The Temple of Glory: Conductor Nicholas McGegan realizes a dream

British-born Nicholas McGegan has been directing San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra since the 1980s (about the time that this interviewer started in radio), and has had many sweet successes during that time in bringing great Baroque works to audiences around the world. One of the sweetest for McGegan happened just a few years ago, when he mounted a production of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera, Le Temple de la Gloire (The Temple of Glory). What made this production remarkable, besides the exquisite performance, is that the original manuscript had been in UC Berkeley’s archives during the time that McGegan was busy with the Philharmonia. The music is dazzling, and full of life, humor and emotion. Maestro McGegan shares the story with program director John Pitman.

Rameau: Le Temple de la Gloire / McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
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Beethoven Unbound: Complete sonatas featuring Llŷr Williams

Any time that a pianist undertakes to record a complete set of anything in classical music, it’s bound to be an endeavor taking considerable time and effort. Take on the 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven, plus all the other solo piano pieces by one of music’s giants, and I imagine that it must be daunting. Enter Llŷr Williams, who has been lauded for his interpretations of the great man’s music, who took a different approach than the many who have come before: rather than arrange them in published order, the Welsh-born pianist paired pieces together by their relative character, and how well they sound together. As a programmer of a radio station, this is something I can relate to (although for me, the work of performing has already been done!).

Williams shares his experiences recording late into the night with a live audience in London’s Wigmore Hall, and insight into the composer, who as his deafness increased, retreated into his own world. As a result, we received the gift of some of the most sublime music for piano ever written.

Beethoven Unbound – Live from Wigmore Hall / Llŷr Williams
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John Pitman CD Reviews: Amit Peled’s Bach Suites for Cello

The great 20th century cellist, Pablo Casals, was the first in the world to record all six of Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cello. This was in 1939. Before this, people only considered the suites as study pieces. Casals proved them wrong, and now the suites are among the most beloved works for the instrument of all time.

Amit Peled, an Israeli-born former basketball player (he’s 6’ 5”), now a Peabody professor who happened upon an opportunity only granted a handful of cellists: Casals’ widow (Marta Casals Istomin) entrusted Peled with this instrument, for six years. Peled’s recording is the first, since Casals, performing all six suites on the very instrument that brought this music to the world.

Bach Suites for Cello solo Volume 1 : Amit Peled
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Hilary Hahn: Bach Partitas and Sonatas

Early in her career, violinist Hilary Hahn took on music that many before her wouldn’t approach until they were a little older. She chose three of the six unaccompanied violin works of J.S. Bach, a set regarded as the pinnacle of solo violin repertoire. Now, 21 years later, Hahn returns to complete the set. Naturally, her interpretation may sound different, but one constant remains: Hilary Hahn is very much at home with these 6 pieces. She shares more about it with All Classical Portland’s program director John Pitman.

Bach: Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Partita No. 1 : Hilary Hahn
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Eternal Light: Morten Lauridsen

We of the Pacific Northwest consider Morten Lauridsen “one of our own”, as his roots can be traced here. Lauridsen was born in Colfax, Washington, lived not far from Mount St. Helens as a boy, and was in the first graduating class of Beaverton High School. While Lauridsen has spent much of his time teaching at USC, he maintains a connection to the Pacific Northwest by composing on an island in Puget Sound, and visiting his home town from time to time to collaborate with local choral groups. Two recordings were released very close to one another: “Shadows on the Stars” with Oregon Repertory Singers and Ethan Sperry; and “Eternal Light”, with the Chamber Choir of Europe, directed by Nicol Matt. Mr. Lauridsen has high praise for both in his conversation with program director John Pitman, who interjects the chat with Lauridsen’s transformative music.

Light Eternal: The Choral Music of Morten Lauridsen
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Bach arias sung by German baritone, Benjamin Appl

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 “Bach”, does what Mr. Appl did here in Portland in January: Taking us, the audience, on a journey. His Portland “Heimat” recital was a journey of feelings for home and family; “Bach” is a journey through the Lutheran church calendar, which Bach followed through his life in his weekly cantatas. Appl describes Bach as containing “a huge ocean of emotions”, everything from pain in one’s heart during Holy Week; to light-hearted cheer in Bach’s secular cantatas written for Zimmermann’s Kaffeehaus in Leipzig! Hear more in program director John Pitman’s chat with Benjamin Appl.

Bach — Benjamin Appl
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Blues Dialogues with Rachel Barton Pine

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 formed a band of her own, Earthen Grave), are one example of how she embraces music that touches and challenges her. Being a native Chicagoan, Pine also feels a deep affinity for blues music, which she heard all the time growing up. Her love of blues music led to an extraordinary discovery by her in a music shop: the score for a fully-blues-infused work for violin and piano. That was the origin of “Blues Dialogues”, Rachel Barton Pine’s latest CD. Pine is shedding light on long-neglected works by black composers of the past and present. Music which she encourages others to take up and include in their programs. John Pitman’s conversation with Pine tells more!

There’s A Place for Us: Soprano Nadine Sierra

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, Sierra’s debut CD reflects her own roots, as well as the experiences of composers from throughout the Americas, and a message that, to borrow Bernstein, states “There’s a place for us.” The soprano lends her warm, expressive voice to music we know well, such as the Aria by Villa-Lobos, as well as championing new songs by Ricky Ian Gordon, Osvaldo Golijov and Christopher Theofanidis. Nadine Sierra shares her story, her love of music, and her hope for the future, in the conversation with All Classical Portland’s program director, John Pitman.

There’s a Place for Us – Sierra, Spano, Royal Philharmonic
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Zealot Chronicles: An Oratorio for Tolerance (Donald Nally, conductor)

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” by Lansing McLoskey. The composer based the text on “Twelve Canticles for the Zealot” by Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. The work is hauntingly beautiful, at times unsettling and disturbing, and always thought-provoking. Not a little like the times in which we live.

Notorious RBG in Song

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 there’s a CD that sets her words, and those of friends and family to music. Soprano Patrice Michaels records for the Cedille label (based in Chicago). She’s married to James Ginsburg, Justice Ginsburg’s son. James also happens to be the founder of Cedille. So, this remarkable project is really a family affair!

The CD’s title, “Notorious RBG in Song” refers to the nickname given by Justice Ginsburg’s fans, particularly a group of law students who started a blog (and a rap) a few years back when an aspect of the Voting Rights Act was being challenged. Ms. Michaels, also a composer, set that event to music, as well as some humorous letters, and very inspiring correspondence by men who saw great potential in the young clerk’s life back in the 1940s and 1950s.

“Notorious RBG in Song” plays like a musical photo album, as it sets to music words of encouragement, thoughtful arguments, and even dissenting opinions, from the many years of service by a woman who continues to inspire young people to express their own opinions and commit to making a difference.

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