As a part of the celebrations this year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig Van Beethoven, program director John Pitman is interviewing some of today’s top artists involved in the newest recordings of his music. American pianist Jonathan Biss has just completed a 9-year journey exploring the piano sonatas of Ludwig Van Beethoven…. More
String Trio debuts with “Silenced Voices” (Black Oak Ensemble) 2020 (specifically, January 27) marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the WWII concentration camp that is symbolic of the persecution and murder of millions of Jews and other groups by the Nazi regime. In addition to the handful of people who survived the… More
Prologue It is common knowledge that a good performer makes their work appear seamless. There are no cracks through which information about their influences, skills, and technique pours out. Although some audiences consider it a privilege to crack open a performer and examine the rivers which course through their art, it is usually the case… More
Tell me about growing up in NYC. I was born in the Bronx. We moved out when I was six, to Rockaway Beach, New York. It was 6 years of living probably 500 yards from the surf. It turned me into a beach kid; I’ve always loved the ocean, always wanted to live near water…. More
In this wide-ranging interview, veteran dancer Alison Roper discusses her impending retirement from the Oregon Ballet Theater. She talks openly about the transition from stage to office (she’ll be taking on an administrative and teaching role at OBT) and the awkwardness of now not being able to “punch people in the face” at work, as… More
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… More
If you stay up all night listening to All Classical Portland, you might be familiar with the voice of Andrea Murray, who hosts the coveted 12 to 5 am slot. During the day, Andrea can usually be found sitting at her desk wearing big headphones, busy with production for The Score and editing interviews with local… More