February is Black History Month
Monday, February 2, at 8:00 pm
Classically Black, the series showcasing artists of African descent who were pivotal in the emergence of black artists on the international classical scene, continues this year with The Creole Romantics, which takes a close look at three African American composers whose stories begin in 19th-century New Orleans: Charles Lucien Lambert Sr., Lucien-Léon Guillaume Lambert Jr., and Edmond Dédé. The entire Classically Black series can be heard at the WILL-FM website.
(Pre-empts first hour of Studio GPB)
Friday, February 6, at 3:00 pm
Host Mike Savage is joined by Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Public Service Commission Chairman Robert Baker, and John Smith, head of the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, to answer listeners' consumer questions. The number to call is 1-866-RADIO-GA (1-866-723-4642).
Friday, February 6, at 9:00 pm
This hour-long drama tells the story of Nathaniel Adams Cole, a shy, skinny kid from Chicago
who made his precocious entrance onto that city's jazz scene, went on to lead his world famous
trio, and in time, become a pop icon, the celebrated Nat "King" Cole. Although Cole was a
great swing pianist, inspired by Earl Hines and a big influence on Oscar Peterson, he was best
known as a superb pop ballad singer. His velvet voice and charismatic stage presence were
enormously appealing. Younger brother Freddy Cole provides vocals, and the inimitable Oscar
Brown, Jr. voices the part of Nat "King" Cole.
(Pre-empts the first hour of The Jazz Spot)
Saturday, February 7, at 1:30 pm
Verdi: Rigoletto
The unhappy story of the melancholy hunchback Rigoletto, his ill-fated daughter Gilda, and the debonair but ruthless Duke of Mantua unfolds in Verdi's glorious melodies.
Marco Armiliato, conductor; Andrea Rost (Gilda); Marina Domashenko (Maddalena); Frank Lopardo (Duke of Mantua); Jean Pons (Rigoletto); Julian Konstantinov (Sparafucile).
Saturday, February 7, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Sunday, February 8, at 1:00 pm
In this special edition of From the Top, host Christopher O'Riley catches up with some of the show's favorite musicians to see what they're doing these days. Audiences will also get to experience again some wonderful musical performances, including those by a teenage tenor who learned to "talk football" when he was on From the Top; an extraordinary quartet whose cellist is now a world traveler; and a violinist who is a Sphinx Competition laureate.
Friday, February 13, at 3 pm, and Sunday, February 15, at 10:00 am
This one-hour special, hosted by Gyla González of Latin Beat, examines the cultural history of Bésame Mucho, following the song around the world and dissecting the simple lyrics that lie at its core. A repeat broadcast of this Georgia Public Broadcasting production.
(Pre-empts Georgia Gazette)
Saturday, February 14, at 1:30 pm
Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades
The Russian composer's cautionary tale of the evil consequences of gambling! The poor soldier Ghermann seeks to learn a secret "three card" formula for winning at the card table in order to win the hand of the aristocratic Lisa. The Queen of Spades proves his undoing.
Vladimir Jurowski, conductor; Katarina Dalayman (Lisa); Elena Zaremba (Pauline); Felicity Palmer (The Countess); Placido Domingo (Ghermann); Nikolai Putilin (Tomsky); Vladimir Chernov (Yeletsky).
Saturday, February 14, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Saturday, February 14, at 9:00 pm
Dick Wallace hosts this locally produced folk show. Playlists are available at the Music Americana archive page.
Sunday, February 15, at 1:00 pm
From the Top ventures to New York's Capital Region for a program recorded at the historic and acoustically rich Troy Saving Bank Music Hall. This week's musical guests include the fabulous teenage Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble, and an amazing string quartet from the Chicago area whose members are only 11 to 13 years old. And we'll visit nearby Rhinebeck, New York, to find out what's to blame when a young pianist's day goes very, very wrong!
Friday, February 20, at 9:00 pm
Expansions traces the compelling history of a multi-talented musical family from Richmond, Virginia, and chronicles 50 years of African American music. You'll meet Lonnie Liston Smith Sr., a founding member of The Harmonizing Four, one of gospel music's most enduring quartets, and a man who nurtured his sons' love of music. The first to follow his father's example was middle son, Ray. With a few high school friends, he formed The Jarmels, a doo-wop group that scored a major hit with "A Little Bit of Soap." Lonnie Jr., the oldest son, was the second to become a professional musician. He describes working with jazz giants Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders, and Miles Davis, and shares insights into his worldwide jazz-fusion hit "Expansions." The youngest son, Donald, sings and plays piano as well as his accomplished older brothers. He talks in depth about his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and gives a rare
sampling of his artistry.
