissioned by a consortium of 15 North American orchestras. Over the span of two years, those 15 orchestras are spotlighting their lead double bassists in an ongoing, rolling premiere. This weekend it's Atlanta's turn.)

11 AM

• Glazunov: Five Novelettes, Op. 15: Nos. 1-2. Fine Arts Quartet (Naxos 8.570256)
  
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral." Tafelmusik, Weill (Analekta 9831)
  
• Debussy: Ancient Epigraph No. 6, Pour remercier la pluie au matin. Michel Beroff (Denon 78848)
  

12 N

• Alfven: The Mountain King: Summer Rain. Royal Stockholm Phil, Jarvi (BIS 585)
  
• Handel: Water Music, Suite No. 3 in G. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80594)
  
• Chopin: Prelude in D-flat, "Raindrop." John O'Conor (Telarc 80313)
  
• Field: Piano Concerto No. 5, "L'incendie par l'orage." Benjamin Frith, Northern Sinfonia, David Haslam (Naxos 8.554221)
  
• Berlioz: Les Troyens: Royal Hunt and Storm. Royal Phil Orch, Beecham (EMI 47863)
  

1 PM

• Brouwer: Cuban Landscape with Rain. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (Telarc 80593)
  
• Klenau: Symphony No. 7, "Storm Symphony." Odense Sym, Wagner (DaCapo 8.224183)
  
• Iannaccone: After a Gentle Rain. Clarion Wind Sym, Plank (Albany 280)
  

Wednesday, May 16

Smoke from the South Georgia fires is wafting as far north as Atlanta, giving distant parts of the state a taste of what many Georgians have been enduring for weeks. For tomorrow I'll program water-related music as a kind of rain dance.

Meanwhile, here's an East European first hour (alighting in Russian, Czech and Estonian lands), a French second hour (note that the poems for this Carnival of the Animals were written by Bruce Adolphe, of PT Piano Puzzler fame, and are read by a violinless Itzhak Perlman) and a return to Czech territory to close.

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 75912)
• Friml: Dumka. Chase, Buechner (Koch 7662)
  
• Janacek: Violin Concerto "The Wandering of a Little Soul." Baiba Skride, Berlin Radio Sym, Janowski (SonyBMG 731462)
  
• Vasks: Dona Nobis Pacem. Estonian Phil Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orch, Hillier (Harmonia Mundi 907311)
  

12 N

• Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor. Trio Con Brio Copenhagen (Azica 71240)
  
• Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals. Atlanta Sym, Perlman, Levi (Telarc 80443)

1 PM

• Liszt: Totentanz. Louis Lortie, Residentie Orch The Hague, Pehlivanian (Chandos 10371)
Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor. Pamela Frank, Czech Phil, Mackerras (London 289 460 316)

Tuesday, May 15

Back in the 80s, America's venerable Columbia record company became part of Sony. Well, now the Sony label has merged with BMG (which incidentally had already absorbed RCA Red Seal). As a byproduct of this conglomeration, the tapes in the closets are mixing and mingling.

Emanuel Ax, for example, recorded one Brahms piano concerto with one orchestra for Sony. He recorded the other Brahms concerto with another orchestra for BMG. Now in a kind of family reunion these two performances have come together in a fresh SonyBMG package. We hear Ax in Brahms's second concerto.

The concert season? Winding down but not over. On air I mentioned the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's "Salute to New Orleans" Saturday at Atlanta's Rialto Center; the Savannah Sinfonietta's toe-tapping, turn-of-the-century-style "Sousa!" program, Friday at Skidaway Island and Saturday and Sunday in Savannah; and Prokofiev, Harbison and Brahms with the Atlanta Symphony.

11 AM

• Schumann: Waldszenen (Forest Scenes). Vladimir Ashkenazy (Longon 421 290)
• Rodrigo: Canconeta. Christopher Parkening (EMI 57591)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543. Camerata Salzburg, Kavakos (SonyBMG 82876 842412)

12 N

• Gershwin: Cuban Overture. Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Fantasy (arr. Courage). Joshua Bell, London Sym, Williams (Sony 60659)
• Suesse, Dana (a.k.a. "the girl Gershwin"): Jazz Concerto in D for combo and orchestra. Coleman, Davis, Thomas, American Sym, Fennel (Premier 1055)
• Sousa: Wolverine. USAF Heritage of America Band, Graham (Klavier 11131)
  

1 PM

• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Emanuel Ax, Boston Sym, Haitink (SonyBMG 88697 03510)

Monday, May 14

Phrase for the day: Avè u corpu à viulinu. In the language of Corsica, that means "to be famished," or literally, to have a tummy like a violin - i.e., empty.

11 AM

• Chopin: Impromptu in A-flat; Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp minor. Evgeny Kissin (RCA 68668)
• Haydn: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G major. Lukas Hagen, Camerata Salzburg (Profil 07015)
• Feuillet: A l'espagnole. Andrew Lawrence-King (Harmonia Mundi 907335)
• Ginastera: Pampeana No. 2. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 75912)

12 N

• Mahler: Symphony No. 1. Tonhalle Orch Zurich, Zinman (RCA 87156)

1 PM

• Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Op. 19/1 and Op. 102/5. Murray Perahia (Sony 66511)
• Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet, Suite No. 3. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi (Telarc 80597)
• Nielsen: String Quintet in G major. Young Danish String Quartet, Fredericksen (DaCapo 6.220521)

Thursday, May 10

GPB strives to be your source for both great music and NPR News. Now, in general that's great. But the dual mission does make for the occasional constraint. Bach's Goldberg Variations, for example, are too long to fit tidily between hourly newscasts. Today I plead guilty to cutting several variations from the middle so as to squeeze the rest of Bach's masterpiece into one hour. In exchange for those omissions, I'm tacking on two short pieecs that take off from there: a Goldberg-based piano improv, and a Goldberg-based rag. It's not a tradeoff that will win any "historically informed broadcast" awards, but that's just the price we pay for trying to do it all.

