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Classical 101

Weekly Highlights for Classical 101: April 17-23

THE METROPOLITAN OPERA / HTTPS://WWW.METOPERA.ORG/SEASON/2015-16-SEASON/OTELLO-VERDI-TICKETS/
A look back at the Metropolitan Opera's 'Otello' production which initially stirred up some controvery, but ended up being alauded performance and turning point in the dialogue on inclusive casting in opera.

Every week is concert week on Classical 101. Tune in to hear everything from Ravel to Bach with witty insight and conversation from hosts in-the-know. Here's a sneak peek of what's on the menu for next week, April 17-23:

Sunday, April 17

1pm - Columbus Symphony Broadcast 

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_gm0NCabPs

8pm - Musica Sacra with Christopher Purdy

Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben? O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf. 

These two motets set biblical text to rich choral arrangements, and highlight Brahms' use of harmonic structures as motivic elements. Within the first phrase-- a solitary "Warum?" cried out by the four voices-- the chorus moves from D major to g minor, which makes perfect sense for the text taken from the book of Job: "Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery,and life unto the bitter in soul?"

Monday, April 18

7pm - Essential Classics with Christopher Purdy

Bizet's Symphony in C

Opera lovers usually automatically associate Bizet with his famous opera Carmen, and for good reason, but here is another work to catalogue under his name. In fact, his Symphony in C came long before any of his famous operas; he was just 17 and still a student of Charles Gounod when he composed the work. 

Tuesday, April 19

7pm - The American Sound with Jennifer Hambrick

Composer Jennifer Higdon’s choral setting of E.E. Cummings’ poem “Somewhere I Have Never Traveled, Gladly Beyond.”

Wednesday, April 20

7pm - Fretworks with John Rittmeyer

“Asturias” from the Suite espanola by Isaac Albeniz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WG_UI8fPfM

Thursday, April 21

7pm - Symphony@7 with John Rittmeyer

Richard Blackford, The Great Animal Orchestra

Friday, April 22

7pm - The San Francisco Symphony

  • Griffes The White Peacock, Opus 7, no.1
  • Bartók Piano Concerto No. 3
  • Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 73
  • Stravinsky Petrushka

Saturday, April 23

1pm - The Metropolitan Opera live broadcast

Verdi's Otello made some drama at the Met this past year even offstage. Check out Christopher Purdy's 'Opera Abbreviated' podcast and one of my earlier articles about the treatment of the leading role's usual "requirement" for black makeup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2JrHu5x4w

6pm - The American Sound with Jennifer Hambrick

Cantus sings Byron Adams’ Eventide

7pm -  Fretworks with John Rittmeyer

The Pulcinella Suite by Igor Stravinsky arranged for three guitars

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