The Virginia Arts Festival is in full swing, and this week's "A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection" joins the celebration by airing some of the most iconic performances ever seen at previous festival seasons. Listen to host Raymond Jones this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM for an evening of artistry that links to Hampton Roads’s rich musical scene.
We will kick off the festival with the respected Zemlinsky Quartet performing Haydn's String Quartet in C major, Op. 76 No. 3, better known as the "Emperor Quartet," a piece that defines the elegance and precision that fans of the festival have come to expect. For those who would like to hear the Zemlinsky Quartet live, they will be making their Virginia Arts Festival appearance on May 21 in Williamsburg and on May 22 in Norfolk, where they will be joined by pianist Olga Kern for a performance of Dvořák's fiery Piano Quintet No. 2.
From the 2012 Virginia Arts Festival, we’ll revisit a powerful performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the “Symphony of a Thousand,” conducted by JoAnn Falletta and performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. And for those interested in hearing more Mahler live, the VSO will present his Ninth Symphony this weekend in Newport News and Virginia Beach.
Next, we turn to the 2022 festival for an impassioned reading of Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, featuring pianist Olga Kern and the Dali Quartet. Their electrifying performance brings out the emotional intensity and dramatic contrasts of the work. And if this leaves you wanting more, Olga Kern will return to the region in June, performing with the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players.
For jazz lovers, we’ll feature Wynton Marsalis and selections from his theatrical suite “A Fiddler’s Tale,” a lively and inventive blend of storytelling and jazz. Be sure to check the Virginia Arts Festival website for upcoming performances by other acclaimed jazz artists, including Lena Seikaly, Samara Joy, and Diana Krall.
And for a more intimate moment, we’ll enjoy JoAnn Falleta once again – this time putting down the baton and picking up the guitar. Joined by flutist Debra Wnedells Cross and clarinetist Robert Alemany, she performs Piazzolla’s Haunting “Oblivion,” adding a tender and personal touch to this week’s program.
Don't miss this special broadcast of “A Local Touch” — a musical tour of Virginia's own Arts Festival, this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3 and online through the Media Player.
