Arts Conversations

For the first time in history, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus presents the “German Requiem” by Johannes Brahms. For this very personal work, Brahms adapted texts which did not follow the traditional form of the Requiem, and in doing so, created one of the most moving choral compositions in the literature. Anthony McSpadden spoke with conductor JoAnn Falletta about performing this masterpiece.

The Virginia Chorale Society opens its new season with a rollicking program of highlights from some of the most famous Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Dwight Davis spoke to conductor James Powers about the concert.

The Virginia Chorale offers five centuries of songs for the four seasons at their opening concert in September. Music from the Renaissance to the 21st century, in several styles, will be Sun,g by the Chorale. Dwight Davis spoke with conductor Scott Williamson about the concert.

The Williamsburg Symphonia opens its 2009-10 season with an all-Gershwin program, presented outdoors in Merchant’s Square, in conjunction with the Occassion for the Arts. Dwight Davis spoke with conductor Janna Hymes about the concert.

The Virginia Symphony performs classical music, of course, but on September 25, the orchestra played classical rock music. The Virginia Symphony welcomed conductor Brent Havens, vocalist Randy Jackson, and a full rock band for a concert of the music of Led Zeppelin. Joann Falletta, conductor of the Virginia Symphony, spoke with WHRO-FM’s Raymond Jones about this exciting concert.

The Best of the Virginia Chorale. Director Scott Williamson talked to WHRO-FM’s Dwight Davis about this concert of American music

The spring offering of the Virginia Chorale Society features “Music of the English Cathedral Tradition,” choral works by Elgar, Parry and others. Choral Society Director James Powers spoke with Dwight Davis about this concert.

Pianist Andre Michel Schub has been Music Director of the chamber music concerts of the Virginia Arts Festival since the beginning of the Festival. He spoke to WHRO-FM’s Dwight Davis about the chamber series.

Award-winning composer Ellen Taafe Zwillich has written a new work for a new combination of instruments, a piece co-commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival. She Spoke to WHRO-FM’s Dwight Davis about her Piano Septet

The venerable Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio is featured in two chamber concerts in this year’s Virginia Arts Festival. Dwight Davis spoke with pianist Joseph Kalichstein about the works on the concerts as well as the early days of the trio.

One of the finest string quartets in the world, the Tokyo Quartet, performed in this year’s Virginia Arts Festival. Dwight Davis spoke with second violinist Kikuei Ikeda about the group’s program.

This year’s Virginia Arts Festival includes a new production of a favorite balletic masterpiece, Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet”, danced by the Mark Morris Dance Group. This original version, as conceived by Prokofiev and dramatist Sergei Radlov, had a happy ending to Shakespeare’s tale. The new version is based on exclusive archival research conducted in Moscow. Associate Professor of Music at Princeton University, SiMon, Morrison. Dwight Davis spoke to him about the music.

The Barber of Seville

On February 21 and 22, the Virginia Chorale will present A Romantic Celebration, a program of choral music of Verdi, Puccini, Rheinberger, Brahms and others. Scott Williamson the new conductor of the Chorale, spoke to WHRO-FM’s Dwight Davis about the concert.

Hope Mihilap, former secretary to the Director of the Metropolitan Opera, offers a preview of the Virginia Opera production of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” with a plot outline and musical examples.

The Virginia Symphony conductor trades her baton for her guitar to perform Vivaldi, alone and with VSO violist Beverly Baker. Program: Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess; Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto; Vivaldi: Concerto for Viola and Guitar; R.Strauss: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite. Wed,nesday, April 16th at 8:00 PM at St. Bede Catholic Church; Thu,rsday, April 17th at 10:30 AM at the Ferguson Center; Fri,day, April 18th at 8:oo PM at the Suffolk Center. For ticket information, 892-6366 or www.virginiasymphony.org

The young British violinist Nicola Benedetti performs the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Virginia Symphony conducted by JoAnn Falletta. Also on the program, the Mon,umental Symphony No. 9 by Anton Bruckner. Sat,urday, April 5th at 8:00 PM at Chrysler Hall; Sat,urday, April 6th at 2:30 at the Ferguson Center. For ticket information, 892-6366 or www.virginiasymphony.org

JoAnn Falletta and the Virginia Symphony welcome Sir James Galway back for a musical re-telling of the story of the Pied Piper. Fri,day, March 7th at 8:00 PM at the Ferguson Center; Sat,urday, March 8th at 8:00 PM at Chrysler Hall; Sun,day, March 9th at 2:30 PM at the Sandler Center. Program: Rossini: Cinderella Overture; Kodaly: Hary Janos Overture; Corigliano: Pied Piper Fantasy.

A romantic evening of music, dance and the spoken word, inspired by the Bard, under the direction of Assistant Conductor Matt Kraemer. Sat,urday, February 9th, 8:00 PM, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk.