Category Archives: ACR Happenings
Anne Akiko Meyers “Serenades” with passion
American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers recently visited us at All Classical Portland, as part of her performance with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”). Just before her arrival, Anne and I spoke by phone about “Serenade: The Love Album” (Released on the Entertainment One label), which features that very work by …
Stephen Hough: Pianist and Composer
In May, when British pianist Stephen Hough was in town to perform with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and Carlos Kalmar, I asked him if he wouldn’t mind stopping by All Classical to tell me about three fantastic new CDs that the Hyperion label released this summer. Stephen was more than happy to do so, despite …
A Parade of Music and Support Mark My First Week at All Classical
During my first week at All Classical Portland, I was able to experience multiple aspects of how the station functions, especially during one of its major fundraisers. Putting faces to the voices I heard during many late nights of studying was a great way to start off my summer at the station. Sitting in while …
Crystal Records: 49 years of music in our midst
I recently interviewed Peter Christ, founder of Crystal Records, based north of Camas, WA. With him, Oregon Symphony’s Principal Horn, John Cox, who has participated in two recent recordings. Mr. Christ founded Crystal in Los Angeles in 1966, at a time when instrumental music, of the sort that Peter enjoyed, wasn’t covered much by the …
Hilary Hahn pairs Mozart and Vieuxtemps
On the heels of her Grammy-winning “In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores”, the American violinist releases her first orchestral CD in five years with “Mozart 5/Vieuxtemps 4”. Ms. Hahn, who has been dazzling audiences with her artistry since she was a teenager, has been playing these works since she was 10 years old. The …
Thoughts on Cuba
Our trip to Cuba with Earthbound Expeditions was a success. The only complaint that I heard was that we were overfed. I have heard worse. Of course, Cuba is not like Puerto Rico or St. Martin, or any other island in the Caribbean. It is fraught, as much a symbol as a place. Our history …
Together: Yolanda Kondonassis and Jason Vieaux
He recently won the Grammy for “Play” as Best Instrumental Solo, and was also in Portland in the fall for a solo recital with Portland Classic Guitar. She has a Grammy-nominated CD titled “Air”, and next season, will perform Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with the Oregon Symphony. Now, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux …
New Scenery, New Sounds
It’s the first day of July, and the ninth day of our residence in Suite 200 of the Hampton Opera Center. If you’ve visited the All Classical Portland Facebook page recently, then you’ve no doubt seen some of the photos and video that I’ve posted as we packed up equipment, documents and 25,000 Cds, and …
Get To Know The Hosts: Christa Wessel
As All Classical Portland’s mid-morning host, Christa Wessel has brightened up the workdays of many listeners with her distinctively bubbly voice. When she’s not on air, she can usually be found interviewing local artists for Northwest Previews, or busy with production for On Deck with Young Musicians. Christa talks about how she got into …
Get To Know The Hosts: John Pitman
John Pitman has been working at All Classical Portland since 1983, back when the station was little more than a small FM booth inside a converted classroom. After taking a radio station class at Benson Polytechnic and working part-time at the AM station, John realized that radio was what he wanted to do in life. …
