Join Raymond Jones this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM for “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection,” with a program centered on Williamsburg’s vibrant classical music life.
This week, Raymond sits down with Dr. David Grandis, director of the William & Mary Orchestra, to talk about a remarkable musical project that connects Williamsburg with the legacy of a little-known French composer, Paul Ladmirault. The story involves archival discoveries, international connections, and the dedication of student musicians who brought long-forgotten pages back to the concert hall during a special performance last fall.
We’ll hear selections from that project, including Paul Ladmirault’s “Valse Triste,” “Épousailles,” “Rhapsodie Gaelique,” and “Le Roman de Tristan,” performed by the William & Mary Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Grandis’s direction.
In the second half of the program, Raymond speaks with Alana Carithers, new Executive Director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, about the ensemble’s ongoing season. Their next concert, "Romance and Revolution," will take place on February 10 and features young violinist Amaryn Olmeda, celebrating America's Semiquincentennial. March brings "Waves & Wonders," featuring the dynamic Sandbox Percussion Quartet. And the season will close in May with "American Mosaic." Music Director Michael Butterman leads each of these concerts and continues the tradition of engaging audiences through pre-concert talks.
After the conversation, listeners will naturally want to hear the Williamsburg Symphony in action under the baton of Michael Butterman. Raymond will share selections from the orchestra’s October concert “From Courts to Castles,” recorded live at the Williamsburg Community Chapel. The program includes Ottorino Respighi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances,” Joseph Haydn’s “Sinfonia Concertante,” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, “Reformation.”
From rediscovered repertoire to conversations with the people shaping Williamsburg’s musical present, this week’s “A Local Touch” highlights the city’s important role in Virginia’s classical music landscape. Tune in Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online through the Media Player or your smart device.