(Pre-empts the first hour of the Jazz Spot)
Saturday, February 21, at 1:30 pm
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, Le Rossignol, Oedipus Rex
Three works by a composer never really considered an opera composer in the usual sense. Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) depicts a pagan ritual of fertility and renewal. In China, the exquisite song of Le Rossignol (The Nightingale) attracts a fisherman and eventually saves the Emperor's life. In ancient Thebes, Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) swears to find the murderer of King Laius and thus free the city of plague. Tragically, the investigation finds that Oedipus himself has killed Laius, his father, and married his own mother.
Valery Gergiev, conductor; Adriane Fang, Daniel Charon (The Chosen); Nina Watt, Larry Hahn (Sages); Olga Trifonova (Nightingale Singer); Julie Kent (Nightingale Dancer); Barry Banks (Fisherman Singer); Damian Woetzel (Fisherman Dancer); Stephanie Blythe (Jocasta); Clifton Forbis (Oedipus); Barry Banks (The Shepherd); Evgenij Nikitin (Creon/Messenger); Phillip Ens (Tiresias); Philip Bosco (The Speaker).
Saturday, February 21, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Sunday, February 22, at 1:00 pm
From the Top returns home, to New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall in Boston. The show features 12-year-old violinist Eunice Kim; a quintet from Walnut Hill School; and trombone player Matthew Melore, pianist Jordan Flourney, and flutist Christopher Matthews, all aged 17.
Wednesday, February 25, at 1:00 pm
Lifeline to Health can be heard the fourth Wednesday of each month and features interactive call-in segments, health and fitness news, and feature stories on timely health issues particularly as they relate to ethnic minorities and medically under-served populations in Georgia. Hosted by Carol Snype Crawford, Executive Director of Georgia's Office of Minority Health, Lifeline to Health encourages listeners to reduce health risks and become active in improving and maintaining their health. The call-in number is 1-866-RADIO GA (866-723-4642). For more information, visit the Lifeline to Health website.
(Pre-empts third hour of Midday Music)
Saturday, February 28, at 1:30 pm
Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri
Bored with his wife, Mustafà, the bey of Algiers, believes that marriage to Isabella, a spirited Italian woman recently shipwrecked in his domain, will give his romantic life a boost. Isabella, however, is only interested in freeing her captive lover Lindoro.
James Levine, conductor; Olga Borodina (Isabella); Juan Diego Flórez (Lindoro); Earle Patriarco (Taddeo); Mariusz Kwiecien (Haly); Ferruccio Furlanetto (Mustafà).
Saturday, February 28, at 8:00 pm
Harry O'Donoghue hosts this locally produced Celtic music program. Playlists are available at the Green Island archive page.
Saturday, February 28, at 9:00 pm
Dick Wallace hosts this locally produced folk show. Playlists are available at the Music Americana archive page.
Sunday, February 29, at 1:00 pm
This week From the Top comes to you from Finney Chapel at Oberlin College in Ohio. You'll hear a young soprano from Appleton, Wisconsin, singing Weber, and from just down the road, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble plays the lively last movement of Gounod's Petite Symphonie. Our special guest is the incredible conductor and singer Bobby McFerrin, who performs with many of the kids on today's program, including in our grand finale, the gorgeous Pavane by Gabriel Fauré.
Sunday, February 29, at 8:00 pm
Host St. John Flynn welcomes Macon author Judson Mitcham to talk and take your calls about his new novel, Sabbath Creek (University of Georgia Press, 2004). Set in South Georgia, Sabbath Creek is the story of Lewis Pope, a 14-year-old white boy, and his unlikely friendship with Truman Stroud, a 93-year-old black man who becomes the father figure Lewis never had. We'll also discuss "The Light," Mitcham's story in After O'Connor: Stories from Contemporary Georgia, a new short story collection from the University of Georgia Press. Our toll-free number is 1-866-RADIO GA (1-866-723-4642).
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Page updated 2/2/04