As the Virginia Arts Festival enters its final weeks, Hampton Roads remains immersed in the sounds of world-class classical music—and “A Local Touch: Music with a Virginia Connection” keeps bringing the Festival magic to the airwaves.
This Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, Raymond Jones presents another lineup of Festival-connected artists whose performances are lighting up venues across the region. Whether you’ve just seen them live or are planning to attend an upcoming concert, this week’s program offers the perfect opportunity to experience their artistry from a different perspective.
Among this week’s highlights is the legendary soprano Renée Fleming, who performs “Bailero” from “Songs of the Auvergne” by Joseph Canteloube with the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Tate, and “Song to the Moon” from Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti. Fleming, a beloved figure in Virginia, will appear live at the Harrison Opera House on June 1.
Also featured are two of the Festival’s most anticipated guests: cellist Nina Kotova and pianist Olga Kern. Kotova’s rich tone shines in Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” while Kern dazzles in Liszt’s virtuosic “Reminiscences of Don Juan.” Catch them live in Virginia Beach on June 4 (in a Coffee Concert presented by WHRO’s Jana Lee Ross), June 5 in Williamsburg (introduced by Raymond Jones), and June 6 in Norfolk.
The program also revisits the passionate artistry of the Zemlinsky Quartet with a performance of String Quartet No. 2 by Alexander Zemlinsky—ideal for those who attended their concerts last week or are discovering their music for the first time.
And looking ahead, we’ll hear selections from “Songs from the Arc of Life” performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott. This deeply moving album includes works by Bach, Schubert, Fauré, and Sibelius, amongst others. Yo-Yo Ma will appear at the Festival on June 8, offering not only a performance but reflections on music’s power to inspire peace.
Whether you're previewing an upcoming concert or savoring a past experience, tune in this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3—or listen online—for “A Local Touch: Music with a Virginia Connection."
