Singer Tom Jones knighted

I have always thought that Tom Jones is a great singer, and could have had an opera career if he so chose.
Tom Jones knighted
Does this mean ladies in the audience have to turn their panties over to the Scotland Yard now instead of tossing them onstage?
Congrats!! Its been a month about singers named "Tom" around here, hasn't it?

Conclusion of Mozarts Lucio Silla on What's Opera Doc? Tuesday 10AM-1PM EST

Mozart Madness continues...Lucio Silla on What's Opera Doc? Tuesday 10AM-1PM EST
It just doesn't stop!!

What's Opera, Doc continues its program of all the operas, in the order
they were written. Opera #7, Lucio Silla, K.135 (26.12.1772 Teatro
Regio Ducal, Milan)

In three acts, The cast features Peter Schreier, Edita Gruberova,
Cecilia Bartoli, Dawn Upshaw and Yvonne Kenny.

Harnoncourt conducting.
As always, listen live links to the right. Or go to the station here.

Tom Hampson Song of America interview, redux

Yep, he really was here! The pics below show the studio during the interview. The photo is a little smushed, but here we are in about as full of a shot of the studio as you can get - we call it the fishbowl. We're both smiling a lot - it was a fun time. I usually face the board so I can watch the levels, but this way it was more conversational and a lot more fun.





Did I tell you we had fun? _{(how many times can I say fun in this post?)}





Stephanie Poxson from the Library of Congress is quite an expert on Samuel Barber - she did a wonderful turn on the mic - her first time on the air.





And the requisite guest/host shot. Thanks to Tom, Stephanie, and Marilou _{(from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra)} for coming down in person to hang out. A special thanks to Frank M of the Lounge Act on WHFR for the photos, and "The Doctor" Bob N for audio production during the show.





UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who listened to the broadcast - bandwidth issues have forced me to take it down - too expensive to keep it up here! :) (its hosted somewhere else, not Blogger)
Link to the interview itself here. Its 40 minutes long, so don't complain to me about how long it takes to load.
Enjoy
~wod~
_{PS - did anyone notice this is the first time I've put my face online?}

A Newly-Discovered Opera blogger

Apparently I am late to the party, but I encourage you to check out: Mad Musings of Me, a great fan operablog.

Mozart Madness continues...Lucio Silla on What's Opera Doc? Tuesday 10AM-1PM EST

It just doesn't stop!!

What's Opera, Doc continues its program of all the operas, in the order
they were written. Opera #7, Lucio Silla, K.135 (26.12.1772 Teatro
Regio Ducal, Milan)

In three acts, The cast features Peter Schreier, Edita Gruberova,
Cecilia Bartoli, Dawn Upshaw and Yvonne Kenny.

Harnoncourt conducting.
As always, listen live links to the left. Or go to the station here.

FOR INTERNET LISTENERS:
Yes, folks its that time of year - Radiothon 2006 - which means we will
be fundraising during the program. Technically, the stream is free to
you the listener, but for those of you who do listen regularly or
irregularly, (wink) a drop of cash in the red bucket would be highly
appreciated.

You will be able to call in pledges at 1-313-845-9676, and a toll-free
number will be announced during the program.

You can mail in pledges to: WHFR, 5101 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI
48128, and put the program you listen to (Opera) somewhere on your pledge.

You can pledge over the Internet by printing out this pledge form and
mailing in it.

You may know that WHFR must rely on listener donations to provide
approximately 60% of our annual operating budget. Thankfully, we realize how
loyal our listeners really are. Past consistent support during our
Radiothon pledge week has allowed us to maintain the operations of WHFR.
This 2006 pledge drive is more important than ever. With so much change
on the radio dial today, it is critical that we keep up the funding for
our non-commercial station. And this year challenges us in many ways.
Technology is always changing and equipment is getting older. We face
increased basic operating costs, with a few new ones added in.

Radiothon week (March 19th - 25th) is the only time in the entire year
that you'll hear our on-air staff asking for your financial support
between each great song that we play. So we ask you, our loyal WHFR
listener, to dig deep with your pledge of support this year. Perhaps you're a
new listener that just found us while looking for alternatives on the
radio dial. Or maybe you're one of our great longtime listeners who's
been with us from the start. Whichever it is, you play a critically
important role in the continued success of WHFR and what we stand for.
Show us that you believe in our mission.

As always, enjoy the show, and thanks for your support!

Thomas Hampson's Song of America Tour - GO SEE IT

Well folks, this is my first time attempting a post-performance review, so bear with me.

Last night Thomas Hampson performed at the Orchestra Hall/Max M Fisher Music Center on his Song Of America recital tour here in Detroit.

Concertgoers were serenaded by the local Detroit Performing Arts School choir in the lobby - these students had a master class with TH the day before, and they performed an alternate series of folk songs and standards from the early 20th century.

Original maunscripts and curators from the Library of Congress were there - the curators let concertgoers get very close to the manuscripts - it was fascinating to see Gershwin's original handwriting, or William Grant Still's.

I know listers want to hear about the music-making. Hampson and his accompanist, Craig Rutledge, have obviously worked together often, they have a great give-and take on the stage, and provided more than one laugh out loud moment.

Sitting in a concert hall with Hampson is akin to having him in your living room - he talks, jokes, charms and sings as if you are both sitting 3 feet from each other, and held the audience rapt. His knowledge of the history of American song is vast. Yes, it was obvious a few moments of patter were rehearsed (and stumbled through) but at one point in the second half, Hampson stepped out of the concert moment and was just himself, a person who genuinely loves the music, the history and being American. Talking to all about their own heritage through music.

Does he ever love the music. This was no sing by rote recital - phrasing was nuanced, the pianissimo phrases were feather-soft and crystal clear, the words were enunciated, driven forward, and stayed with you. The man has amazing breath control, and audience members would audibly gasp at his ability to carry the phrase.

Personally, I have never been at a recital (especially in Detroit) where the audience actually followed each phrase and meaning of the words, but Hampson's ability to sing as though he is communicating directly to each audience member makes a huge difference.

I was also happy to see a less typical concertgoing audience - the full range of ages, races and income diversity were present, and I do genuinely believe Hampson made some converts to an appreciation of concert song that evening.

My seat-mate had never attended any classical concert before, and came away humming and full of ideas, so for those of you who bemoan the audiences that are usually in attendance, try to catch this concert in one of its other cities:

Kravis Center, West Palm Beach FL
Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oxford, MS
Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
Holland Center Concert Hall, Omaha, NE
California Theatre, San Jose, CA

Well all I can say in closing is - please try to attend. Ok, let me correct that. RUN, don't walk. You will be glad you did.

More info at Hampsong.com

What's Opera Doc welcomes Thomas Hampson

WHFR and What's Opera, Doc? would like to welcome American baritone Thomas Hampson as he appears in Detroit for his "Song of America" tour. He will appear LIVE on the program on Tuesday, March 14th.
LISTEN LIVE on WHFR.FM by clicking HERE.
As always, 10AM-1PM EST.

10AM - 1PM - Mozarts Il Sogno di Scipione

On the program today, 10AM - 1PM - Mozarts Il Sogno di Scipione, opera number 6 in our Mozart Madness extravaganza - all the operas, in the order they were writen.

This performance features Schreier, Mathis, Gruberova, Popp, Hager conducting.

Listen live HERE.

Lack of podcast update - technology bites

yep, no archive, no podcast, no nothing.

sigh.

next week?