Welcome to insights and perspectives from those who make this service great. Contributors include interns, on-air staff, management, and special CD reviews from our Music Director, John Pitman. As the music director, with over 30 years of broadcast experience, John auditions dozens of new releases every month, focusing on titles that stand out in terms of performance, repertoire or recording quality.
Meet “Perpetual Twilight” Choral Scholars of University College Dublin!
Posted March 15, 2019 by Arianna Avena
Have you heard Perpetual Twilight, the recent CD release from The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin? Perpetual Twilight is All Classical Portland’s featured album for this St. Patrick’s Day! One of the UCD Choral Scholars, Rose Higgins,... More
10 Contemporary Women Composers You Should Know
Posted March 5, 2019 by Arianna Avena
If you’re familiar with the history of classical music, you may know that historically classical music hasn’t been the most welcoming field for women, and there is a long way to go before women classical composers of today... More
Bach arias sung by German baritone, Benjamin Appl
Posted by John Pitman
Baritone Benjamin Appl, who was born in Bavaria and now performs in recitals and concerts around the world, was introduced to the music of Bach as a chorister at the age of 6. His new CD, titled simply... More
Blues Dialogues with Rachel Barton Pine
Posted February 19, 2019 by John Pitman
Rachel Barton Pine long ago established herself as a violinist willing to step outside the normal realm of the classical canon to explore a broader landscape of music. Pine’s performances of metal bands such as Metallica (she actually... More
There’s A Place for Us: Soprano Nadine Sierra
Posted February 5, 2019 by John Pitman
American soprano Nadine Sierra, 2018 winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Beverly Sills Artist Award, has just signed on to Deutsche Grammophon. The daughter of parents passionate about music who sought a better life in the United States,... More
Lunar New Year
Posted February 4, 2019 by intern
This Tuesday, February 5th, All Classical Portland will be playing pieces in honor of Lunar New Year. Every hour each host will be playing an Asian work to celebrate Lunar New Year. To find out more about the... More
Mirror in Mirror: Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers
Posted January 23, 2019 by John Pitman
The extraordinary American violinist returns to music she’s recorded before, but in a new way, and explores new music on this release on the Avie label. As Meyers explains to program director John Pitman (click the Player on... More
Zealot Chronicles: An Oratorio for Tolerance (Donald Nally, conductor)
Posted October 29, 2018 by John Pitman
Winner of the 2018 Grammy for Best Choral Performance, The Crossing has just recorded an oratorio with a text that resonates with our times. Conductor Donald Nally is John Pitman’s guest, discussing “Zealot Chronicles, an oratorio for tolerance”... More
Ronn McFarlane: Celtic Lute
Posted October 1, 2018 by John Pitman
Lutenist Ronn McFarlane calls Oregon his home, but his music-making takes him around the world, performing traditional music for his instrument, and newly-composed pieces with his band, Ayreheart. His newest release, “Celtic Lute” is the result of his... More
Notorious RBG in Song
Posted August 27, 2018 by John Pitman
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has always loved classical music. Especially opera. More than once, people have captured her on their camera phones at Santa Fe Opera (you can find this on Facebook and You Tube). Now... More