(In defense of tampering with Bach, though, I should point out that Glenn Gould - the Canadian pianist whose records turned the Goldberg Variations into a classical cult hit - made judicious cuts of his own. Compare: Whereas Murray Perahia's recording of the piece totals over 73 minutes, Glenn Gould clocked in once at 51 minutes, another time at a mere 38. Gould's tempos are idiosyncratic but not that idiosyncratic!)

11 AM

• Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Murray Perahia (Sony 89243)
• Montero: Improvisation on the Theme from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Gabriela Montero (EMI 58039)
• Gladd: The Red Bach Book: The Goldberg Rag. Orlandi, Mazzonetto, Bosio (Naxos 8.577999)

12 N

• Tchaikovsky: Pezzo Capriccioso. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 82878 75912)
• Feuillet: Chaconne. Andrew Lawrence-King (Harmonia Mundi 907335)
• Holst: Brook Green Suite. English Sinfonia, Griffiths
• Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1. Sol Gabetta, Munich Orch, Rasilainen (RCA 82876 75912)
• Ives: Variations on "America." Simon Preston (Argo 421 731)

1 PM

• Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Laubin brothers, Preston (DG 419 245)
• Rota: Godfather Suite. La Scala Phil, Muti (Sony 63359)
• Reinecke: Violin Concerto in G minor. Ingolf Turban, Bern Sym, Moesus (CPO 777 105)

Wednesday, May 9

Dietrich Buxtehude, German composer and organist and Bach-inspirer, died 300 years ago today, on May 9, 1707. Hence the repeated presence of his music on today's show. Also, it's good.

Want details on Georgia concerts I mentioned on air? Follow these links, and tell them Sarah sent you. (Just kidding - I've always wanted to say that.) The Augusta Opera is staging La Boheme this weekend. Acclaimed British organist Simon Preston gives a recital Saturday at Spivey Hall. Columbus's professional chorus, Cantus Columbus, serves up Cole Porter songs Thursday at RiverCenter. The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra performs Handel and Haydn Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

11 AM

• Buxtehude: Duo Sonata in A minor, Op. 1/3. Kraemer et al. (Harmonia Mundi 901746)
• Nielsen: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 13. Young Danish String Quartet (DaCapo 6.220521)
• Barbieri: Don Quixote: Ballet. Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Encinar (Naxos 8.570260)
• Handel: Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 3/3. Academy of Ancient Music, Egarr (Harmonia Mundi 907415)
• Buxtehude: Canzonetta in G, BuxWV 171. Craig Cramer (Naxos 8.557195)

12 N

• Denza: Variations on "Napoli." Joseph Alessi and friends (Naxos 8.570232)
• York, A.: Jubilation. Christopher Parkening (Angel EMI 57591)
• Buxtehude: Praeludium in D minor, BuxWV 140. Paramount Brass (Centaur 2355)
• Tchaikovsky: Concert Fantasy in G, Op. 56. Scherbakov, Russian Phil, Yablonsky (Naxos 8.557824)
• Clarke: Trumpet Tune (attrib Purcell). Simon Preston, Hakan Hardenberger (Philips 434 074)
• Porter, Cole: Ms. Otis Regrets; What Is This Thing Called Love? Andrew Zohn (independent)

1 PM

• Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor. Martha Argerich (DG 447 430)
• Mozart: Adagio in E major, K. 261. Lukas Hagen, Camerata Salzburg (Profil 07015)
• Puccini: La Boheme: Prelude and Aria. Quartetto Gelato (Marquis 81600)
• Buxtehude: Chaconne. Simon Preston (DG 419 245)

Tuesday, May 8

Today's selection of new and recent releases culminates in an hour with a folksy cast, including a recent piece for the five-stringed viola pomposa. There's only one in the world quite like the amoeba-shaped exemplar that belongs to University of Illinois professor Rudolf Haken, who performs his own concerto for the thing.

11 AM

• Infante: Danzas Andaluzas. Lechner, Tiempo (EMI 58472)
• Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F. Jon Nakamatsu, Rochester Phil, Tyzik (Harmonia Mundi 807441)
• Ravel: Jeux d'eau. Tzimon Barto (Ondine 1095)

12 N

• Cherubini: Faniska, Overture. Sanremo Sym, Bellugi (Naxos 8.557908)
• Medtner: Russian Round Dance. Bakke, Kafarova (Centaur 2822)
• Grieg: Ballade, Op. 24 (orch. Tveitt). Royal Scottish National Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557854)
• Mozart: Abduction from the Seraglio, highlights for winds. Moonwinds, Lluna (Harmonia Mundi 987071)

1 PM

• Hoyer, G.: Vignettes from an American Life: Front Porch Rondo. Hartford Virtuosi, LaReau (ERM 6808)
• Powell, J.: In the South, Op. 16. Nicholas Ross (Centaur 2828)
• Haken, R.: Concerto for Five-String Viola. Haken, orch, Benichou (Centaur 2826)

Monday, May 7

Three agendas to start the week off:

1. New releases. All recordings on today's show are hot off the press (or whatever they call the machine that makes CDs).

