Classics of the Phonograph with John Frayne

John Frayne's weekly exploration of memorable recordings from the 20th century

saturdays at 11 am on fm 90.9 and 101.1

A man in a studio with a bunch of vinyl records.

Photo by Mike Thomas

June 23, 2017

John Frayne’s News-Gazette column

Each week, John Frayne shares his love for classical music and opera with you on WILL-FM. Did you know he also shares his knowledge via the News-Gazette?


Ruggiero Ricci as a young boy in between a man and a woman

By Bundesarchiv, Public Domain via WIkimedia Commons

October 06, 2018

Ruggiero Ricci

An American violinist and Paganini specialist.


Monteux during his conductorship of Les Ballets Russes, c. 1912

"Photo de Monde Musical" - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

September 29, 2018

Pierre Monteux

Putting a French touch on French music. 


Flute on top of sheets of music.

By Petar Milošević - Own work. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

September 22, 2018

Dueling flutes

Jean Pierre Rampal vs. James Galway: Hear their distinctive tone playing the same music.


Portrait of Joseph Haydn

"Joseph Haydn" by Thomas Hardy (1757-circa 1805) - Unknown. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

September 15, 2018

Josef Haydn

He wrote 83 string quartets, and you can enjoy selections from this collection.


Frederick Delius, aged 45, photographed in 1907

By Unidentified - "Fritz Delius.” Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

September 08, 2018

Frederick Delius

Enjoy Sir Thomas Beecham's 1958 recording of Delius' Hassan music. 


Stravinsky conducting in 1965

By Unknown - Dutch National Archives. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

September 01, 2018

Igor Stravinsky

He was an eloquent conductor of his own works.


painting of Purcell by John Closterman

Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

August 25, 2018

The Baroque revival

In the 1950s, this music enjoyed renewed success with standout performances. 


Bernstein conducting the New York City Symphony (1945)

By Fred Palumbo, World Telegram staff photographer - Library of Congress. New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

August 18, 2018

Making headlines

On November 14, 1943, Leonard Bernstein became famous.


Upright piano hammers and dampers.

Wikimedia Commons

August 11, 2018

Clara Haskil

The pianist was especially known for her performances of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.


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