Since its founding in 1959, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has been one of the country’s most vibrant and innovative orchestras. The orchestra’s radio series, heard on WPR Sundays at 2 p.m. and hosted by WPR’s Lori Skelton, is the country’s longest-running national classical radio series. The 2021 radio broadcasts begin Jan. 3 and run through March 28 on NPR News & Music and All-Classical networks.
Historically, the series features the MSO’s performances from the previous season. Listeners will hear enthusiastic audience response throughout the series, except for the final concert in March 2020 in an empty theater. Skelton describes that streamed performance as “simply stunning.” This season is also notable as the first in the tenure of music director Ken-David Masur, son of the internationally revered conductor Kurt Masur, who died in 2015.
A hallmark of the MSO experience is its inclusion of special guests and performances. This season features many incredible soloists, including violinist Augustin Hadelich and pianist Joyce Yang. In addition to an all-Spanish program, there are two all-Russian programs. Skelton also points to a very special performance of work by American composer John Adams, written in the aftermath of 9/11 and featuring the Symphony Chorus - “On the Transmigration of Souls.” It will be followed by Mozart’s “Requim.” She calls it “a powerful combination.”
Skelton has a special love for the Milwaukee Symphony as it provided her earliest experience with classical music growing up in Elkhorn. She has been hosting the national broadcasts of the MSO since 2016. Find the complete 2021 broadcast schedule below.
AIR DATE: Jan. 3, 2021
CONDUCTOR: Ken-David Masur
SOLOIST: Nicolas Namoradze, piano
Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Schumann: Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 54
Detlev Glanert: Brahms-Fantasie, Heliogravure für Orchester
R. Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Opus 59 (1945 version)
AIR DATE: Jan. 10
CONDUCTOR: Ken-David Masur
SOLOIST: Augustin Hadelich, violin
Kaija Saariaho: Ciel d’hiver
Sibelius: Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 47
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36
AIR DATE: Jan. 17
CONDUCTOR: Jun Märkl
SOLOIST: Jorge Federico Osorio, piano
Chabrier: España
Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain for Piano and Orchestra
Bizet/Ed. Hoffmann: Suite No. 1 from Carmen
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol, Opus 34
Ravel: Boléro
AIR DATE: Jan. 24
CONDUCTOR: Ken-David Masur (Beethoven Symphonies 1 & 2) Gemma New (Beethoven Violin Concerto)
SOLOIST(S): Anthony Marwood, violin
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major, Opus 21
Beethoven: Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 61
Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 36
AIR DATE: Jan. 31
CONDUCTOR: Fabien Gabel
SOLOIST(S): Simone Lamsma, violin
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 64
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major
AIR DATE: Feb. 7
CONDUCTOR: Edo de Waart (Ives & Adams) Yaniv Dinur (Mozart)
SOLOIST(S): Mary Wilson, soprano; Clara Osowski, mezzo soprano; Evan LeRoy Johnson, tenor; Peixin Chen, bass; Milwaukee Children’s Choir, Marco Melendez, director; Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Lee Erickson, director (Adams), Cheryl Frazes Hill, director (Mozart)
Ives: The Unanswered Question
John Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls
Mozart/Sussmeyer: Requiem, K. 626
AIR DATE: Feb. 14
CONDUCTOR: Jeffrey Kahane
SOLOIST(S): Jeffrey Kahane, piano
Milhaud: La Création du monde, Opus 81
Gershwin: Concerto in F major for Piano and Orchestra
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Opus 45
AIR DATE: Feb. 21
CONDUCTOR: Edo de Waart (Both Adams & Nielsen Symphony No. 5) Anu Tali (Nielsen Flute Concerto)
SOLOIST(S): Sonora Slocum, flute; Leila Josefowicz, violin
John Adams: The Chairman Dances, Foxtrot for Orchestra
Nielsen: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
John Adams: Violin Concerto
Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Opus 50
AIR DATE: Feb 28
CONDUCTOR: Ken-David Masur
SOLOIST(S): Orion Weiss, piano
Mendelssohn: Trumpet Overture in C major, Opus 101
Beethoven: Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 19
Gabrieli: Canzoni
Dall’Ongaro: La primavera
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Opus 90, “Italian”
AIR DATE: March 7
CONDUCTOR: Ken-David Masur
SOLOIST(S): Sergei Babayan, piano
Shostakovich: Festive Overture, Opus 96
Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 26
Schnittke: (K)ein Sommernachtstraum ((Not) a Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Mussorgsky/
Orch. Gorchakov Pictures at an Exhibition
AIR DATE: March 14
CONDUCTOR: Stefan Asbury
SOLOIST(S): Joyce Yang, piano
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture, Opus 36
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 23
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Opus 44
AIR DATE: March 21
CONDUCTOR: Edo de Waart
SOLOIST(S): Johannes Moser, cello
Shostakovich: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 107
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2in E minor, Opus 27
AIR DATE: March 28
CONDUCTOR: Peter Oundjian
SOLOIST(S): Todd Levy, clarinet
Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead, Opus 29
Debussy: Première rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra
Bernstein/
Orch. Ramin: Clarinet Sonata, for solo clarinet and chamber ensemble
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67
