Jim Cotter

Jim Cotter speaks with Philadelphia lawyer-turned-novelist James Kimmel, Jr. His very compelling first novel is published this week.

This week's Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Poulenc's Double Piano Concerto feature the young soloists Christina and Michelle Naughton. Jim Cotter speaks with the twin sisters.

Information about the performances.

Through the 1980s and '90s, Chris Botti had a relatively successful career as an in-demand session musician and sideman, and as a composer and producer. Then, in 2001, after he signed to Columbia Records, the stars aligned; since that time he's gone from strength to strength garnering worldwide acclaim as a live performer and selling millions of records.

WRTI's Jim Cotter caught up with the superstar trumpeter when Botti was in town to play with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Jim Cotter speaks with Pennsylvania Ballet Principal dancer Arantxa Ochoa.  After 16 years with the company, 11 of those in leading roles, Ochoa will retire from the stage after dancing the title role in Giselle, the ballet’s season-opening production.

We look ahead to The Philadelphia Orchestra’s season with Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

The film Love Story was a massive cultural phenomenon in the early 1970s. Adapted by Erich Segal from his novel of the same name, the romantic tragedy starred Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw as two students from different social classes who meet at Harvard, fall in love, and wed. After which, personal tragedy strikes.

Following in the footsteps of legends such as Leopold Stokwoski, Eugene Ormandy, and Riccardo Muti, Yannick Nezet-Seguin is set to conduct his inaugural concerts as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra. On Thursday, October 18th, the opening-night concert features the music of Ravel, Brahms, and Strauss with soloist Renee Fleming, followed by performances of the Verdi Requiem on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Opening night concert information - October 18.

Ahead of WRTI's broadcast of the Academy of Vocal Arts' 2012 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition on Sunday at 3 pm - with listeners having the opportunity to vote for their personal favorite at wrti.org.  Many Giargiari Competition participants have gone on to stellar careers, and in recent years three in particular have also been awarded  the prestigious Richard Tucker Foundation Award, including tenors James Valenti and Stephen Costello, and soprano Angela Meade.

In recent times, Philadelphians have been made well aware of the fiscal challenges of sustaining a symphony orchestra. Now, around the country, other cities are experiencing such problems first hand. Serious doubts hang over the immediate viability of orchestras in Atlanta, Minnesota, St Paul, Indianapolis, and San Antonio with others likely to soon follow suit. 

Yet in Camden, New Jersey, a city whose very municipal infrastructure is under threat, its orchestra - Symphony In C - continues to garner and grow support, audience, and reputation. 

The Opera Company of Philadelphia is furthering its commitment to the creation of new American works with the recruitment of star baritone Nathan Gunn to lead its American Repertoire Program. The project aims to produce an American work in each season for the next 10 years.