Friday, April 22, 2016, 11:20am
William Shakespeare’s birthday is observed, oddly, on the day of his death, April 23. His actual birthdate is unknown but he was baptised on April 26, 1564. Not only is April a great month to honor Shakespeare's birth, this month also happens to be the 400th anniversary of his death. In fact the...
Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 7:25am
"The Midday" celebrates its 25 th anniversary this week. Norman Gilliland gives us a brief history of hosting two and a half decades of this WPR classical staple.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016, 11:15am
The first piece of classical music I remember hearing -- and probably the first for millions of kids -- literally had an impact on me . We had Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf" on a well-worn set of three discs that spun around at the frightening speed of 78 rpm. A nick in the edge...
Friday, March 18, 2016, 12:10pm
Although the weather might not always cooperate, the spring equinox brings hope for green to overtake the long Wisconsin winter. Music is a perfect way to welcome seasons and there are many classical and folk pieces inspired by the beauties of Spring. Here are 10 favorites that will remind people of the shift to warmer weather: Mendelssohn’s "Frühlingslied (Spring Song)" is beautifully melodic piano piece that is perfect for daydreaming.
Thursday, March 17, 2016, 8:30am
St. Patrick’s Day in Wisconsin is celebrated with beer, parades and music. It's said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and here are a few Ireland-inspired pieces to mark the day. Irish flutist James Galway teamed up with The Chieftans to perform some beautiful arrangements of Celtic favorites. "The Red Admiral Butterfly" is an upbeat, fun tune that will make anyone want to dance:
Thursday, February 25, 2016, 11:25am
Wisconsin welcomes spring in March and honors a noted author and conservationist with the Aldo Leopold Weekend, set for March 4 to 6. This celebration is designed to bring communities together to commemorate the life and work of Leopold through workshops, lectures, hikes, public readings and more...
Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 12:10pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on Jan. 27, 1756, and although he died at a young age in 1791, few composers have had such a lasting impact. He composed over 600 works in many genres, from piano sonatas to sacred music and comic opera. Enjoy some of Mozart's music by checking out the online...
Thursday, January 21, 2016, 11:40am
Classical music is often packed with themes of love, which makes it a perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day soundtrack. This list is comprised of 10 classical pieces that are notable for their romantic overtones. Inspiration, allure and passion are sure to be experienced while listening to...
Thursday, January 7, 2016, 10:55am
Tune in on Sundays at 2 p.m. starting Jan. 10 for a new 13-part season of concert broadcasts by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Visit the schedule and information page to find music playlists for each broadcast. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has been an important part of the cultural life of...
Thursday, December 17, 2015, 12:45pm
With its popularity today through live performances, film and television, it's hard to believe that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet "The Nutcracker" was once judged a disaster. "The Nutcracker" premiered in December 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg,...
Wednesday, December 16, 2015, 10:05am
Mary Jo Heath, who has worked as a producer and guest host for the "Metropolitan Opera" over the past nine seasons, recently became the fourth full-time radio host in the company’s history. Her responsibilities as the "voice of the Met" include hosting the Saturday matinee...
Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 4:20pm
An Appleton singer-songwriter, a Madison folklorist and a bassist who grew up in Middleton all appear on the list of 2016 Grammy nominations released on Monday.
Cory Chisel, known as the force behind Appleton's Mile of Music and for his work with the Wandering Sons, is a cowriter with...
Monday, August 10, 2015, 11:15am
Each week, WPR’s "Wisconsin Classical" features performances by musicians from around the state. A recent show also included music inspired by Wisconsin: "A Door County Suite" by Oscar Haugland, which can be heard here . The music was performed as part of the Midsummer...
Wednesday, June 3, 2015, 1:50pm
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that host Margaret Juintwait died on Wednesday from ovarian cancer. Here is the opera's statement released on Wednesday: The Metropolitan Opera mourns the death of our radio host Margaret Juntwait, who passed away this morning after a long battle with...
Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 10:50am
This Saturday at noon, Wisconsin Public Radio presents Madison Opera’s production of Rossini’s “The Barber Of Seville.” This is the second of two broadcasts from the most recent Madison Opera season. One of the greatest comic operas ever written, the story features a count...
Monday, May 11, 2015, 4:40pm
Wisconsin Public Radio is pleased to present two productions by Madison Opera , beginning with Beethoven’s "Fidelio" on Saturday at noon. Beethoven’s only opera is an ode to freedom. To rescue her husband, a political prisoner, the noblewoman Leonore, disguises herself as a...
Thursday, May 7, 2015, 9:05am
The JACK Quartet on Friday will perform the premiere of University of Wisconsin-Madison-based composer Laura Schwendinger’s "Creature Quartet ."
"Creature Quartet" consists of four larger movements that are framed by smaller movements, each one an ode to an extinct, endangered or...
Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 4:20pm
As a native of Turkey, composer, pianist and conductor Erberk Eryilmaz has a somewhat unique perspective about classical music outside of Europe. Eryilmaz was born in Samsun, Turkey in 1989. He started his music education when he was 3 years old and has studied at the Samsun Conservatory, Hacettepe...
Thursday, January 1, 2015, 12:25pm
This is the last season for the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. The 101-year-old institution announced earlier this year that it's disbanding, but some musicians are exploring a partnership with another Wisconsin orchestra in the hopes of keeping the group together.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 1:45pm
Wisconsin Public Radio is celebrating 35 years of "Simply Folk" on the air. The program started in 1979, with the first show featuring recordings made at the Great River Folk Festival in La Crosse in 1978. Host Stephanie Elkins looks back with music heard that first year, several songs on...