2. Birthdays. May 7 is a big day for both Brahms and Tchaikovsky; violinist Julia Fischer soloes in works by both. It's also the birthday of Atlanta Symphony conductor Robert Spano, whose new recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony we hear.

3. Weird instruments. You learn something every day. The vis-a-vis, I've learned, is a hybrid keyboard instrument from the 1770s, part harpsichord and part fortepiano. We hear Mozart on one of the two surviving exemplars of this mutant. And don't miss tomorrow's show, featuring the blob-shaped, five-stringed, viola-type creature called the viola pomposa.

And now, your rundown.

11 AM

• Holst: St. Paul's Suite. Northern Sinfonia, Griffiths (Naxos 8.570339)
• Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5. Atlanta Sym, Spano (Telarc 80676)
• Ginastera: Pequena Danza. Fernando Viani (Naxos 8.557911-12)

12 N

• Ginastera: Milonga. Fernando Viani (Naxos 8.557911-12)
• Turina: La Oracion del Torero. Cuartetto Casals (Harmonia Mundi 987072)
• Reinecke: Symphony No. 1. Bern Sym, Moesus (CPO 777 105)
• Mozart: Sonata in D for piano four-hands, K. 381, played on vis-a-vis. Staier, Schornsheim (Harmonia Mundi 901941)

1 PM

• Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major. Julia Fischer, Netherlands Phil, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 066)
• Tchaikovsky: Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34. Julia Fischer, Russian National Orch, Kreizberg (PentaTone 5186 095)

Thursday, May 3

Late Romantic blockbusters are sprouting up all over the state this weekend: the Macon Symphony performs Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, the Albany Symphony does Mahler's Fourth, and the Atlanta Symphony plays Bruckner's Fourth. All those pieces feature on today's Midday Music, letting me simultaneously serve our arts community and end my portion of the week really LOUD. It's win-win.

11 AM

• Strauss: Ein Heldenleben. Bavarian Radio Sym, Maazel (RCA 09026-65775)
• Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)

12 N

• Vanhal: Flute Quartet in B-flat, Op. 7/2. Uwe Grodd, Janaki String Trio (Naxos 8.570234)
• Scarlatti: Sonata in A-flat, K. 127, on harp. Susan Miron (Centaur 2776)
• Mahler: Symphony No. 4: 1st mvt. Berlin Philharmonic, Abbado (DG 5759)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G, Op. 79. Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901903.05)

1 PM

• Hoffmann, J.: Sonata in G major, on mandolin and archlute. Daniel Ahlert, Birgit Schwab (Naxos 8.557716)
• Bruckner: Symphony No. 4, "Romantic": Mvts 3-4. Orchestre des Champs-Elysees, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901921)

Wednesday, May 2

There's smog in north Georgia and smoke in south Georgia. Don't inhale, but please breathe deeply the salutary music that GPB broadcasts right through the murk. Today on the air, however impure it be, we heard:

11 AM

• Copland: Rodeo: Hoedown. Buffalo Phil, Falletta (Naxos 8.559240)
  
• Copland: The Red Pony, Film Suite. Buffalo Phil, Falletta (Naxos 8.559240)
• Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor: Mvts 2-4. Sergey Khachatryan, French National Orch, Masur (Naive 5025)
  

12 N

• Bazzini: Dance of the Goblins. Maxim Vengerov, Virtuosi (EMI 57164)
  
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1. Martha Argerich, Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Wallberg (EMI 56974)
  
• Mozart: Rondo in A minor, K. 511. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)
  
• Gershwin: Summertime. Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orch (WM 105)
  

1 PM

• Strauss: Oboe Concerto. Lajos Lencses, Stuttgart Radio Sym, Marriner (Hanssler 93.026)
  
• Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate. Carolyn Sampson, King's Consort, King (Hyperion 67560)
• Honegger: Pastorale d'ete. New Zealand Sym, Yuasa (Naxos 8.555974)

Concerts of interest to Midday Music mavens: French pianist Lise de la Salle plays at Spivey Hall Friday, including the Mozart Rondo from today's noon hour. Saturday the Albany Symphony and guest soprano offer Mozart and Mahler while the Macon Symphony and guest cellist serve up Dvorak and Strauss. The Atlanta Symphony and guest pianist thrice perform Beethoven and Bruckner.

Tuesday, May 1

Bookending today's show: major concertos for string instruments by Elgar and Dvorak. (Macon-area audiences can hear that Dvorak Cello Concerto in concert Saturday with the Macon Symphony and guest artist Zuill Bailey. Today's recording features the late, great Mstislav Rostropovich.) In between: performances by pianist Lise de la Salle and mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux, both of whom grace Atlanta-area stages this weekend.

11 AM

• Elgar: May Song. New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 8.557577)
• Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor. Hilary Hahn, London Sym, Davis (DG 3026)

12 N

• Mozart: Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je maman." Lise de la Salle (Naive 5080)
• Milhaud: Suite Provencal, Op. 152b. National Orch of Lille, Casadesus (Naxos 8.557287)
• Kuhlau: Grand Trio in F for flutes and piano. Schulz, Schulz, Inui (Naxos 8.570309)
• Handel: Rinaldo, Act 3: Selections. Vivica Genaux, Freiburg Baroque Orch, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi 901796.98)

1 PM

• Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor. Mstislav Rostropovich, London Phil, Giulini (1977; from EMI box set 65701)
• Haydn: Cello Concerto in D major: Rondo. Mstislav Rostropovich, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (EMI 65701)
  

Tuesday, April 24 - Monday, April 30

Monday, April 30
Teenaged French pianist Lise de la Salle performs at Spivey Hall this Friday; on Midday Music she goes at Liszt full force. Saturday the Albany Symphony performs Mozart and Mahler; we hear Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music. In honor of great cellist and all-round musician and mensch Mstislav Rostropovich, who passed away Friday morning, we hear him and fellow luminaries in the finale to Beethoven's Triple Concerto.

