Hannukah Specials, Saint-Saens “Organ” Symphony, Bruckner’s 8th, and Beethoven’s 9th

This week on “The Evening Concert” on WILL-FM 90.9, we start with two Hannukah specials, then it’s Saint-Saens’ “Organ” Symphony from the CSO; Bruckner’s 8th Symphony from the Cleveland Orchestra; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony from The New York Philharmonic”, An Afro-Blue Christmas and Jazz Piano Christmas on Friday and Sunday chamber music from “Lincoln Center” and “Spoleto”.

WILL-FM      The Evening Concert & Prairie Performances 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (M – F & SUN)

 

WEEK OF DECEMBER 15 – 16 – 17 – 18 – 19 & 21, 2014

 

Monday December 15: Two Hanukkah Specials (Hanukkah starts at sundown Tuesday, Dec. 16)

Hanukkah Lights 2014 (from NPR)
A perennial NPR favorite with brand new Hanukkah stories written by acclaimed authors Debra Ginsberg, Anne Burt, Simone Zelitch, Andrew Borowitz, and Theodore Bikel. Hear a wide variety of stories perfect for the holiday — one story is funny and crisp, another historical, and there’s one with a multicultural theme. Also included is a story about the supernatural and one that ends with the best last line for any Hanukkah show, “Love is the only miracle.” Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

Candles Burning Brightly (from APM)

Hosts Mindy Ratner and Bill Morelock celebrate Chanukah with music from Jewish communities around the world, and a special story reading by the incomparable Theodore Bikel.

Dov Frimer, arr H Netsky/J Jacobson - Al Hanissim (Hebrew) - Zamir Chorale of Boston and instrumentalists/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Traditional, arr J Miller - Shehecheyanu (Hebrew) - Chicago a cappella/Jonathan Miller (Chicago a cappella 2005)
Chaim Parchi, arr J Jacobson - Aleh Neiri (Hebrew) - Chaim Parchi, soloist; Zamir Chorale of Boston/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Flory Jagoda, arr H Netsky - Ocho Candelikas (Ladino) - Soloists and New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble/Hankus Netsky (Rounder 3165)
Leo Low, arr L Moore - Likhtelekh (Yiddish) - Coro Hebraeico/Neil Levin (Naxos 8.559410)
Traditional/Oujda, Morocco - Hanerot Hallalu ("These Light We Kindle") (Hebrew) - Voice of the Turtle (Titanic 159)
Traditional, arr A. Binder - Maoz Tsur "Rock of Ages" (Hebrew)
Italian chant - Maoz Tsur
Italian chant, arr Benedetto Marcello - Maoz Tsur
Italian chant, arr Hugo Chaim Adler - Maoz Tsur
Zamir Chorale of Boston/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
David Weintraub - Eight Bright Candles - Eaken Piano Trio (Naxos 8.554714)
Break bed: Samuel Adler - To Celebrate a Miracle (excerpt) - University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony/Rodney Winther (Naxos 8.559410)
Theodore Bikel reads "The Lost Menorah" by Howard Schwartz from Adam's Soul: The Collected Tales of Howard Schwartz (published by Jason Aronson in 1992; now out of print); used with the kind permission of the author
Scott Robinson - Great is the Miracle, mvt II - Eaken Piano Trio (Naxos 8.554714)
Shelley Olson - Blessing fr A Chanukah Cantata - Rosemary Quinn-Milch, cello (Maju Music 00-1.1)
Traditional Sephardic/Adrianopoli, Greece - Quital'tas (Ladino) - Piffaro, with Julianne Baird (rec live in concert, Dec 3, 2011)
Yiddish Folk Song - Bulbes "Potatoes" - Emil Decameron and His Orchestra, rec Vienna 1959 (Vanguard Classics OVC 6005)
Mikhl Gelbart, arr Mark Zuckerman - Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl (Yiddish) - Chicago a cappella/Jonathan Miller (Chicago a cappella 2005)
Traditional, arr J Jacobson - Drey, Dreydelekh (Yiddish) - Zamir Chorale of Boston and instrumentalists/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Flory Jagoda - Hanuka (Ladino) - Voice of the Turtle (Titanic 159)
Traditional Klezmer - Keshenev Bulgar - New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble/Hankus Netsky (Rounder 3165)

 

Tuesday December 16: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO #14-50)

Charles Dutoit and Mathieu Dufour

Dukas: La Peri, Fanfare and poemedansé

Guillame Connesson (b. 1970, France): pour sortir au jour (Mathieu Dufour, flute [CSO commission])

Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 (Organ) (Paul Jacobs, organ)

[CSO fill: Williams: Violin Concerto (Gil Shaham, violin; John Williams, conductor) and Poulenc: Gloria (Bernard Haitink, conductor) from CSO Resound recording]

 

Wednesday December 17: Cleveland Orchestra COR (#14-23)
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
WAGNER “Tannhäuser” Overture (Severance 10/30/11)
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 8 (Blossom 07/09/11)

[COR fill: J. STRUASS, JR.: Par Force Polka Franz Welser-Most, cond.; Severance Hall 01-12-03]

 

Thursday December 18: The New York Philharmonic This Week (NYP) (#15-11)

Alan Gilbert, conductor; ****Julianna Di Giacomo, soprano; Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano; Russell Thomas, tenor; Shenyang, bass; Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus; Kent Tritle, director

Mark-Anthony TURNAGE (b. 1960, England): Frieze   

****BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, “Choral”

 

Friday December 19:  Holiday Specials (Prairie Performances pre-empted; returns Jan. 2)

An Afro Blue Christmas (New, from NPR)

Hosted by Michele Norris. The a-cappela group Afro Blue (Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble) and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire.

Jazz Piano Christmas XXX

Every year, NPR Music invites a handful of the world's top keyboard players to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We ask them to play some of their favorite holiday music for the audience — solo — and the recording becomes the public radio special A Jazz Piano Christmas.

For its 25th anniversary, the program welcomes four artists. Harold Mabern, 78, is one of the great post-bop pianists. Kris Davis brings a distinct, experimental style that's made her a celebrated rising talent. The veteran performer Lynne Arriale returns to A Jazz Piano Christmas, and Cyrus Chestnut, at home in both the church and dialing up dazzling high-speed runs, has recently been named a professor at nearby Howard University.

Jazz Night In America presents the 2014 edition of A Jazz Piano Christmas from the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center.

 

Sunday December 21: Holiday Special: A Paul Winter Solstice Concert (Solstice is 5:03 p.m.CT) (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center pre-empted; returns Dec. 28)

Celebrate the return of the sun and the warming of the heart with Paul Winter's All New 34th Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. The performance brings traditional holiday favorites and new sounds from around the world with special guests Ivan Lins and Renato Braz. Hosted by John Schaefer.