WSHU presents a preview of our local symphony concerts. Listen in as our music hosts Kate Remington and Lauren Rico talk to the conductors of our local orchestras.
Podcasts

The Stamford Symphony Orchestra is presenting a romantic program on Saturday, Mar. 6, 8 p.m., and Sunday, Mar. 7, 3 p.m. at the Palace Theatre. Conductor Eckart Preu explores musical passion with Grieg's "Holberg" Suite, Brahms' Second Serenade and Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Cecile Licad. Kate Remington talked with Preu about the music.
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Virtuoso violinist Sarah Chang will be presenting her only East Coast recital this Sunday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. at the Palace Theatre in Stamford. She'll be playing a Romantic program that includes Brahms 3rd Violin Sonata, and the Violin Sonata by Cesar Franck. Kate Remington talked with Sarah Chang about her busy life as a concert artist. (Photo courtesy of EMI.)
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Classical Music's "Power Couple," cellist David Finkel and pianist Wu Han will perform sonatas of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff at the University of Hartford's Hartt Music School on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Kate Remington talked with them about the program, and how they balance their busy schedules, which include performing, running two music festivals, and their own music label, as well as family life.
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Pianist and Yale faculty member Ilya Poletaev is bringing together his colleagues for a concert celebrating the music of George Enescu on Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m. at Yale University's Sprague Hall. The program will introduce audiences to the rarely-heard works of Enescu. Kate Remington talked with Poletaev about what is special about Enescu's music. For more information, visit the Yale School of Music
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You can never hear too much Mozart- or so it seems at the Stamford Symphony. They're presenting an all-Mozart program Saturday, Jan. 16 and Sunday, Jan. 17. Kate Remington talked with the Stamford Symphony's conductor Eckart Preu about his love of Mozart.
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Adapting Dave Brubeck's classic jazz hits, including "Take 5," for string quartet might seem like a daunting task, but not for the members of the Quartet San Francisco. In fact, their new CD is such a success, it's been nominated for two Grammy Awards. The quartet is performing at the Wilton Library Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. Kate Remington talked with the Quartet's founder, Jeremy Cohen.
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The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn Choir present their annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" Saturday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m., at the Norwalk Concert Hall. Kate Remington talks with conductor Diane Wittry about some special moments in "Messiah," and with the Norwalk Symphony's new Executive Director, Audrey Szychulski, about what's ahead for the orchestra, which includes an updated website.
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The New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Cathedral of St. Joseph Schola Cantorum will be performing the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah" around Connecticut this week. The first performance is in the new chapel at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield at 8 p.m. Kate Remington spoke with William Boughton, the NHSO's Music Director about the meaning of "Messiah." For a complete schedule of performances, visit NHSO's Web site.
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Orchestra New England presents its 30^th annual Colonial Concert on Saturday, Nov. 28, 8 p.m., in New Haven's United Church on the Green. Kate Remington spoke with conductor James Sinclair about how the orchestra takes audiences back to the Eighteenth Century with costumes, candles and music. Listen to the interview.

The Stamford Symphony performs an all-Russian program Saturday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m., and Sunday Nov. 15, 3 p.m., at the Stamford Center for the Arts. Kate Remington talked with conductor Eckhart Preu about the passionate music on the concert, which includes the rarely-heard Piano Concerto by Alexander Scriabin. Listen to the interview.

The Hopkins School in New Haven, CT is celebrating the work of their alumnus, Charles Ives, class of 1894, with a concert of his music on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. The program includes the Violin Sonata No. 2, "The Alcotts" from the Concord Piano Sonata and a selection of his songs. Noted Ives expert, James Sinclair, will narrate the concert. Kate Remington talked with Sinclair about Ives' early years and the music on the concert. Listen to the interview.

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki was recently appointed as director of Yale's Schola Cantorum. He conducts a program of Bach Cantatas and Motets on Saturday, Oct 24^th at 8 p.m., at St. Mary's Church in New Haven. Kate Remington talked with him about the intricacy of Bach's music, and his pioneering ensemble, the Bach Collegium Japan. Listen to the interview.

This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. Kate Remington talked with music director Diane Wittry about the opening concert of the season, Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m., at the Norwalk Concert Hall, which includes Beethoven's First Symphony, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with soloist Stefan Jaciw, and Ives Unanswered Question. Listen to the interview.

Performing music by living composers is important to an orchestra. Over the next two seasons, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra will be working with two composers-in-residence: Augusta Read Thomas and Bridgeport-based Jin Hi Kim. The orchestra is performing their music on Tuesday, Oct 13^th, 7 p.m., at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and Thursday, Oct. 15^th at Woolsey Hall in New Haven. Kate Remington talked with both composers about their music. Listen to the interview.

William Boughton and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra have begun a three-year project with Nimbus Records to record major works by British composer William Walton. This season begins with the Walton Violin Concerto, as well as Beethoven's First Symphony. Kate Remington talks with Boughton about the first concert of this season on Thursday, Sept. 17^th at 7:30 p.m. at Woolsey Hall. Listen to the interview.

Last fall, conductor Toshi Shimada was the first candidate to direct New London's Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra in their search for a new music director. After waiting through the rest of the past season, he was chosen for the post this summer. Kate Remington talks with Shimada about the concerts he's planned for this season, as well as his ideas for the orchestra. Listen to the interview.

Stile Antico has become one of the hottest vocal ensembles around the world in the last couple of years. This young English choral group is making their US debut at the Boston Early Music Festival on Friday, June 12, followed by a performance on Sunday, June 14, 6 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, CT as part of the Connecticut Early Music Festival. Kate Remington talked with some of the members of Stile Antico. Listen to the interview.