Toledo SymphonyLAB™

We welcome the mezzo Susan Platts, who has long been celebrated for her performances of Gustav Mahler's music. Toledo audiences will soon get the chance to hear Susan sing Mahler's monumental symphony in song, Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth). We hear Mahlerian tales as told by Susan, including about her "pandemic project" (hint: it's a cookbook), and the times she spent working with two legends no longer with us: Christa Ludwig and Jessye Norman. Also, taking our cue from Mahler's use of Chinese poems, we offer a Who Said It, Confucius or Li Bai? quiz!

We welcome the mezzo Susan Platts, who has long been celebrated for her performances of Gustav Mahler's music. Toledo audiences will soon get the chance to hear Susan sing Mahler's monumental symphony in song, Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth). We hear Mahlerian tales as told by Susan, including about her "pandemic project" (hint: it's a cookbook), and the times she spent working with two legends no longer with us: Christa Ludwig and Jessye Norman. Also, taking our cue from Mahler's use of Chinese poems, we offer a Who Said It, Confucius or Li Bai? quiz!

We're joined by Detroit-based crooner Paul King, who celebrates the songs of Tony Bennett in his appearance with the TSO this season. Paul shares the backstory on his career, and gives some insight into what makes a "crooner" a crooner. Also, we go down the Tony Bennett rabbit-hole with our quiz of the day!

We're joined by Detroit-based crooner Paul King, who celebrates the songs of Tony Bennett in his appearance with the TSO this season. Paul shares the backstory on his career, and gives some insight into what makes a "crooner" a crooner. Also, we go down the Tony Bennett rabbit-hole with our quiz of the day!

It's not often that we have the opportunity to welcome a living composer into our midst, but that's indeed the case as Emmy-nominated composer Kareem Roustom joins us to talk about his clarinet concerto Adrift on the Wine-dark Sea. Inspired by Homer’s classic epic The Odyssey and Melissa Fleming's A Hope More Powerful Than The Sea (a harrowing story from the Syrian Refugee Crisis), Kareem's concerto is a meditation on the nature of survival and hope in the face of despair. Local concert-goers have a chance to hear it live from the Toledo Symphony and "intensely soulful" (NY Times) clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, in a program which also features Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and another modern work, Errollyn Wallen's Mighty River - which is based in part on the hymn tune New Britain (familiar as the melody of Amazing Grace).

It's not often that we have the opportunity to welcome a living composer into our midst, but that's indeed the case as Emmy-nominated composer Kareem Roustom joins us to talk about his clarinet concerto Adrift on the Wine-dark Sea. Inspired by Homer’s classic epic The Odyssey and Melissa Fleming's A Hope More Powerful Than The Sea (a harrowing story from the Syrian Refugee Crisis), Kareem's concerto is a meditation on the nature of survival and hope in the face of despair. Local concert-goers have a chance to hear it live from the Toledo Symphony and "intensely soulful" (NY Times) clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, in a program which also features Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and another modern work, Errollyn Wallen's Mighty River - which is based in part on the hymn tune New Britain (familiar as the melody of Amazing Grace).

We offer a heartfelt tribute to Richard P. (Dick) Anderson, who until his death at age 90 last year was an indefatigable champion of the arts (in addition to being a pillar of the business and agricultural worlds). As the Toledo Symphony prepares to memorialize the man with music, we reminisce on Dick's lifetime of giving back to the community – and his legacy which will be felt for many years to come.

We offer a heartfelt tribute to Richard P. (Dick) Anderson, who until his death at age 90 last year was an indefatigable champion of the arts (in addition to being a pillar of the business and agricultural worlds). As the Toledo Symphony prepares to memorialize the man with music, we reminisce on Dick's lifetime of giving back to the community – and his legacy which will be felt for many years to come.

We spend time with violinist extraordinaire Nick Kendall (a.k.a. "Nicky Diamondz," a.k.a. "Nicky Five Tones," a.k.a. "Little Nicky") one third of the superstar string trio Time for Three and their appearance in Toledo with the TSO. Learn the backstory behind Nick and the trio (including those "nick"names), their venture into singing territory, and some exciting recent projects – including creating the soundtrack for Robin Wright's directorial debut film, Land. Also, do you know which famous trio (not Time for Three) has a museum in Pennsylvania dedicated to their many antics? No? Be sure to check out our quiz of the day: Famous Trios in History (a.k.a. Trio Trivia)!

We spend time with violinist extraordinaire Nick Kendall (a.k.a. "Nicky Diamondz," a.k.a. "Nicky Five Tones," a.k.a. "Little Nicky") one third of the superstar string trio Time for Three and their appearance in Toledo with the TSO. Learn the backstory behind Nick and the trio (including those "nick"names), their venture into singing territory, and some exciting recent projects – including creating the soundtrack for Robin Wright's directorial debut film, Land. Also, do you know which famous trio (not Time for Three) has a museum in Pennsylvania dedicated to their many antics? No? Be sure to check out our quiz of the day: Famous Trios in History (a.k.a. Trio Trivia)!