11 AM

• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2. Hough, Dallas Sym, Litton (Hyperion 67501/2)
• Haydn: Piano Trio in A major, Hob. XV:35. Trio 1790 (CPO 777 243)
• Arcas: Fantasia on Themes from Verdi's La Traviata. David Russell (Telarc 80672)

12 N

• Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80368)
• Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5006)
• Medieval Italian and Turkish mss.: Selections. Hesperion 21, Savall (Alia Vox 9848)
• Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor for viola d'amore and lute, RV 540. Rolf Lislevand et al. (Naive 30429)

1 PM

• Mackenzie: Scottish Concerto. Osborne, BBC Scottish Sym, Brabbins (Hyperion 67023)
• Mozart: Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477. Stuttgart Chamber Orch, Davies (ECM 1565/66)
• Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major: Finale. Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter, Berlin Phil, Karajan (EMI 66092)

(Friday, April 27: Requests with Alan Cooke.)

Thursday, April 26
Tie-ins to several Georgia performances: Vivica Genaux's appearance in the Atlanta Opera's Gala Spring Concert; the Atlanta Symphony's rendition of Britten; Lise de la Salle's piano recital at Spivey Hall; Mark O'Connor's performance in Statesboro; and the Georgia State wind ensemble's concert with composer Leslie Bassett in attendance.

• Hasse: Atarserse: "Per questo dolce amplesso." Vivica Genaux, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi, "Arias for Farinelli")
• Dvorak: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, "American." Melos Quartet (Harmonia Mundi 2901509.10)
• Rachmaninoff: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36. Alexander Kobrin (Harmonia Mundi 907404)
• Britten: Canadian Carnival Overture. English Chamber Orch, Bedford (Naxos 8.557198)
• Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, BWV 903. Lise de la Salle (Naive 5006)
• Bach: Trumpet Concerto in D after Vivaldi, BWV 972. Alison Balsom et al. (EMI 58047)
• O'Connor, M.: Old Country Fairytale. O'Connor, Ma, Meyer (Sony 68460)
• Bassett, L.: Narratives. Minneapolis Guitar Quartet (Albany 207)
• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major. Scherbakov, Russian Phil, Yablonsky (Naxos 8.557824)
• Byrd: Nunc dimittis. Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi 907419, "Music for Compline")

Wednesday, April 25
The Atlanta Symphony performs Elgar this weekend; Georgia State University's Symphonic Wind Ensemble play a concert of music of Bassett and Benson; the University of Alabama's University Singers do Carmina Burana in Spivey Hall; Mark O'Connor brings his Appalachia Waltz Trio to Georgia Southern U in Statesboro; the Valdosta Symphony offer Verdi's powerful Requiem; and Vivica Genaux fronts an Atlanta Opera concert in early May. Today's selections tie in to all that.

• Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1 and 4. Royal Phil, Menuhin (Virgin 91175)
• Falla: Four Spanish Pieces. Daniel Ligorio (Naxos 8.555065)
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto NO. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052. Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orch (Erato 2292-45545)
• Bassett, L.: Lullaby for Kirsten. North Texas Wind Sym, Corporon (Klavier 11089)
• Orff: Carmina Burana: Introduction and Part 3. Bournemouth Sym Orch and Chorus, Alsop (Naxos 8.570033)
• Benson, W.: Aeolian Song for saxophone and orchestra. Hass, Bohuslav Martinu Phil, Trevor (Albany 331)
• Schumann: String Quartet No. 2 in F , Op. 41/2. Cherubini Quartet (EMi 50819)
• O'Connor, M.: Appalachia Waltz (arr. Meyer). O'Connor, Ma, Meyer (Sony 68460)
• Verdi: Requiem: Selections. Boston Sym Orch & Chorus Pro Musica, Nilsson et al., Leinsdorf (RCA 09026 63747)
• Broschi: Idaspe: "Ombra felice anch'io." Vivica Genaux, Academy of Ancient Music Berlin, Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi, "Arias for Farinelli")

Tuesday, April 24
Taking a deep breath after the fund drive and letting loose with some wonderful long pieces...

• Zelenka: Capriccio No. 5 in G major, ZWV 190. Neu-Eroffnete Orch, Sonnentheil (CPO 999 629)
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491. Stefan Vladar, Camerata Salzburg (Harmonia Mundi 901942)
• Madetoja: Overture, Op. 7. Finnish Radio Sym, Storgards (Yleis 0005)
• Schumann: Arabesque in C major, Op. 18. Jonathan Biss (EMI 65391)
• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, "Scottish." Chamber Orch of Europe, Harnoncourt (Teldec 9031-72308)
• Gershwin: Lullaby. Cleveland Orch, Chailly (London 417 326)
• Faure: Pavane, Op. 50, for orchestra and chorus. Boston Sym Orch, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Ozawa (DG 423 089)
• Fasch: Quadro in B-flat. Epocca Barocca (CPO 777 204)
• Fesca: Symphony No. 2 in D major. NDR Radio Phil, Beermann (CPo 999 869)
• Faure: Fantasy, Op. 79. Marc Grauwels, Belgian Sym, Vandernoot (Naxos 8.555977)

Friday, April 13 - Monday, April 23

Thanks, all who supported GPB during the membership campaign that wrapped up Monday. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Fund drives are always exceptional weeks here. We're all working and thinking and talking in overdrive, behind the scenes and on the air. It's a heightened state of being. It can be exhausting and frustrating at times, but it's a real high at others, when we get riffing on public broadcasting's purpose and those lines light up and the names roll in.

