WRCJ In-Studio Guests

Bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker (1920-1955) admired the music of Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) and incorporated some of Stravinsky’s music into his jazz solos. Stravinsky respected the music of Charlie Parker, too. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Portrait_of_Charlie_Parker_in_1947.jpg Attribution: William P. Gottlieb / Public domain

The Concerto for Orchestra, one of the last works of Bela Bartok (1881-1945), quotes Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad" of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), in what appears to be a jeering parody of Shostakovich’s theme. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Bart%C3%B3k_B%C3%A9la_1927.jpg Public domain

JS Bach’s (1685-1750) brilliant masterwork The Art of Fugue, is adaptable to many different instruments, and even today, more than 300 years after it was written, remains fresh, interesting and astonishing in its complexity. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Johann_Sebastian_Bach.jpg Attribution: Elias Gottlob Haussmann / Public domain

Chick Corea (b. 1941) is one of the most versatile and innovative artists gracing concert stages today. Photo Attribution: Tore Sætre / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Both Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) and Sun Ra (1914-1993) were “out of this world,” by way of being influenced by the cosmos. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Skrjabin_Alexander.jpg Public domain

Mozart’s (1756-1791) brilliant Clarinet Concerto in A Major is a testament to the friendship and enduring respect he felt for the clarinetist Anton Stadler (1753-1812.)

2018 marked the centenary of the great American composer, conductor and humanitarian Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), whose fluidity with jazz and classical music captured the sound and ideals of mid-20th century America. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Leonard_Bernstein_by_Jack_Mitchell.jpg

Hank Jones (1918-2010), whose career spanned 7 decades, was known for his elegant and impeccable style as a jazz pianist. Even into his 90’s, he practiced classical exercises and etudes daily. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Hank_Jones_MJF.jpg

American jazz pianist virtuoso Dorothy Donegan (April 6, 1922 - May 29, 1998) played everything from stride piano to Bach and Rachmaninoff, with a joie de vivre that belied the sexism and racism she faced.

The poco allegretto movement of Symphony No. 3 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) has an evocative melody that has captured the imagination of a wide range of artists, from film composers to Carlos Santana and jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/JohannesBrahms.jpg

Ken Fischer was President of Ann Arbor’s University Musical Society for three decades. From 1987 to 2017, UMS showcased everyone from the Vienna Philharmonic to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Yo Yo Ma to Wynton Marsalis. In fact, it was Marsalis who wrote the forward to Fischer’s new memoir, Everybody In Nobody Out…

Guitarist Sharon Isbin recently released her newest collection of diverse music entitled Affinty. Sharon speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about the meaning behind the recording’s title. They discuss the music of several Latin American composers, American composer Chris Brubeck and Chinese composer Tan Dun…who combines sounds of traditional Chinese instruments with Isbin’s guitar…

Violinist Augustine Hadelich joined the DSO late in January of 2020 for one of the last live concerts at Orchestra Hall. Hadelich’s newest release Bohemian Tales features Antonin Dvorak’s Violin Concerto, and other works by Czech composers. Augustine Hadelich tell’s WRCJ’s Peter Whorf that last January’s Detroit appearance felt like ages ago…

Peter Whorf speaks with UMS President Matthew VanBesien about plans for the coming season.

WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus director Suzanne Acton about the ensemble’s May 22nd on-line performance and the history of the group…

DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about how the orchestra is serving the classical music community during the current global crisis.

Dance Theatre of Harlem Choreographer in Residence Robert Garland visited the WRCJ studio to talk about the World Premiere of his new dance, “Higher Ground,” set to the music of Stevie Wonder.

Thomas Wilkins returns to Orchestra Hall to lead the DSO in this weekend’s “Classical Roots” concerts. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf caught up with the maestro to talk about Beethoven, this weekend’s Detroit-based premiere and more…

Andrew Neer leads the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra this weekend in a program of exciting film music entitled “Heroes and Fellowship”. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf talks with Neer about this Sunday’s concert…

Dr. Dave Wagner talks with Soprano Avery Boettcher who plays Lauretta in Michigan Opera Theatre's performance of Gianni Schicchi/Buoso's Ghost.

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performs Samuel Barber’s concerto with the DSO this weekend. She joins WRCJ’s Peter Whorf to talk Barber, Bach and Beethoven…

The Heaton/Pierce/Martin Trio is featured in the Tuesday Musicale Detroit Artist of the Year concert on Saturday, February 22nd at 7:30 at St. James Catholic Church in Novi. Violinist Eliot Heaton joins WRCJ’s Peter Whorf to talk about being a chamber music performer – and concertmaster of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra.

WRCJ’s Peter Whorf with International Symphony Orchestra Executive Director and pianist Andrew Wing and Music Director Doug Bianchi.

Peter Whorf talks with Thomas Sondergard who conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in Stravinky’s “Symphony in Three Movements,” Poulenc’s “Les Animaux Modeles,” Debussy’s “La Mer,” and Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand” with pianist Bertrand Chamayou.

Cellist Kamyron Williams and Sphinx Organization Manager for Institutional Partnerships Lauren McNeary joined us in our studios this week to talk about next week’s Sphinx Competition and Detroit symposia.