This Wednesday evening at 9:00 on WHRO-FM, “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection” begins with a moment of remembrance and respect, honoring the life and legacy of Isaiah Jackson, the distinguished African-American conductor born in Richmond, who passed away on Christmas Eve.
Host Raymond Jones pays tribute to Maestro Jackson with two recordings that reflect his career. We’ll hear Miklós Rózsa’s Concerto for Strings with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, followed by an orchestration of Ernst von Dohnányi’s Quintet for Piano and Strings, featuring legendary pianist Earl Wild alongside the American String Orchestra.
From there, the program settles into music well-suited to a cold winter night. Former Richmond Symphony music director Jacques Houtmann leads the Lorraine Philharmonic in Carl Loewe’s Symphony in D minor, bringing a Romantic atmosphere to the night.
Winter imagery continues with Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana,” his celebrated setting of poems by Robert Frost. Drawn from texts steeped in snow-covered woods and nocturnal landscapes, the work captures the stillness and introspection of the season. This performance features the Williamsburg Choral Guild, with pianist Mildred Andrews Young, and was recorded at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church under the direction of Jay BeVille.
Adding another wintry layer, we’ll hear the “Glacier Concerto” for guitar and orchestra by Kenneth Fuchs, performed by guitarist D.J. Sparr with Symphonicity, conducted by Daniel W. Boothe. This performance was recorded live at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach in 2022.
Spend a winter evening with Raymond Jones this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online, and experience music with a truly local touch.