The five F's of membership campaigns, as I see them, are Funds, Feedback, Fellowship, Food, and . . . Fones.

Thanks again, music supporters in particular, for sustaining this unlikely, amazing institution.

For the drive I culled some of the most appealing recordings and rep from recent months' Midday Musics to re-air, then sprinkled in some concert tie-ins and new releases (including a sneak peek at the latest from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, music of Tallis and Vaughan Williams on Telarc). Each show also includes the recommended daily allowance of Mozart from our three-CD thank-you gift, Mozart 250: A Celebration, on Sony Classics. All Mozarts in this long post come from that set.

Working backwards:

Monday, April 23

• Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, excerpts. Boston Baroque, Pearlman (Telarc 80594)
• Foote: Piano Quartet in C major, Op. 23. Atlanta Chamber Players (ACA Digital 20082)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 35, "Haffner": 1st mvt. Bavarian Radio Sym, Kubelik
• Maxwell Davies: An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise. Boston Pops, Williams (Philips 420 946)
• Bach: Cantata No. 34, "O Ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe." Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner (SDG 1212)
• Mozart: Piano Sonata in A, K. 331: Rondo alla Turca. Alicia de Larrocha
• Dvorak: Humoresque, Op. 101/7. I Salonisti (DHM 05472 77377)
• Rossini: William Tell, Overture. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80334)
• Sibelius: Symphony No. 2: Mvts 3-4. San Francisco Sym, Blomstedt (London 433 810)
• Gliere: Bronze Horseman: Dancing Scene. BBC Philharmonic, Downes (Chandos 9379)

Friday, April 20

• Ravel: Tzigane. Grumiaux, Monte Carlo Opera Orch, Remoortel (Philips 422 274)
• Mozart: Clarinet Concerto: Adagio. Steffens, Bavarian Radio Sym, Davis
• Wagner: Parsifal: Good Friday Music. New York Phil, Mehta (Sony 45749)
• Glinka: Russlan and Ludmila, Overture. Augusta Symphony Orch (n/a)
• Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus. Augusta Choral Society (n/a)
• Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor for two violins, cello and strings, RV 565. Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini (Naive 30301)
• Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60 "To the Appalachian Mountains": 1st mvt. Berlin Radio Sym, Schwarz (Naxos 8.559294)
• Saint-Saens: Violin Sonata No. 1. James Ehnes, Wendy Chen (CBC 1138)
• Mozart: Serenade K. 361, "Gran Partita": Romanze. Bavarian Radio Sym, Davis
• Liszt: La Campanella. Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion 67370)
• Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien. Augusta Symphony Orch (n/a)
• Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp: Andantino. Galway, Robles, London Sym, Mata
• Traditional (W. African): Djandjon. John Williams, John Etheridge (Sony 89483)

Thursday, April 19

• Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence. Ying Quartet (Telarc 80685)
• Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte: "Soave sia il vento." Leontyne Price, Leinsdorf et al.
• Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture. Staatskapelle Dresden, Davis
• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A: 1st mvt. Zukerman, Saint Paul Chamber Orch
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4: Rondo. Clevenger, Franz Liszt Chamber Orch, Rolla
• Schumann: Fantasy in C, Op. 131. Mutter, New York Phil, Masur (DG 457 075)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor: 1st mvt. Mozarteum Orch Salzburg, Kuhn
• Shostakovich: Gadfly: Youth (Romance). Ofer, Philadelphia Orch, Chailly (London 452 701)
• Bach: Oboe d'Amore Concerto in G. Abberger, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Analekta 9815)
• Chavez: Trio for flute, viola and harp. Southwest Chamber Music (Cambria 8853)
• Delibes: Coppelia: Act 2, selections. National Phil, Bonynge (London 414 502)

Wednesday, April 18

• Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus. Tolzer Knabenchor, European Baroque Soloists
• Tallis: "Why fum'th in fight?" Atlanta Sym Chamber Chorus (Telarc 80676). NOTE: This brief choral work by Tallis, setting the biblical phrase sometimes translated "Why do the nations so furiously rage," is the theme for the piece by Vaughan Williams that follows. Both performances come from the ASO's newest disc, just out this week.
• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. Atlanta Sym Orch strings, Spano (Telarc 80676)
• Infante: Danzas Andaluzas. Karin Lechner, Sergio Tiempo. EMI 58472
• Mozart: Don Giovanni: "Deh, vieni alla finestra." Thomas Quasthoff et al.
• Sowerby: Festival Musick: Fanfare. David Mulbury et al. (Marco Polo 8.223725)
• Mozart: Clarinet Concerto: Rondo. Robert Marcellus, Cleveland Orch, Szell
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 5 in D. Wispelwey, Lazic (Channel 22605)
• Offenbach: Tales of Hoffman: Barcarolle. Johann Strauss Orch, Rieu (Philips 314 528 786)
• Grieg: Peer Gynt: Morning Mood. Iceland Sym Orch, Engeset (Naxos 8.557017)
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466: Romance. Alicia de Larrocha, English Chamber Orch, Davis
• Harbison: Gatsby Etudes. Aizawa (Naxos 8.559243)
• Harbison: Remembering Gatsby. Baltimore Sym, Zinman (Argo 444 454)
• Cobb: Rubber Plant Rag. Italian Mando-Rag Club (Naxos 8.557999)

