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WCPE TheClassicalStation

The Classical Station is listener-supported Great Classical Music 24 hours a day! Online on our app, Listener-supported Great Classical Music 24 hours a day!
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Online at TheClassicalStation.org, via streaming app, and on 89.7 fm in Central North Carolina. WEEKDAY PROGRAMS

12AM - 5:30AM Sleeper's Awake
5:30AM - 10AM Rise N Shine
10AM - 1PM Classical Cafe
1PM - 4PM As You Like It!
4PM - 7PM Allegro
10PM - 12AM Music In The Night

*Every Monday through Wednesday
7PM - 8PM Concert Hall

*Every Monday
Monday Night at the Symphony
8PM - 10PM

*Every Thursday Night Opera House
7PM - 10PM

*Every Friday All Request Program
9AM - 10PM

SATURDAY PROGRAMS

12AM - 6AM Sleeper's Awake
6AM - 6PM Weekend Classics
6PM - 10PM Saturday Evening Request Program

SUNDAY PROGRAMS

12AM - 6AM Sleeper's Awake
6AM - 7:30AM Weekend Classics
7:30 AM - 8AM Sing For Joy
8AM - 12PM Great Sacred Music
12PM - 6PM Weekend Classics
6PM - 9PM Preview!
9PM - 10PM Wavelengths
10PM - 12AM Peaceful Reflections

10/15/2024

Heads-Up:
Tomorrow during Classical Café (between 11am-12pm ET), George Leef will give away tickets for the North Carolina Symphony performance of one of classical music’s most famous works, Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Op. 32. Tune in to win!

On today’s date in classical music history:
It’s the birthdate of Finnish clarinetist and composer Bernhard Henrik Crusell in Nystad in 1775. Crusell was the most famous Finnish composer of his time and the best-known prior to Jean Sibelius. He learned to play a friend’s clarinet by ear; his first forays into music studies were as a clarinetist in the Nyland regimental band at the age of eight, then the military band in what is now Suomenlinna, outside Helsinki when he was thirteen.
And a very Happy Birthday to English conductor Peter Phillips, born in Southampton in 1953. Phillips says he “got the polyphony bug” in 1973 while studying at Oxford, and subsequently founded the Tallis Scholars then Gimell Records (1980) to make and publish their recordings. The Tallis Scholars are now recognized as a leading ensemble in renaissance polyphony, though they also record and perform works by modern and contemporary composers like John Tavener, Eric Whitacre, Nico Muhly, and Arvo Pärt.

Read more about both of them here: t.ly/lMTDs

Portrait of Bernhard Henrik Crusell, c. 1826. (Johan Gustaf Sandberg – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Peter Phillips, c. 2011. (Photo by Valérie Batselaere – Courtesy of The Tallis Scholars)

10/15/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONCERTI FOR MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS.

Beethoven wrote a concerto for three instruments. Can you name those instruments?

If you know the answer, message us! Good Luck!

10/14/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONCERTI FOR MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS.

Mozart was commissioned to write a concerto for a Duke and his daughter. The Duke never paid him for his work. Can you name the concerto?

If you know the answer, message us! Good Luck!

10/14/2024

Hello, Listeners!
Welcome to a brand new week of great classical music at The Classical Station.

This week, Monday Night at the Symphony features recordings by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, including music by Antonín Dvořák, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky, conducted by Edo de Waart, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Herbert Blomstedt. Join us for the symphony at 8pm ET.

