Music

In the fall of 1886 Gustav Mahler was the director of the Leipzig Opera house. In a letter that he wrote to his friend Friedrich Löhr, he spoke of positive experiences with composer Karl Reinecke and pianist Anton Rubinstein. He spoke in less positive terms of his relationship with Leipzig...

Episode 207: Giddyup

November 16, 2019 - 11:00am

BoJack Horseman sitting on diving board poolside

"BoJack Horseman" creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg on his debut collection of short stories about love. Also, poet and critic Hanif Abdurraqib makes the case for one of the most influential rap groups ever, A Tribe Called Quest. And filmmaker Jeanie Finley talks about her year embedded with "Game of Thrones" to make the HBO documentary, "The Last Watch."

They Call Me Mother Africa - African Women In Music

November 16, 2019 - 10:00am

Women have always played a vital role as creators, educators and performers of African music. Today, this tradition continues to preserve and promote African culture...

Tk 8 Ladies Of Africa, Gnima Diala/Mamany Keita and Djelimady Tounkara, Label Bleu, 2008

The Odyssey Series Live - Featuring Sheila "Sile" Shigley

November 15, 2019 - 3:00pm

The Odyssey Series Live - “Sacred World Music” Public Programs that are World Music Centered and Designed To Explore Pathways To Increased Understanding of Varied Cultural, Spiritual, Sacred and Communal Traditions. "each program in the series is designed to illumine the Wisconsin Idea, inclusion, and WPR’s commitment to edify and...

Wisconsin Weekend: Upcoming Classical Music Concerts

November 15, 2019 - 6:00am

Lori Skelton, the host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Afternoon Classics” program, joins us to discuss upcoming concerts across Wisconsin. We explore musicians performing pieces by Mozart, Dvorak, Debussy, Handel, Brahms and other renowned composers. We also talk about some shows seeking to attract movie fans and families.

Spectrum West, November 14, 2019

November 14, 2019 - 10:00am

Author, Artist, Comedy and Rock Concert- Eau Claire author Patricia A. Hawkenson will visit “Spectrum West.” The show will also feature interviews with a western Wisconsin artist exhibiting his work in Venice, Italy, a member of an Eau Claire comedy troupe and the organizers of the annual Stage Fright rock concert in Eau Claire.

A Simple Twist of Fate

November 11, 2019 - 11:30am

In 1916 Spanish composer Enrique Granados was in New York for the world premiere of his opera Goyescas . The opera ends with a tragic duel in which the protagonist dies in the arms of his beloved. By a simple twist of fate, Granados would soon experience a real-life tragedy...

The Global Feel Of Flamenco

November 9, 2019 - 10:00am

The puzzling origins of flamenco grounded in popular theory, follow along the migration path of the Romani people from the North Indian Provence of Rajasthan to Spain roughly between the 9th and 14th centuries. The migration of the Romani people was well-represented with an extensive canon of heartfelt songs, festive dances and musical instruments, like tambourines, bells, and wooden castanets.

Pianist Joyce Yang

November 7, 2019 - 12:00pm

Norman visits with pianist Joyce Yang who will be performing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Madison Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 8-10 at the Overture Center in Madison.

Spectrum West, November 7, 2019

November 7, 2019 - 10:00am

Children’s Book Author, Two Local Artists, Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter and Play Director- Children’s book author Eliza Wheeler visits “Spectrum West.” Conversations with two local artists featured in a Madison exhibit, a guitarist performing in Stockholm and the director of a play at Menomonie High School are also featured.

Roots Musician Wade Fernandez Honors The Past To Ensure The Future

November 6, 2019 - 1:15pm

For Wade Fernandez, music is a way of honoring the past while also ensuring the future. A roots musician and member of the Menominee Nation, Fernandez’s song, "Sawaenemiyah (Blessed)" is the "Simply Folk" download of the month for November.

American Enlightenment

November 4, 2019 - 11:30am

Pianist Henri Herz was dismissed by Robert Schumann as a mere “stenographer,” but in the 1830s he was the most fashionable and sensational keyboard player in Paris. In 1845, when he wanted big money to bankroll his new piano manufacturing firm, Herz headed for America. In his book My Trips...

Episode 215: You've Selected Agent Zero

November 2, 2019 - 11:00am

Singer/Songwriter Ben Folds reflects on creating brutal piano rock. Also, "The Ringer"'s Shea Serrano serves up some cinematic thought experiments. And Folake Olowofoyeku on how immigrating to America led to her leading role in the sitcom, "Bob Hearts Abishola."

Ancient Sound Of Andean Culture

November 2, 2019 - 10:00am

The South American pastoral mood of modern familiar sounding Andean Pan-pipes fashioned from bamboo, represent only a portion of the Andean musical landscape that dates back two millennia to Pre-Inca civilizations where the expression of music flourished in praise of heavenly deities.

Musician Ben Folds Reflects On His Genre-Bending Career

November 2, 2019 - 6:00am

Singer, songwriter and pianist Ben Folds has enjoyed a long, successful career as an unconventional icon. He’s created genre-bending music throughout his solo career and as the frontman of the trio Ben Folds Five. He reflects on his life and work in a memoir called "A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons."

The Latest from Paris

November 1, 2019 - 11:30am

At the beginning of November 1853, Franz Liszt wrote from Weimar to violinist Joseph Joachim in Hanover about musical discoveries he had made during a recent visit to Paris: As for news from Paris, I have none except for the vigorous rehearsing of Meyerbeer’s new opera L’Étoile du Nord at...

Heidrun Holtmann Plays JS Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier

November 1, 2019 - 10:00am

German pianist Heidrun Holtmann has released a 4-CD set of the Bach "48:" Books I & II of his beloved Well Tempered Clavier.

#1322 11.2.19 Live Broadcast

October 31, 2019 - 11:00am

Spread the word, bring your friends and join me on The Road To Higher Ground Saturday, November 2 7-11pm Central featuring performances by Lakou Mizik, Leahy, Francisc Bebey, Jazz Funk Soul, The Piano Guys, Bob Marley, Chi-Lites, Gonzalo Vargas, Julia Dignan, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Kiki Valera, and Samite...

Soundbytes: Pop Music's 5 Best Vampire Songs

October 31, 2019 - 5:20am

This really sucks. Enjoy the Halloween season with a selection of songs that celebrate all things caped and blood-thirsty, vampires.

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Too Lonely!

Episode 207: Giddyup

They Call Me Mother Africa - African Women In Music

The Odyssey Series Live - Featuring Sheila "Sile" Shigley

Wisconsin Weekend: Upcoming Classical Music Concerts

Spectrum West, November 14, 2019

A Simple Twist of Fate

The Global Feel Of Flamenco

Pianist Joyce Yang

Spectrum West, November 7, 2019

Roots Musician Wade Fernandez Honors The Past To Ensure The Future

American Enlightenment

Episode 215: You've Selected Agent Zero

Ancient Sound Of Andean Culture

Musician Ben Folds Reflects On His Genre-Bending Career

The Latest from Paris

Heidrun Holtmann Plays JS Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier

#1322 11.2.19 Live Broadcast

Soundbytes: Pop Music's 5 Best Vampire Songs

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