Tuesday, April 17

• Mozart: Magic Flute, Overture. Mostly Mozart Festival Orch, Brico
• Marcello: Oboe Concerto in C minor. Mion, Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini (Naive 30301)
• Hatzis: Telluric Dances: Snake Dance. Lemieux, Symphony Nova Scotia, Gueller (CBC 5243)
• Mozart: Piano Sonata in F, K. 332: Adagio. Alicia de Larrocha
• Henestrosa: El libra de cifra nueva: Finale. King, Harp Consort (Harmonia Mundi 907316)
• Guarnieri: Four Pieces for Guitar Quartet. Brazilian Guitar Quartet (Delos 3245)
• Hahn: Venezia: "La barcheta." Joyce DiDonata, Julius Drake (Wigmore 0009)
• Mackenzie: Coriolanus: Entr'acte. BBC Scottish Sym, Brabbins (Hyperion 66764)
• Biber: Sonata "La Pastorella." Romanesca (Harmonia Mundi 907134.35)
• Chaplin: City Lights, Overture. City Lights Orch, Davis (Silva 1054)
• Sondheim: A Little Night Music, medley. Boston Pops, Williams (Philips 2606)
• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364: Andante. Lin, Laredo, English Chamber Orch, Leppard

Monday, April 16

• Rontgen: Aus Jotunheim Suite. Rheinland-Pfalz State Phil, Porcelijn (CPO 777 119)
• Serra: Variations for orchestra and piano. Brugalla, El Valles Sym, Brotons (Naxos 8.555871)
• Chopin: Cello Sonata in G minor: Mvts 3-4. Mork, Andsnes (Simax 1063)
• Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: romance. Tafelmusik, Weill
• Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor: 1st mvt. Cleveland Orch, Szell
• Sibelius: Karelia Suite. Atlanta Sym, Levi (Telarc 80320)
• Liadov: The Music Box. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 60657)
• Wagner: Siegfried: Forest Murmurs. Met Orch, Levine (DG 447 764)
• Mozart: Marriage of Figaro: "Voi chi sapete." Price, English Chamber Orch, Lockhart
• Rameau: Le Temple de la Gloire, Overture. Tafelmusik, Lamon (CBC 5229)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 36, "Linz": 2nd mvt. Bavarian Radio Sym, Kubelik.
• Berlioz: Damnation of Faust: Rakoczy (Hungarian) March. Orch of the Swiss Romande, Ansermet (London 421 634)
• Smetana: Ma Vlast: Vltava (The Moldau). Vienna Phil, Harnoncourt (RCA 82876 54331)

Friday, April 13

• Glinka: Russlan and Ludmila, Overture. Cincinnati Pops, Kunzel (Telarc 60657)
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor. Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer (Channel 21704)
• Mozart: Marriage of Figaro, Overture. Staatskapelle Dresden, Davis
• Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453: 1st mvt. Serkin, Columbia Sym, Schneider
• Bax: In the Faery Hills. BBC Phil, Handley (Chandos 10362)
• Shaw: Clarinet Concerto. Yeh, DePaul Univ Jazz Ensemble, Lark (Reference 55)
• Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate, K. 165: Alleluia. Blegen, Mostly Mozart Festival Orch, Zukerman
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4: Rondo. Clevenger, Franz Liszt Chamber Orch, Rolla
• Fasch: Trio in F. Epocca Barocca (CPO 777 204)
• Ravel: Bolero. Royal Concergebouw Orch, Haitink (PentaTone 5186 167)

Friday, April 13

Please support classical music on GPB. Make a contribution at www.gpb.org or call 1-800-222-4788. Thank you! -Sarah, mid-fund-drive

Thursday, April 12

Tomorrow is lucky Friday the 13th, when our spring fund drive rolls into town. Come out and cheer us on! I'm looking forward to getting those calls, reading those names, and feelin' the love for the music. Maintenance of this page may lapse during the week-plus of the drive, but I'll be back a-blogging after the 23rd. Please remember that when you contribute to GPB, you're making possible programming like...well, like this:

11 AM

• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4: Andantino. Budapest Festival Orch, Fischer (Channel 21704)
  
• Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major. London Phil Orch, Alsop (Naxos 8.557429)

(Note: We'll hear the remaining movements of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony tomorrow morning. Both the Augusta and LaGrange symphonies are performing Tchaik 4 this week.)

12 N

• Ravel: Miroirs: Une barque sur l'ocean. Angela Hewitt (Hyperion 67341/2)
• Leo: Cello Concerto in D minor. Mahler, Tafelmusik, Lamon (Analekta 9815)
• Mendelssohn: Octet. Georgia Chamber Players and friends (ACA 20102)

1 PM

• Hartmann: Axel og Valborg. Danish National Sym, Dausgaard (DaCapo 8.226061)
• Thuille: Piano Quintet in G minor, WoO. Triendl, Vogler Quartet (CPo 777 090)
• Fasch: Trio in E minor for oboe, violin and continuo. Epoca Barocca (CPO 777 204)

Wednesday, April 11

In radio land on this overcast day, Midday Music concludes each hour with a Romantic work in a minor key. I'm also giving you tastes of Steve Reich and Alan Hovhaness, two Americans influenced by musics of Asia. Hope it suits your palate.

