All Classical Radio

Heather - Music Heals by All Classical Radio

John Pitman Review - Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis: American Rapture by All Classical Radio

John Pitman Review: Lara Downes is making “Holes in the Sky" by All Classical Radio

John Pitman Review: A Korean cellist in Paris (Hee-Young Lim plays French cello concertos) by All Classical Radio

Polish-Canadian pianist Katarzyna Musiał loves to play Chopin. She also loves Gershwin. However, the music that truly stirs her heart? The music of Spain. With good reason, too. In her conversation with program director John Pitman, Musiał shares how Spanish music and culture became her passion: it was a part of her upbringing, thanks to her parents who took her there many times.

“Spanish Heart” is Musiał’s second CD, and celebrates the diverse styles, rhythms and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula, in music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The familiar (Sevillanas, Ritual Fire Dance), and refreshing (Danza de la rosa is exquisite) populate a CD program that is as colorful as Spain itself. Katarzyna Musiał performed in Portland when she was here to record the interview; here’s hoping that her “Spanish Heart” will lead her back so that Portland audiences can experience her passion for this music sometime again.

Verselandia! is a city-wide event features students from Parkrose, Roosevelt, Metropolitan Learning Center, Benson, Lincoln, Gresham, Franklin, Madison, Wilson, Jefferson, Grant, and Cleveland high schools competing for poetic glory. Verselandia! is the Grand Slam for the winners from individual school slams hosted by public high school library media specialists.

Following the same rules as national poetry slams, students must perform original work without props, costumes, or music in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Using a scale of one to ten, Verselandia judges will rate both the performance and the writing of each student. Five students with the top scores will walk away with great prizes, but only one will be a champion.

Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki continues his exploration of, an interest in the different facets of Romanticism, following his Chopin CD with this new one of Mendelssohn's piano concertos. The concertos anchor the CD, but are not the only highlight: Lisiecki tells me (in our conversation), that from the beginning he wanted to incorporate the "Serious Variations", and the "Rondo Capriccioso", which capture your attention with their virtuosity and melodic content. Jan's parents are Polish, and was able to record these works in his adopted country (he has dual citizenship), with New York's Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Lisiecki collaborates with the OCO in such as way that the concertos have the intimacy of chamber music, which lets their various facets shine.

Matthew Lipman is a 2015 Avery Fisher Grant winner, has recorded with Rachel Barton Pine and Sir Neville Marriner. Since graduating from Juilliard Lipman is now on the viola faculty at Sony Brook University and concertizes around the world. His debut CD, Ascent, is in tribute in part to his mother (d. 2014), and commissioned “Metamorfose” from Clarice Assad in her memory. In his conversation with program director John Pitman, Lipman shares stories of how he transitioned from trumpet to viola in grade school; his somewhat awkward first session with his longtime piano partner Henry Kramer; and makes the case that there are enough quality works for his instrument to deflate the inevitable viola jokes. Lipman’s recording is a regular feature of All Classical’s playlist.

Take a moment to breathe.

Charlotte describes a boating adventure.