Classical 90.5

Humana Festival – Sirens

R. Johnson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:27:01 +0000

The 34th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays is underway at Actors Theatre of Louisville. During this annual event the theatrical world turns its feet toward Kentucky and the festival that introduced classics such as “The Gin Game” and “Crimes of the Heart.” Among the new productions this season is Deborah Zoe Laufer’s Sirens, in which a middle-aged couple, portrayed by Brian Russell and Mimi Leiber, explore the nature of love, devotion and passion. Classical 90.5’s Scott Dowd talks with Russell and Leiber.

Sirens ran February 21 through March 8.

Humana Festival – Heist

R. Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:35:30 +0000

How do we experience theatre, and what is our role in that venue? These are two of the questions you may want to explore as part of Playwright Deborah Stein’s production Heist now playing at 21c as part of Actors Theatre of Louisville’s 34th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. Classical 90.5’s Scott Dowd spoke with Stein about the happening that employs the talents of ATL’s twenty-two acting apprentices and interns.

Human Festival – Phoenix

R. Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:19:28 +0000

The 34th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays is underway at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Playwright Scott Organ’s two-person drama Phoenix stars the husband and wife duo Suli Holman and Trey Lyford as strangers who must explore their relationship after an eventful one-night stand. Classical 90.5’s Scott Dowd spoke with Organ, Holman, Lyford and director Aaron Posner:

“Phoenix” runs through March 27 in the Bingham Theatre.

Chamber Music Society of Louisville

R. Johnson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:10:01 +0000

What was to be the apex of the Chamber Music Society of Louisville’s 72nd season by the Takacs Quartet on March 14, has undergone a significant rethink after it was announced recently that second violinist Karoly Schranz will be undergoing surgery to repair a damaged rotator cuff this month. Society President Jackie Rosky speaks with Classical 90.5’s Scott Dowd about the challenges of presenting live concerts and some of the unintended benefits of this 11th hour program change.

Bion Tsang

R. Johnson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:55:27 +0000

Bion Tsang, cello, is in Louisville this week to perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Louisville Orchestra as conducted by Scott Yoo. Classical 90.5’s Alan Brandt talked Mr. Tsang about performing the work and his long relationship with the conductor.

Louisville Ballet

R. Johnson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:06:07 +0000

The Louisville Ballet’s next production, “Three Reflections”, includes a world premiere by choreographer Amy Seiwert. Classical 90.5’s Alan Brandt talked to Ms. Seiwert about her new work.

Paul York: Cello Vision

R. Johnson — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:08 +0000

Paul York is Professor of Cello at the University of Louisville, and an avid champion of new music. His past performances include Aaron Jay Kernis’ Colored Field with the Louisville Orchestra and Karel Husa’s Cello Concerto, both Grawemeyer-winning compositions. His latest CD Cello Vision (Centaur 2989) captures music composed specifically for him by Stefan Freund and Louisvillians Steve Rouse, Paul Brink, Frederick Speck and Marc Satterwhite, and the premiere recording of Aaron Jay Kernis’ Ballad for solo cello and seven cellos. Classical 90.5’s Daniel Gilliam talks with Paul York about his new CD and working with composers.

George Tsontakis

R. Johnson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:14:07 +0000

George Tsontakis is a composer from upstate New York. He was awarded the Grawemeyer in 2005 for his second violin concerto, and in December 2006 named the fourth recipient of the Charles Ives Living by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1995, he received the American Academy of Arts and Letters lifetime achievement award, its highest honor for music composition.

George Tsontakis was in Louisville for the premiere of Impetuous, composed for the Louisville Orchestra and commissioned by Nana Lampton. He stopped by Classical 90.5 to talk with Daniel Gilliam about working with an orchestra on a new piece, teaching and masterclasses, and the importance of commissioning new music.

Music heard in this feature: Violin Concerto No. 2: Just go & Clair de Lune: Jeux (Steven Copes, violin; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Douglas Boyd)

FIGARO!

Daniel Gilliam — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:55:21 +0000

Collaboration is at the heart of every musical endeavor. The University of Louisville took this spirit to new levels with a cross-Atlantic production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with the Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. Filmmaker Dan Schaefer saw the perfect opportunity to capture this journey, literally, on film. The result is FIGARO! Living in the Moment of a Character, and will premiere on Saturday, February 13 at 7:30pm at Comstock Concert Hall, University of Louisville School of Music.

Michael Ramach, co-director of the opera program at U of L, and Nathan Wilson, a cast member in the prodcution, talked with Daniel Gilliam about the collaboration from beginning to end and the documentary.

Listen to WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer’s story here.

Kentucky Opera

R. Johnson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:57:11 +0000

OH FREEDOM! is a production of Kentucky Opera that introduces audiences to the operatic art form by celebrating African-American cultural history through song from pre-slavery to modern times. Kentucky Opera Studio Artists Erica Cochran, Phillip Morgan and Naoko Suga performed live on Lunchtime Classics.