O thou concertgoer, when not listening devoutly to thine radio, why not hie thee to these: Saturday the Augusta Symphony welcomes pianist Marina Lomazov for Tchaikovsky's sweeping First Piano Concerto. The LaGrange Symphony offers Marcello's Oboe Concerto with Melissa White and a Tchaikovsky symphony next Tuesday, April 17. Also Tuesday - what a deal! - the globetrotting Takacs Quartet trots through Athens for a free concert of Brahms, Debussy and Shostakovich. And the Steve Reich festival wraps up in Atlanta, the Adaskin String Trio and oboe-toting friend visit Auburn, and pianist Angela Hewitt plays Bach in Spivey Hall (see Hewitt's own blog).

11 AM

• Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 43 in A-flat. Fazil Say (Naive 5070)
• Gliere: Duets for Violin and Cello, Op. 39. Laredo, Robinson (Arabesque 6735)
• Davidoff: Cello Concerto No. 2 in A minor. Yang, Latvian National Sym, Mikkelsen (CPO 777 263)

12 N

• Reich: Tehillim: Parts 1-2. Ossia, Pierson (Cantaloupe 21009)
• Broca: Pensiamento Espanol. David Russell (Telarc 80672)
• Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. Volodos, Berlin Phil, Ozawa (Sony 93067)

1 PM

• Vierdanck: Canzona in C major. Parnassi Musici (CPO 777 205)
• Hovhaness: Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places. Wallace, Royal Scottish Academy Wind Orch, Brion (Naxos 8.559207)
• Brahms: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51/2. Takacs String Quartet (London 425 526)

Tuesday, April 10

GPB Radio's spring fund drive starts Friday, and as of this morning we now have enough microphones in the studio for two or three of us at a time to chat with you. Thanks, Handy Andy!

We're hearing Reich and Stravinsky and Bach because of concerts: Georgia State presents a Steve Reich Festival tonight and tomorrow at Atlanta's Rialto Center, heavy on the percussion, in honor of the minimalist composer's 70th birthday. Angela Hewitt plays Bach's Goldberg Variations at Spivey Hall Saturday. And the Atlanta Symphony performs Mozart (Piano Concerto No. 17 with Garrick Ohlsson) and Stravinsky (Rite of Spring and Dumbarton Oaks) in Atlanta April 12-14 and Athens the next day.

11 AM

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Mlada, Suite. Scottish National Orch, Jarvi (Chandos 10369)
• Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D. 959. Andras Schiff (London 440 309)

12 N

• Ravel: Piece in the Form of an Habanera. Petri, Hannibal (OUR 8.226800)
• Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks. St. Paul Chamber Orch, Hogwood (London 425 614)
• Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F major, K. 370. Members of Czech Nonet (Praga 250 095)
• Glazunov: Violin Concerto. Heifetz, RCA Victor Sym, Hendl (RCA 74321-63470)

1 PM

• Reed: The Hounds of Spring. Keystone Wind Ensemble, Stamp (Klavier 11162)
• Bach: Keyboard Concerto in E, BWV 1052. Hewitt, Australian Chamber Orch, Tognetti (Hyperion 67308)
• Reich: Drumming: Part IV. Reich and musicians (DG 427 428)

Monday, April 9

This is a blog with a mission, namely, to embellish Midday Music's FM presence with online details on the music played and the events cited on air. Thus:

After a pause for Easter weekend, concerts resume apace, especially in collegiate settings. German pianist Andreas Klein plays Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven at the University of West Georgia's Townsend Center Tuesday evening. Also Tuesday, the Belgian Brass Quintet returns to UGA's Performing Arts Center in Athens. Thursday the Adaskin String Trio and oboist Thomas Gallant perform Fiala, Beethoven and Mozart at Alabama's Auburn University, presented by the Auburn Chamber Music Society (whose web page notes: Well-behaved children get in free!).

Today's show pulls out all the stops with a 20th century festive toccata for organ and orchestra, a Baroque Easter oratorio, a Romantic celebration of Russian Easter, and shorter festive fare. Also: Mozart's "Prague" Symphony, in a happening new period-instrument recording with Rene Jacobs at the helm.

11 AM

• Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249. Collegium Vocale, soloists, Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi 901513)
• Medtner: Piano Sonata in A minor, Op. 30. Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion 67221/4)

12 N

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture. Baltimore Sym, Zinman (Telarc 80378)
• Scheidt: Christo, dem Osterlammlein. Capella Ducale, Musica Fiata, Wilson (CPO 777 145)
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90. Paul Lewis (Harmonia Mundi 901903.05)
• Barber: Toccata Festiva. Latry, Philadelphia Orch, Eschenbach (Ondine 1094-5)
• Barber: Chorale for Ascension Day (Easter Chorale). Choir of Ormond College, Lawrence (Naxos 8.559053)

1 PM

• Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music. London Phil, Handley (Chandos 8330)
• Mozart: Symphony No. 38, "Prague." Freiburg Baroque Orch, Jacobs (new Harmonia Mundi 901958)
• Bach/Stokowski: Easter Cantata: Chorale. Bournemouth Sym, Serebrier (Naxos 8.557883)

Friday, April 6

For Good Friday we're airing a special centering on Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ. Midday Music picks up after that. No requests today but please submit requests anytime to middaymusic@gpb.org.

