Domenic Salerni, violinist with the Attacca String Quartet and native of the Lehigh Valley, speaking with us about the ensemble's recent album titled, "Of All Joys" released by Sony Classical, featuring pieces from the Renaissance as well as works from Arvo Part and Philip Glass.
www.attaccaquartet.com/

Domenic Salerni; December 22 2021

JoAnn Falletta is Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic.

She’s also one of the founding board members of the Claudette Sorel Organization. Sorel was a pianist, teacher and music philanthropist who advocated a higher profile for contemporary music – particularly by women composers. Falletta and WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speak about the remarkable life of Claudette Sorel – commemorated in the recent re-release of classic recordings: Claudette Sorel: Rediscovered.

JoAnn Falletta - January 5, 2022

Five Minutes for Earth is a performance and commissioning project that both celebrates our planet and illuminates our challenge to preserve it.

Kondanassis 5 Minutes

Sweethearts (and Badasses) of Americana (and Beyond) 6/5/22 - Sara Shiloh Rae

Violinist Hilary Hahn's latest album release features big, bold pieces of music. Because, as Hahn says in the interview, we can't be timid right now.

Behind the Playlist with Violinist Hilary Hahn

misterG of greenarrowradio chats with Timo Vollbrecht about his signature ensemble FLY MAGIC's new album Givers and Takers out now on BERTHOLD Records.

Timo Vollbrecht

Trumpeter Paul Merkelo was reaching for the heritage of the trumpet concerto with his recording of three concerti from Soviet composers in his latest album. In doing so he found a kinship with the shared Ukrainian heritage of trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer, whose legacy looms over all of the included pieces. And this connection became far more important during the album's release, which is sending its proceeds to UNICEF for the care of Ukrainian children during Russia's continued invasion.

Behind the Playlist With Trumpeter Paul Merkelo

Mark Abel’s music writing is beholden to no school or discernible influence. Even if his music sits comfortably within an ongoing continuum in the classical tradition, Abel is his own man, a composer who brings his sensibility and highly developed command of craft to a particular idea and then illuminates it in a strikingly imaginative way. 

Abel’s versatility of works is fully apparent on his sixth recording for Delos Music. ‘Spectrum,’ a generous two-disc set of song-cycles, chamber pieces, and excerpts from an opera still roaming around his brain and features: 2 time GRAMMY® Award winning soprano: Hila Plitmann, 4 time Juno Award winner: Isabel Bayrakdarian, celebrated mezzo-soprano: Kindra Scharich, pianists Carol Rosenberger, Dominic Cheli, Sean Kennard and Jeffrey LaDeur; as well as Alexander String Quartet violist David Samuel; Pacific Symphony concertmaster Dennis Kim; and the superb cellist: Jonah Kim.

Mark Abel is here with us along with Hila Plitmann to discuss ‘Spectrum.’ Listen to the podcast

The recording features 3 instrumental gems: ‘Reconciliation Day,’ ‘Out the Other Side’ and ‘The Long March’ along with 3 captivating song cycles: ‘Trois Femmes du Cinema,’ ‘1966’ and ‘Two Scenes from The Book of Esther.’ 

Trois Femmes du Cinema’ features the powerful vocal artistry of soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian who is joined by the superb pianist: Carol Rosenberger. The piece is rooted in Abel’s love for art films, particularly from the ‘1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and the texts that he’s written are centered around 3 important women: French actress; Anne Wiazemsky, Mexican actress: Pina Pellicer, and the Ukrainian Soviet film director: Larisa Shepitko. These songs replicate their emotional trajectory, as well as their courage in standing up against the power of patriarchal misogyny in the film industry. These heroines are still largely unknown to the general public and each song in the cycle has a unique compositional approach.

‘Reconciliation Day’ is the first chamber piece on ‘Spectrum’ and is a moody, enigmatic duet beautifully played by violist: David Samuel and pianist Dominic Cheli. The rhythmic feel on this piece has a dance-like quality with bursts of sound and forward motion interspersed with calmer sections almost evoking an impressionistic quality.  

‘Out the Other Side’ is played with immense integrity and authority by Trio Barclay, the ensemble-in-residence at the University of California, Irvine. This trio consisting of Pacific Symphony violinist and concertmaster: Dennis Kim along with one of today’s most highly regarded young cellists: Jonah Kim, and the superb pianist: Sean Kennard play together with a unique and rare chemistry. 

Abel’s thirteen-minute trio excursion titled: The Long March’ which features pianist: Dominic Cheli, hornist: Jeff Garza and flutist: Christy Kim is an unusual piece and somewhat of a rarity in chamber music. As the title suggests, this musical journey explores the unique timbres of the horn and flute against an exhilarating piano and includes stops to regroup, reflect, celebrate, and endure. 

Two Scenes from “The Book of Esther," features: soprano Hila Plitmann as ‘Esther,’ and Mezzo-Soprano: Kindra Scharich as ‘Vashti.' They are joined by Violinist: Adam Millstein, clarinetist Max Opferkuch, and pianist: Dominic Cheli.

1966 is the final piece and the 3rd song cycle on the album. Mark Abel wrote the text which features Mezzo-Soprano: Kindra Scharich and her close colleague: pianist Jeffrey LaDeur. This wistful, nostalgic, lyrical piece reflects on the time when Abel turned eighteen years of age and was affected by 3 life-changing events, a romance, a hike, and San Francisco visit.

Produced by Max Horowitz - Crossover Media, This content, as well as the related podcast, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) for redistribution and adaptation.

Mark Abel's 'Spectrum' featuring: Hila Plitmann

All Classical Portland’s Program Director John Pitman talks to pianist Mao Fujita about his new album, Mozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas, available now from Sony.

Learn more on the Arts Blog: https://www.allclassical.org/mao-fujita-mozart/

John Pitman Review: Mao Fujita Takes On Mozart

All Classical Portland’s Program Director John Pitman talks to British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, whose new album touches on the relationships of Brahms and Robert and Clara Schumann.

Learn more on the Arts Blog: https://www.allclassical.org/pitman-review-grosvenor-brahms/

John Pitman Review: Benjamin Grosvenor Schumann Brahms

October 27, 2023 edition of Lush Life with Scott Penn on WOMR. The program featured an interview with jazz and world music singer Kavita Shah to discuss her new album “Cape Verdean Blues.”

October 27 2023 Broadcast On WOMR Featuring Kavita Shah

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On our podcasts we explore our artists and their latest projects. 
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Mark Abel's 'Spectrum' featuring: Hila Plitmann

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