Classical Music

In this Classiclectic Connection, we crack open an educational recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, brilliantly performed by seventeen year old violinist Amelia Piscitelli and Camerata Chicago conducted by Drostan Hall.

This Double CD set is replete with poetry written by Vivaldi himself and incorporates more than twenty musical examples of seasonal elements and characters cleverly depicted in the music - all beautifully narrated by Steve Robinson of WFMT radio station fame.

Kurt Hauswirth had an opportunity to speak with Drostan about the experience of putting together this first-ever education recording of The Four Seasons:

The Grammy Award-winning PARTCH Ensemble, hailed as "funny, moving, inventive and insanely theatrical" by the San Francisco Chronicle, announced the release of Sonata Dementia, their third volume of music by American maverick composer Harry Partch (Bridge Records 9525). Sonata Dementia follows on the success of the ensemble's Vol. 1: Bitter Music: Harry Partch's Depression Journal; (Bridge 9349 A/C); which earned a GRAMMY Award nomination in 2012 for Best Classical Compendium, and Vol. 2: Plectra & Percussion Dances (Bridge 9432), the 2014 GRAMMY Award winner for Best Classical Compendium, which was also nominated for Best Chamber Music Performance. Early reviews recognize Partch as "truly one of a kind, and the group PARTCH does a wonderful job of capturing both the letter and the spirit of his music."

Classiclectic host Kurt Hauswirth had a phone conversation with John Schneider, the music director of the PARTCH Ensemble, about their third recorded volume of the music of American composer Harry Partch:

The Johann Sebastian Bach Cello Suites are one of the most frequently performed pieces for unaccompanied cello, and also some of the most recognizable solo pieces ever written for the instrument.  Cellist Sung-Won Yang recorded these pieces for the first time on a 2005 release from EMI, and then in 2017, he was allowed the opportunity to record these pieces again, but in a 19th century French church (specifically, the Notre Dame de Bon Secours in Paris).

Kurt Hauswirth, the host of Public Radio 90's Classiclectic, had an opportunity to speak to Sung-Won by phone about his experience coming back to recording the Bach Cello Suites for a second time in a new environment; he also spoke about his love of Bach's music, and gives his advice to young cellists:

The Superior String Alliance Chamber Players are comprised of the SSA Camp Faculty, and they perform concerts throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to spread the joy of live string chamber music, and to raise money for the SSA Camper Scholarship Fund.  Three of the players joined Kurt Hauswirth in studio during Classiclectic to talk about the upcoming tour, their favorite camp moments, and previewed one of the selections you may hear as they perform on tour.

Here is a bit of the Vivaldi they performed for us in studio:

Midsummer's Music will present their 29th season of chamber music in the Door County area of Wisconsin.  The theme this year is "Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Much, Much More," with music from not only those composers, but also Brahms, Schubert, Schumann and others.

Classiclectic host Kurt Hauswirth spoke with the festival's founder Jim Berkenstock (who is also the Artistic Director) about what audience members can expect this year:

TAKE3, a classical-pop crossover group, will perform at The Crystal Theatre on April 7, 2pm CT, and again in Sault Ste. Marie, MI at L.S.S.U.'s Cisler Center, April 9, 7pm ET.  Comprised of Lindsay Deutsch (violin), Lila Yang (cello), and Christopher O'Riley (piano), TAKE3 takes everything you thought you knew about a classical music concert and throws it out a window! 

Kurt Hauswirth sat down with classical pianist, speaker and educator Alpin Hong to discuss his work with music students in our local schools.  He will perform at Kaufman Auditorium after visiting with students.

Alpin Hong performs at Kaufman Auditorium, Thursday, September 21st at 7:00pm.  Ticket information available at http://kaufmanauditorium.org/

The Olympus Piano Trio is a classical music performance group that has taken residency here at Northern Michigan University this week.  They joined us in the studio during Morning Classics to discuss the residency and their concerts from all across campus this week.