Each Tuesday on Classical Café, George Leef profiles a Legendary Performer. This week it’s lutenist and guitarist Julian Bream, so tune in tomorrow for classical music knowledge! And on Wednesday (October 16), he’ll have a ticket giveaway between 11am-12pm ET for the North Carolina Symphony performance of The Planets, Op. 32, by Gustav Holst. More information here: t.ly/1AV0y

On this date in classical music history:

It’s the birthdate of Austrian composer and conductor Alexander Zemlinsky in Vienna in 1871. Zemlinsky studied piano as a child and then played the organ in his synagogue on holidays. He was admitted to the Vienna Conservatory in 1884 as a student in theory with Robert Fuchs and composition with Johann Nepomuk Fuchs and Anton Bruckner. Read more about him here: t.ly/lMTDs

TL: Davies Symphony Hall, home of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
TR: Julian Bream
BR: Alexander Zemlinsky (left) and Arnold Schoenberg in Prague, c. 1917. (Photo by Studio Schlosser – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

10/12/2024

Hello, Weekend!
Tune into The Classical Station for a great soundtrack to whatever you have planned.

Saturday:
Join Haydn Jones at 6pm ET for the Saturday Evening Request Program.
The playlist can be found here: t.ly/gECEo
Make requests for next week’s programs here: t.ly/_VAnG

Sunday:
This week's Great Sacred Music honors Yom Kippur with works by Jewish composers, including Felix and F***y Mendelssohn, Gustav Mahler, and Ernest Bloch. This week's featured work is Darius Milhaud's Sacred Service. Join Mick Anderson at 8am ET, following Sing for Joy.
And on Preview!, Emily Moss speaks with some of the Fellows from the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and we'll have the latest new releases from the classical music world. Join us at 6pm ET.

On these dates in the history of classical music:
English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was born October 12, 1872, in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. He took piano lessons and composed his first piece of music in 1878, but he didn’t like the piano and started violin lessons the next year. At the age of eight he passed the examinations for a correspondence course in music from Edinburgh University. He entered the Royal College of Music (RCM) in 1890, left briefly to attend Trinity College, Cambridge University, as a student in music and history (1892), then returned to RCM in 1894 to finish his training.

American soprano and opera singer Leona Mitchell was born October 13, 1949, in Enid, Oklahoma. Mitchell began singing in her father's church choir as a young child and later attended Oklahoma City University as a music student, graduating in 1971. Her professional debut was the next year with the San Francisco Spring Opera Theater, and in 1975, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Read more about both of them here: t.ly/p6N49

L: Ralph Vaughan Williams, c. 1949. (Photo by Douglas Glass - Courtesy of National Portrail Gallery, NPG x33970)
R: Leona Mitchell, soprano. (Promotional photo by Gary Good)

10/11/2024

On today’s date in classical music history:

Today is the birthdate of American violinist, composer, and conductor Albert Stoessel in 1894 in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, Stoessel studied music at the Berlin Hochschule, then became a member of the Hess String Quartet when he was 19. He toured as a soloist throughout Europe, returning to the U.S. for a concert tour in 1915 that included the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Symphony.
Read more about him here: t.ly/p6N49

Albert Stoessel, c. 1926. (From Musical Advance, Volume XIII, Number 11, June 1926 – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

10/11/2024

Heads-Up:

Next Wednesday (October 16) during Classical Café, George Leef will give away tickets for the North Carolina Symphony's performance of The Planets by Gustav Holst. Tune in between 11am-12pm ET to win tickets to experience one of classical music’s most famous works! More information here: t.ly/iNXnG

10/11/2024

Today, we’re playing special recordings for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Leonard Nimoy and the Western Wind Vocal Ensemble will celebrate The Birthday of the World, Part II: Yom Kippur at 6pm ET. Please join us.

It’s also All-Request Friday, and we’re playing your favorites and dedications all day and into the night! (And again tomorrow on the Saturday Evening Request Program.)
The request programs playlists are here: t.ly/gECEo
Make a request for next week here: t.ly/_VAnG
We love hearing what you’ve chosen!

10/11/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONDUCTORS.

This conductor was also a skilled pianist and known to conduct piano concertos from the keyboard.

If you know the answer, message us! Good Luck!

