This week on “A Local Touch,” host Raymond Jones brings together a collection of performances that reflect the remarkable breadth of classical talent and heritage across the Commonwealth of Virginia. From the Shenandoah Valley to Hampton Roads, this three-hour program celebrates both world-renowned artists and the vibrant institutions rooted right here.
The evening opens with a concert recording from March 2023 featuring Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux performing Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D major with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra.
Next, we head to Staunton for another edition of “Heifetz on Air.” The episode showcases highlights from the Heifetz Institute’s “Hear and Now” concert series, which extends the energy of its summer programs into the academic year, with performances by students, faculty, and celebrated guest artists like violinist Ilya Kaler.
From Langley Air Force Base, we hear the Air Combat Command Heritage of America Band under Col. Lowell Graham in Norman Dello Joio’s “Variants on a Medieval Tune.” And then we travel west to Roanoke, where cellist Zuill Bailey, a Virginia native recognized soloist, joins the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra under David Willey for Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 2.
As a nod to timeless ballet, the program also includes a lush performance of a suite from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”, conducted by Richard Williams with the London Symphony Orchestra. And we’ll wrap up the program with violinist Joseph Silverstein, along with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, on a thrilling performance of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”
From Staunton to Richmond, from Williamsburg to Roanoke, this week’s “A Local Touch” draws a vibrant map of musical excellence anchored in Virginia. Join us on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, and online, for an evening that celebrates Virginia’s role as a crossroads of classical music tradition and innovation.
