Tune in to WHRO-FM each Wednesday evening at 9:00 for “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection,” a radio show that shines a spotlight on the artists, ensembles, and musical institutions that shape classical music across the Commonwealth.
This week, Host Raymond Jones sits down with Michael Butterman, music director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, to talk about “Waves & Wonder,” the orchestra’s upcoming concert on Tuesday, March 3. The program opens with Mussorgsky’s “Prelude to Khovantchina,” followed by Mendelssohn’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage,” Sibelius’ “The Oceanides,” and Debussy’s “La Mer,” a sweeping musical exploration inspired by the power and mystery of water. The journey culminates in a special collaboration as GRAMMY®-nominated Sandbox Percussion joins the Williamsburg Symphony for Viet Cuong’s “Re(new)al” bringing a contemporary surge of rhythmic energy.
To set the stage for this concert, we’ll hear Butterman on the podium leading the Williamsburg Symphony in Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, recorded live in concert in March 2023, a performance that captures the orchestra’s depth and warmth.
Brahms returns in another context as Virginia’s own Hilary Hahn performs the Violin Concerto in D major with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner, a reminder of the international reach of artists with Virginia roots.
From Staunton, our “Heifetz on Air” segment, “Left Out – Crossed Over – and Baroque-n,” showcases a vibrant mix of Baroque masterworks and traditional folk tunes, from Handel and Vivaldi to Bach and Pachelbel, performed by Heifetz Institute students and faculty in Staunton and beyond.
And to close, the ensemble Flute Frenzy performs “Misty Mountains” by Hampton Roads composer Melvin Lauf Jr., underscoring the creativity flourishing right here in our region.
Interviews, live performances, and music with deep Virginia connections, this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or online through our Media Player and smart devices, with “A Local Touch.”