10/10/2024

On this date in the history of classical music:

It’s the birthdate of German pianist, composer, and music critic Walter Niemann in Hamburg in 1876, a student of both Engelbert Humperdinck and Carl Reinecke at the Leipzig Conservatory, graduating in 1901. He eventually turned all of his attention to composition and teaching at the Hamburg Conservatory.

And Happy Birthday to Russian-British-Israeli pianist and composer Evgeny Kissin who was born in Moscow in 1971. By the age of six, Kissin was recognized as a child prodigy and became a student of Anna Kantor at Gnessin Music School; Kantor was his only piano teacher. He also composes works for piano and strings; his String Quartet, Op. 3 (2016) was recorded by the Kopelman Quartet.

Read more about both of them here: t.ly/RFTcQ

Walter Niemann. (Photo by Gerhard Helzel – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Evgeny Kissin, c. 1996. (Photo by Nancy Lee Katz – Courtesy of Library of Congress)

10/10/2024

It's Friday Eve, so that means this evening is Thursday Night Opera House!**

This week, Seiji Ozawa conducts l’Orchestre National de France, les Choeurs de Radio France, and wonderful soloists in Jacques Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman), which packs four magical stories and a love triangle into one grand opera. The poet Hoffmann (Plácido Domingo) and his rival Lindorf (Andreas Schmidt) are in love with the same opera singer. As they wait for said opera singer to finish her performance, Hoffmann recounts the stories of his lost loves to his muse, who has assumed the identity of his friend Nicklausse (Claudia Eder).
Join us at 7pm ET for the opera! t.ly/txgCv

**This episode is an archival broadcast (2005) by late TNOH host Al Ruocchio.

10/10/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONDUCTORS.

This conductor was known for wearing a white turtleneck when he conducted.

If you know the answer, message us! good Luck!

10/09/2024

If you are a business owner and you want to support your community and classical music at the same time, consider becoming one of our Business Sponsors and reach a global audience! More information is here: t.ly/qOfCk

10/09/2024

On this date in the history of classical music:

It’s the (possible) birthdate of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi in Le Roncole (near Busseto) in 1813 (he may have been born on the 10th). Around the age of 12, Verdi began lessons at the local municipal music school and composed his first works throughout his teenage years, including marches for band; pieces for pianoforte; several concerti; several small symphonies; an eight-movement cantata; and some church music, including a Stabat Mater.
It’s also the birthdate of French composer, pianist, organist, and conductor Camille Saint-Saëns in Paris in 1835. Saint-Saëns was observed to have perfect pitch and was picking out tunes on the piano before the age of three, and made his public concert debut when he was ten. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris at 13 to study organ and composition. He is praised as a genius by writers and musicians alike.
Read more about both of them here: t.ly/ZO-zT

Giuseppi Verdi, c. 1870. (Photo by Ferdinand Mulnier – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Camille Saint-Saëns, c. 1910. (Photo by Paul Berger, Gallica – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

10/09/2024

In this week’s Classical Considerations, Matthew Young muses on the history of composers in exile and banned music. It’s always a great read, and it’s one more way to boost your knowledge of classical music history! t.ly/KUBXn

10/09/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONDUCTORS.

This French composer/conductor attended medical school to please his family but, once graduated, abandoned it to pursue music.

If you know the answer, message us! good Luck!

10/08/2024

Tomorrow during Classical Café (between 11am-12pm ET), George Leef will give away a family pack of four tickets for the world premiere of Carolina Ballet Jekyll & Hyde by the company’s artistic director Zalman Raffael. Tune in to win tickets to see this brand-new ballet (featuring brand-new music by Shinji Eshima)!
More information here: t.ly/IaHqc

On this date:
It’s the birthdate of French organist and composer Louis Vierne in Poitiers in 1870. Vierne was born with a congenital cataract condition that made him nearly blind; by the time he was six, his sight had improved enough for him to see writing and objects if they were large enough and close enough, and to recognise people.
It’s also the birthdate of Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu, who was born in Tokyo in 1930. By the time he was 16, Takemitsu knew he wanted to be a composer. He was highly influenced by the Western music he heard on radio broadcasts during the post-WWII occupation of Japan by U.S. troops, especially classical music by Debussy, Copland, Schoenberg, and Berg.
Read more about them both here: t.ly/n2rKS

Carolina Ballet’s Jekyll & Hyde
Louis Vierne at his organ at home, c. 1931. (Photo by Agence Rol – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Tōru Takemitsu, c. unknown. (Courtesy of Schott Music)

10/08/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONDUCTORS.

