Hello again friends:
Well…this year we’re looking forward to another fun and exciting, live broadcast from the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, Saturday, July 4th . Keith Lockheart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra always put on a fantastic show, and the fireworks…...The Best!!
I believe this makes it about 12 years for me now that I’ve been doing these broadcasts with WCRB. I remember my first one (way back when), Keith was relatively new to Boston, having started his tenure in February, 1995. At that time, we were using a hand held wireless microphone for the broadcast, so we could mingle with the crowd. I remember getting some pretty good interviews that day with some of the revelers on the lawn, but… there’s a funny thing about those mic’s…..as you may know, they come complete with an on-off switch, (for me… a bad idea). I had a habit of turning it off when I wasn’t using it (you know save the batteries and all). Well… in theory it was a noble idea but much more important than turning the thing off, was remembering to turn it on again. Which I seemed to have neglected to do, for at least one…”yes, there may have been more”…of those incredibly insightful yet whimsical chit-chats. Needless to say, I was reminded by the Boss, (in no uncertain terms)… to “Leave It On”!!
It was a hard and somewhat embarrassing lesson to learn but thankfully this year, I’ll be seated, behind the mic with my colleagues, with no switches in sight.
This Saturday will surely be another fantastic July 4th show, (provided the weather holds out)…Oooops, did I say that… I hope I didn’t curse it! If you can’t be there, do the next best thing and join us (in stereo) for the concert at 99.5 on the dial. We’ll have lot’s of great American music for you beginning at 12-noon with Listo Fischer. I’ll follow him at 4pm, then, Laura Carlo will accompany Mark Edwards at 8 for the show.
I do hope you’ll make WCRB part of your families July 4th festivities this year!
Mark Calder
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Another specialty weekend just for you.
In this week’s blog, I’d just like to take the opportunity, to extend a personal invitation to you, to join us for our “Composer Marathon Weekend” here on WCRB, all weekend long. One, Two and Three hour blocks of music from all the great composers. As you may know, I begin the evenings here on WCRB, weeknights with Dinner Classics at 7pm, then onto our All Time Classic around 9, followed by Night Light Classics till midnight.
This weekend beginning at 4pm, Friday, it will be a great chance to hear several works, all by the same composer…back to back to back. Friday’s Dinner Classics begins with music by Bach…I’ll feature one of his Brandenburg Concerto’s, a Violin concerto, Orchestral Suite and more. After that… a three hour block of compositions by Tchaikovsky including his Serenade for Strings, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, his only Violin concerto and several other selections. Saturday night, I’ll have a three hour block of music by Dvorak including his “New World” Symphony, American String Quartet, Symphony #8 and others. There will also be blocks by Vaughan Williams, Saint-Saens and more. I hope you can join me/us for this exciting weekend of terrific music.
Till next time, stay listening:
Mark Calder
This weekend beginning at 4pm, Friday, it will be a great chance to hear several works, all by the same composer…back to back to back. Friday’s Dinner Classics begins with music by Bach…I’ll feature one of his Brandenburg Concerto’s, a Violin concerto, Orchestral Suite and more. After that… a three hour block of compositions by Tchaikovsky including his Serenade for Strings, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, his only Violin concerto and several other selections. Saturday night, I’ll have a three hour block of music by Dvorak including his “New World” Symphony, American String Quartet, Symphony #8 and others. There will also be blocks by Vaughan Williams, Saint-Saens and more. I hope you can join me/us for this exciting weekend of terrific music.
Till next time, stay listening:
Mark Calder
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Final Applause ?
Hello Friends...
In the news recently; another sad story of an arts organization that just couldn’t continue under the financial pressures it found itself in. I’m referring to the North Shore Music Theater, a New England landmark, just off route 128, in Beverly, Massachusetts, for as long as I can remember. Now officially closed for good? Unable to attain the money it desperately needed to launch their new season.
When I was in grade school, I can still remember a field trip the class took there. I couldn’t tell you the name of the play but it did leave a lasting impression on me. I can still remember the excitement of watching a live stage show, the actor’s dialogue spoken loud and clear and over these many years, still able to recall an image or two of that early summer days performance. More recently, I attended a terrific production of “Cats” at the theater with the family, another memory I’m grateful to have. With a future that seems all but lost, maybe… there is a chance that the Music Theater’s curtain call could be curtailed.
From their website:
"Our new business model represents a road map for any group interested in reviving the theater in the future," said David Fellows, NSMT Board Chair Fellows. "We are grateful to our loyal supporters and urge all who care about musical theater and arts education on the North Shore to support any effort that would preserve this cultural resource for future generations."
It seems the arts are a fragile thing, delicately built, on those who believe in themselves and their talents… but always… willing to continue on, no matter what the obstacle. I hope everyone involved here, finds this obstacle one they can over come.
Here at WCRB, we’ll continue for as long as we can, to bring you the “musical element of the arts”, from Sonata’s to Symphony’s, as well as provide a venue for our advertisers to “get the word out” to “attend and be entertained” and help support “The Hub” of a (seemingly) small, talented universe we call New England.
