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WSHU presents a preview of our local symphony concerts. Listen in as our music hosts Kate Remington and Lauren Rico talk to the conductors of our local orchestras.
Podcasts

The Essex Winter Series features five diverse concerts, beginning Sunday, Jan. 8, with a recital by acclaimed mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade. Other programs include "Russian Postcards" with pianist John Kimura Parker in February. Kate Remington spoke with the EWS music director, Mihae Lee about the series, and the performances, Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. at Valley Regional High School in Deep River, CT.

For many, the holiday season isn't complete without a performance of Handel's "Messiah." This season, the Bridgeport Symhony Orchestra is presenting practically all of "Messiah," with the Mendelssohn Choir and outstanding soloists. Kate Remington talked with Ben Loeb, Executive Director of the Bridgeport Symphony, who will be conducting the performances Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Quick Center at Fairfield University, and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17 and 18, at the Klein in Bridgeport.

In a rare reversal of fortune, Long Island-based pianist Jeffrey Biegel had his hearing restored during childhood. Once he could hear, he was drawn to his family's piano, which launched his career as a performer and teacher. Biegel will be performing a holiday concert Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Cinema Arts Center in Huntington, Long Island, at 2:30 p.m. Lauren Rico spends a little time with Biegel.

Eckart Preu and the Stamford Symphony explore the diverse sounds of contemporary music in a pair of concerts this Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at the Palace Theatre in Stamford. Kate Remington talked with Preu about the program, which also includes Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony.

Irwin Shaw's play, "Quiet City," should have been a great success, but in fact, it never even opened. Aaron Copland later adapted the music he wrote for the play into a concert work. Saxophone virtuoso and composer Christopher Brellochs was curious about the original score and restored the missing material. The complete music for "Quiet City" will be performed by Brellochs in a benefit for Copland House on Sunday, Nov. 13, in Mount Kisco, NY, at the Merestead Estate. Kate Remington talked with Brellochs about restoring the score and performing it for the first time.

Brahms struggled for years to write a symphony that was a worthy successor to those of Beethoven, before he was finally satisfied with his First Symphony. It's on the program presented Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, by the Stamford Symphony. Kate Remington talked with conductor Eckart Preu about the concert, which also includes Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with soloist Philippe Quint.

Gustav Meier, conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, says Mozart is his favorite composer, but it wasn't always that way. Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, the GBSO presents All-Mozart concerts that feature symphonies spanning Mozart's career, as well as the Violin Concerto No. 5 with soloist Elena Urioste at the Klein in Bridgeport. Kate Remington talked with Meier about how Mozart became his favorite composer.

This Friday, Oct. 28, the American Baroque Orchestra celebrates its first anniversary with a concert conducted by the legendary Baroque violinist Jaap Schroder. The concert features some rarely-heard masterpieces by Purcell, Heinrich Schmelzer, and a cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. Kate Remington talked with the orchestra's founder and music director, Mark Bailey, about the concert at Marquand Chapel in New Haven at 7:30 p.m.

The Stamford Symphony Orchestra explores the roots of American classical music with concerts Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Palace Theatre, in Stamford, CT. The program includes Dvorak's "New World" Symphony, written while he visited America, as well as a rag by Scott Joplin and Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F. Kate Remington spoke with conductor Eckart Preu about Dvorak's influence on American composers.

This year marks the 40^th anniversary for Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra conductor Gustav Meier. The orchestra is celebrating all season, beginning with their opening pair of concerts, Oct. 15 and 16, at the Klein in Bridgeport, titled "Gustav's First," which re-create the very first program Meier conducted with the orchestra. Kate Remington talked with Executive Director, Ben Loeb, about this special program, and about what's ahead this season.

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra opens its new season with a concert Thursday, Sept. 22, in Woolsey Hall. The program features Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony, a new work by Christopher Theofanidis, and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with young American pianist Michael Brown. Kate Remington talked with conductor William Boughton about the new direction he's taking the orchestra.

Unlike other musicians, conductors have very limited contact with their actual instruments- their orchestras. Diane Wittry of the Norwalk Symphony, is offering other conductors a much-needed seminar on how to make the best use of that limited time, as well as focusing on all the other "off the podium" skills demanded of conductors. The seminar runs through Sunday, June 12. Kate Remington talked with Diane Wittry about some of the unique problems conductors have, and how she address them.