Baritone Nathan Gunn is one of opera's most sought-after leading men, a graduate of the University of Illinois and a resident of Champaign. He and his wife Julie will explore the joys and complexities of love in a recital Thursday at Urbana's Krannert Center. Nathan and Julie will join me on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local.
On Monday night, the University of Illinois will present an evening of music, stories and reminiscences about the life and work of Archie Green, a prominent union activist turned folklorist and musicologist who died in March. On Monday's "Live and Local," we'll visit with folk music scholar Stephen Wade, one of the presenters at that event.
On the Friday edition of "Live and Local," we'll feature a live in-studio performance by the Brasil Guitar Duo, in town for Ellnora: The Guitar Festival at the Krannert Center in Urbana. I'll also talk with lutenist Nigel North, who will participate in a mostly Bach concert at the Festival on Saturday. The first audio segment contains the program as aired. The second audio segment contains the original, more extensive conversation I had with Douglas Lora of the Brasil Guitar Duo.
Ellnora: The Guitar Festival happens at the Krannert Center in Urbana Thursday through Saturday. One of the bands performing on its opening night party, the Frank Vignola Trio, will join us on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also hear about the upcoming Faculty Showcase recital at Illinois State University's School of Music in Normal. NOTE: We regret that the second portion of the show, regarding the ISU Faculty Showcase, is not available for archive. Please enjoy the Frank Vignola Trio!
On Saturday, Sept. 12, Illinois Public Media will present "Words in the Wind," a benefit for its Book Mentor Project with local actors dramatizing children's books. We'll hear excerpts performed in our studio on Wednesday's "Live and Local." Also, an interview with 12-time Grammy Award winner Jerry Douglas, who will appear at the Ellnora Guitar Festival at the Krannert Center this week.
The University of Illinois Assembly Hall presents 5 Broadway musicals, the Lipizzaner Stallions, a Beatles tribute, So You Think You Can Dance Live and much more during the 2009-2010 season. On the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local," Jennifer Larson will join us with the complete rundown. NOTE: Today's show was canceled due to unavailability of our guest. We will reschedule this conversation as soon as possible.
On Monday, Labor Day, we'll take a break from the regular show to present a concert by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, led by conductors Kent Nagano and David Robertson. The program features Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 9-"The Great." This program is not available for web listening.
The University of Illinois band program is the world's largest and one of its most distinguished. On the Friday edition of "Live and Local," we'll meet the new director of bands, Robert Rumbelow, who will begin his tenure in January. We'll also hear an Argentinean instrument called the bandoneón, played by Julien Labro, in town for performances at the Allerton Music Barn Festival.
The Allerton Music Barn Festival in Monticello will present an evening of Czech Chamber Music Saturday night. On the Thursday edition of "Live and Local," we'll be joined by two of those performers-pianist Rochelle Sennet and violinist Stefan Milenkovich-along with renowned musicologist Bruno Nettl, who will give the evening's pre-concert talk.
On Labor Day morning, the Allerton Music Barn Festival will present a program called "The West Coast Sound," the cool, swinging jazz represented by the likes of Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan. The stars of the Allerton show are all members of the University of Illinois jazz faculty. We'll feature a few of their number on the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local.