Till Next time, stay listening:
MC
In the news recently; another sad story of an arts organization that just couldn’t continue under the financial pressures it found itself in. I’m referring to the North Shore Music Theater, a New England landmark, just off route 128, in Beverly, Massachusetts, for as long as I can remember. Now officially closed for good? Unable to attain the money it desperately needed to launch their new season.
When I was in grade school, I can still remember a field trip the class took there. I couldn’t tell you the name of the play but it did leave a lasting impression on me. I can still remember the excitement of watching a live stage show, the actor’s dialogue spoken loud and clear and over these many years, still able to recall an image or two of that early summer days performance. More recently, I attended a terrific production of “Cats” at the theater with the family, another memory I’m grateful to have. With a future that seems all but lost, maybe… there is a chance that the Music Theater’s curtain call could be curtailed.
From their website:
"Our new business model represents a road map for any group interested in reviving the theater in the future," said David Fellows, NSMT Board Chair Fellows. "We are grateful to our loyal supporters and urge all who care about musical theater and arts education on the North Shore to support any effort that would preserve this cultural resource for future generations."
It seems the arts are a fragile thing, delicately built, on those who believe in themselves and their talents… but always… willing to continue on, no matter what the obstacle. I hope everyone involved here, finds this obstacle one they can over come.
Here at WCRB, we’ll continue for as long as we can, to bring you the “musical element of the arts”, from Sonata’s to Symphony’s, as well as provide a venue for our advertisers to “get the word out” to “attend and be entertained” and help support “The Hub” of a (seemingly) small, talented universe we call New England.
Till Next time, stay listening:
MC
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Summer’s a busy season for Classical music lovers.
I thought I’d take a moment in this blog to mention some special events/on air programming, coming up for us (and you) our valued listeners, during the summer months.
First, your invited to join us for another exciting July 4th broadcast, live from the Esplanade in Boston. It’s on a Saturday this year which should make it (could it be?) even better than ever! I had a chance to talk with Keith Lockheart (master of ceremonies) for this great New England event a few days ago and his enthusiasm was contagious…this is his 15th year with the Pops you know.
Next, of course, is Tanglewood. We’ll have live broadcasts with the Boston Symphony for you Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons this summer, (as we’ve done for many years now). Their schedule is looking great too. Opening Night will be on July 3rd, James Levine leading the BSO in a terrific all-Tchaikovsky program with pianist Yefim Bronfman. Also Joshua Bell returns this year to perform the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, July 18th, John Williams leads the Boston Pops in the always-popular Film Night at Tanglewood and there’s lots-lots-lots more. If you can’t be there…be here! We’ll keep you up to date.
I also hope you continue to enjoy the music I bring you during the evening hours here on WCRB and remember if you’d like, send along a note, I’d love to hear from you!
Till Next time, stay listening:
MC
First, your invited to join us for another exciting July 4th broadcast, live from the Esplanade in Boston. It’s on a Saturday this year which should make it (could it be?) even better than ever! I had a chance to talk with Keith Lockheart (master of ceremonies) for this great New England event a few days ago and his enthusiasm was contagious…this is his 15th year with the Pops you know.
Next, of course, is Tanglewood. We’ll have live broadcasts with the Boston Symphony for you Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons this summer, (as we’ve done for many years now). Their schedule is looking great too. Opening Night will be on July 3rd, James Levine leading the BSO in a terrific all-Tchaikovsky program with pianist Yefim Bronfman. Also Joshua Bell returns this year to perform the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, July 18th, John Williams leads the Boston Pops in the always-popular Film Night at Tanglewood and there’s lots-lots-lots more. If you can’t be there…be here! We’ll keep you up to date.
I also hope you continue to enjoy the music I bring you during the evening hours here on WCRB and remember if you’d like, send along a note, I’d love to hear from you!
Till Next time, stay listening:
MC
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A Big WCRB Welcome to Harry Christophers !
Just got my new issue of Early Music America magazine and while I was burying my head in the interviews and ads, I enjoyed reading that the Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra and Chorus are welcoming Harry Christophers as their new Artistic Director, beginning in October of this year. After reading the article he certainly has a vision for the orchestra. In reference to the pieces (they have played or will play) he says “ We have so much great music to work with. We want to strip the cobwebs off these great pieces and bring them to life. I want them to sound new to people who know the repertory and sound interesting to people who are coming to see a Baroque Orchestra for the first time”. Here at WCRB we’ll keep our eyes (and ears) out for any new recordings, that I’m sure will sound just as exciting as his quote.
“Oh… and on another note”…Tafelmusik, an ensemble we play here on WCRB, just recently had an asteroid named after them…”yup”…an asteroid. It seems that Tafelmusik commemorated the Year of Astronomy, with the premiere of its critically acclaimed concert program, Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres”. I DO hope ALL future appearances though, are by the ensemble ONLY. :)
Till next time, stay listening:
MC
“Oh… and on another note”…Tafelmusik, an ensemble we play here on WCRB, just recently had an asteroid named after them…”yup”…an asteroid. It seems that Tafelmusik commemorated the Year of Astronomy, with the premiere of its critically acclaimed concert program, Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres”. I DO hope ALL future appearances though, are by the ensemble ONLY. :)
Till next time, stay listening:
MC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