She is the first woman to lead a major American orchestra.

If you know the answer, message us! good Luck!

10/07/2024

October's My Life in Music features violinist and educator Levon Chilingirian, founder of the Chilingirian Quartet, and Professor of Violin and Chamber Musician in Residence at the Royal Academy of Music. Join Rob Kennedy at 7pm ET for this month's episode.

10/07/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: CONDUCTORS.

This conductor was the first music director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra from 1937-1954.

If you know the answer, message us! good Luck!

10/07/2024

This week, Monday Night at the Symphony features recordings by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performing music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Hugo Alfven, and Miklos Rozsa, conducted by Neeme Jarvi and Paavo Berglund, with violin performances by Daniel Hope. Join us for the symphony at 8pm ET.

10/07/2024

Welcome to a new week!
On this date:
Happy Birthday to American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, born on this day in 1955 in Paris, France. As a child prodigy, he played drums, violin, viola, and piano, but had been performing from the age of four as a cellist. Read more here: t.ly/pzTbK

Each Tuesday on Classical Café, George Leef profiles a Legendary Performer, and this week it’s conductor Sir Colin Davis, so tune in tomorrow for classical music knowledge! And then on Wednesday (October 9 between 11am-12pm ET), he’ll have a ticket giveaway for Carolina Ballet’s world premiere of Jekyll & Hyde.

Yo-Yo Ma performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and André Previn, c. 1988. (Photo by Jose Galvez, Los Angeles Times – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Sir Colin Davis, conductor, c. 1967.

10/05/2024

Welcome to the weekend!
On Sunday, Great Sacred Music is a celebration of Rosh Hashanah and features Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. Join Mick Anderson at 8am ET.
And on Preview!, Rob Kennedy speaks with North Carolina composer Dan Locklair about the Choir of Royal Holloway's recent recording of his music: From East to West, and we’ll spotlight more of the latest new releases from the classical music world. Join us at 6pm ET.

On these dates in the history of classical music:
American soprano Arlene Saunders (born Soszynski) was born October 5, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio; she performed with the world’s best-known opera companies and in films until she retired in 1985.
And Polish pianist and composer Karol Szymanowski was born October 6, 1882, in Warsaw; director of the Warsaw Conservatory and prolific composer.
Read more about both of them here: t.ly/8ahDF

Arlene Saunders, soprano, date unknown. (Photo by Wolfgang Schmitt - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Karol Szymanowski, c. 1920. (Photo by Bain News Service - Courtesy of Library of Congress)

10/04/2024

This week’s Classical Conundrum theme is: STAGE FRIGHT.

This Lithuanian American stopped giving public concerts in 1930 due to his stage fright.

If you know the answer, message us! Good Luck!

10/04/2024

On today’s date:
It’s the birthdate of American composer and theorist Stephen Albert Emery in Paris, Maine, in 1841. Emery was well-known in his day as a lecturer and music theorist, a composer, a teacher of harmony, counterpoint and piano.
It’s also the birthdate of American conductor and composer Henry Schoenefeld (also Schoenfeld) in 1857 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He conducted the Woman's Symphony Orchestra of Los Angeles (the first all-female classical music orchestra in the U.S.).
Read more about both of them here: t.ly/cF-Lb

Stephen Albert Emery, c. 1889. (From A Hundred Years of Music in America, G.L. How, Publisher - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Henry Schoenefeld, c. 1900. (Photo by Rupert Hughes - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

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27588

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