12:36-ish

• Victoria: Lamentations for Good Friday. The Sixteen, Christophers (Coro 16021)
• Two selections for guitar: Debussy: Girl with Flaxen Hair; Villa-Lobos: Prelude No. 2 in E major. David Russell (Telarc 80672)

1 PM

• Wagner: Parsifal: Good Friday Music. Philadelphia Orch, Thielemann (DG 289 453 485)
• Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 37 in D major. Fazil Say (Naive 5070)
• Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonata No. 10, "The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus." Holloway, Moroney, Tragicomedia (Virgin 90838)
• Allegri: Miserere. Choir of King's College Cambridge, Cleobury (EMI 75877)

Thursday, April 5

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

11 AM

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

12 N

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

1 PM

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

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

Wednesday, April 4

Mix and match! With Holy Week in mind there's meaningful choral music in among the waltzes and divertimentos throughout. And it may be an odd assortment of the pieces in the first hour but I liked the way the very end of each piece led plausibly into the very start of the next.

11 AM

• Buxtehude: Membra Jesu nostri: Ad genua; Ad cor. Cantus Kolln, Junghanel (Harmonia Mundi 901912)
• Corigliano: Chaconne from The Red Violin. Hanslip, Royal Phil, Slatkin (Naxos 8.559302)
• Giuliani: Variations for Violin and Guitar, Op. 63. Savino, Hugget (Koch 7591)
• Glazunov: Waltz from Lady Soubrette. USSR Sym, Svetlanov (Melodiya 10-00179)

12 N

• Mozart: Divertimento in D for strings, K. 136. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Marriner (Philips 422 504)
• Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor. Stott, BBC Phil, Alsop (BBC Music Mag)
• Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, RV 621. Newman, Aradia Ensemble, Mallon (Naxos 8.557852)

1 PM

• Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess. Cincinnati Sym, Jarvi (Telarc 80601)
• Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection": second half. Vienna Phil, DeYoung, Schafer, Vienna Singverein, Boulez (DG 6684)

Tuesday, April 3

A programming conundrum: If we hold off till Easter itself to play joyous Easter music, then it's only subdued Lenten music the week before. What would you prefer during Holy Week: Liturgical accuracy? Sounds of Easter? A combination? (A similar issue arises in December with Advent and Christmas.)

Passover gets today's first hour; Lent, parts of the second; and resurrections, the third.

11 AM

• Copland: Canticle of Freedom. Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Sym, Thomas (CBS 42140)
  
• Kozeluch: Moise in Egitto (Moses in Egypt): Part 2. Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, soloists, Max (CPO 999 948)
  
• Traditional/Marsh: Go Down, Moses. Jubilant Sykes, London Sym, Litton (Arioso 0001-2)
  

12 N

• Weber: Oberon, Overture. Vienna Phil, Thielemann (DG 289 474 5022)
  
• Maurice: Tableaux de Provence. Harvey Pittel, Jeff Helmer (Crystal 655)
  
• Rimsky-Korsakov: Mlada: Procession of the Nobles. Boston Pops, Williams (Philips 426 247)
  
• Mendelssohn: Six Hymns, Op. 79: Nos. 4-6 (for Passiontide, Advent and Good Friday). Oregon Sym Horns (Centaur 2344)
  
• Buxtehude: Membra Jesu nostri: Ad pedes; Ad faciem. Cantus Kolln, Junghanel (Harmonia Mundi 901912)
  
• Victoria: Videte omnes populi. Choir of King's College Cambridge, Ledger (EMI 65103)
  

1 PM

• Gibbons: Drop, drop, slow tears. Choir of King's College Cambridge, Ledger (EMI 65103)
• Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 62. Preman Tilson, New Zealand Sym, Judd (Naxos 8.557577)
  
• Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection": first half. Vienna Phil, Boulez (DG B0006684)

Minnesota Orchestra principal bassoonist John Miller is playing in two free concerts presented by UGA's School of Music at the Performing Arts Center in Athens: a recital Wednesday and a double concerto Thursday. Also on the latter program: UGA student ensembles and alum soloists in Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. The Southern Georgia Symphony offers saxophone showpieces and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, April 9 and 10, in Statesboro and Savannah.

Monday, April 2

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins tonight. On today's Exodus edition of Midday Music: connections to Egypt and Moses. In particular, the 1 o'clock hour features part one of Moses in Egypt, or the Liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian Servitude, an oratorio from 1787 by Bohemian-Viennese composer Leopold Anton Kozeluch. The Italian libretto focuses on dynamics between Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh and Merime just before the big departure. (Couldn't find any classical music about matzah balls.) We'll hear excerpts from part two tomorrow and also move on to music for Holy Week.

11 AM

• Paganini: Moses Fantasy. Gringolts, Ryumina (BIS 999).
• Backofen: Clarinet Concerto in B-flat, Op. 3. Klocker, SWR Radio Orch, Moesus (CPO 777 065).
• Godowsky: Java Suite (Phonoramas): Part 1. Scherbakov (Marco Polo 8.225274)
• Vivaldi: Concerto in G for two mandolins. Lislevand and friends (Naive 30429)

12 N

• Hartmann: Yrsa. Danish National Sym, Dausgaard (DaCapo 8.226061)
• Debussy: Six Ancient Epigraphs: Pour l'egyptienne. Beroff (Denon 78848)
• Verdi: Nabucco: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. Atlanta Sym Orch and Chorus, Shaw (Telarc 80333)
• Morricone: Moses, Suite. Ma, Roma Sinfonietta, Morricone (Sony 93456)
• Thalberg: Fantasia on Rossini's Moses. Nicolosi (Naxos 555501)
• Strauss, R.: Horn Concerto No. 1. Bloom, Cleveland Orch, Szell (Sony 63123)

1 PM

• Kozeluch: Moise in Egitto (1787): Part 1. Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, soloists, Max (CPO 999 948)
• Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3. Arrau (Philips 422 060)