Creatively Speaking

Throughout the week

Creatively Speaking is WRTI's weekly look into the world of music, arts, and culture. Meet the people behind the footlights and the artists in the spotlight, as Jim Cotter and company introduce you to those who make the performing and visual arts come alive in our region. Listen to six Creatively Speaking features each week.

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Creatively Speaking
11:55 am
Thu March 27, 2008

Rudolf Buchbinder--The Clay Studio--Nina Jablonski and The Evolution of Skin Color--Joyce DiDonato

Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder

Jim Cotter speaks with pianist Rudolf Buchbinder.  He performs Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Philadelphia Orchestra this week.

Susan Lewis takes us to The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, a regional hub for ceramics education, creation, and exhibition.

A conversation with anthropologist Nina Jablonski.  She lectures about The Evolution of Human Skin Color at the Wagner Free Institute of Science on Saturday.

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Creatively Speaking
12:29 pm
Sat March 22, 2008

Sculptor Susan Opie--Wendy Wasserstein's Third--BalletX's Right to Spring

Susan Opie, Grasshopper and Dragonfly, 2001

Bucks County artist Susan Opie walks us through her works of bugs and critters, now on view in the outdoor sculpture garden at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. The museum's ongoing Outdoor Sculpture Program features the works of contemporary American sculptors.

Jason Peifer examines the life and theatrical works of the late Wendy Wasserstein. Her final play, Third, is being produced by the Philadelphia Theater Company. Third will be performed at PTC's new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

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Creatively Speaking
3:29 pm
Sat March 15, 2008

Christopher Cazenove in My Fair Lady--Ainadamar--Motets at the Bach Festival--Copenhagen

Actor Christopher Cazenove

Jim Cotter speaks with the veteran British Actor Christopher Cazenove.  He stars in My Fair Lady at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Inquirer Music critic David Patrick Stearns reports on the Curtis Opera Theater's Ainadamar.

Susan Lewis considers the role of Bach's motets, being performed this weekend by The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia.

And Jason Peifer visits the Bristol Riverside Theater as it stages the Tony-award winning play, Copenhagen.

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Creatively Speaking
1:45 pm
Thu March 6, 2008

Spot Check at PAFA--August Wilson at the Arden--PA Ballet's Messiah--Kimmel Center's Mervon Mehta

Spot Check: Academy Contemporary at PAFA

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has one of the world's finest collections of American Art. The exhibition Spot Check: Academy Contemporary highlights some of PAFA's most notable recent acquisitions.

Jason Peifer takes a look at the legacy of playwright August Wilson, who's Pulitzer Prize winning show, The Piano Lesson comes to the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia.

Susan Lewis looks at Pennsylvania Ballet's latest production which is based on the music of Handel's Messiah.

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Creatively Speaking
2:34 pm
Sat March 1, 2008

Robert Spano--Baseball As America--Philadelphia Flower Show--Elliott Carter

Robert Spano

A conversation with Robert Spano--the Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony.

Jason Peifer visits "Baseball As America" at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The 5,000-square-foot exhibition examines the relationship between baseball and American culture.

Susan Lewis explores the this year's jazz-themed Philadelphia Flower Show.

David Patrick Sterns profiles the American composer Elliott Carter who celebrates his 100th birthday this year.

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Creatively Speaking
1:49 pm
Sat February 23, 2008

Christopher O'Riley--Rosenbach Museum and Library--the role of stage managers

Christopher O'Riley

Jim Cotter speaks with Christopher O'Riley. The broadcaster and pianist is in recital at the Kimmel Center on Feb 29th.

Susan Lewis explores the Rosenbach Museum and Library.

Jason Peifer has a behind the scenes look at the role of the stage manager. We'll hear from stage managers of the Arden Theatre, the Wilma Theater, and the Walnut Street Theater.

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Creatively Speaking
11:10 am
Sat February 16, 2008

Charles Dutoit--Chinese New Year in Philly--Chestnut Brass Company--Frida Kahlo

Charles Dutoit

Charles Dutoit tells Jim Cotter about the music he's programmed for his first season as chief conductor and artistic adviser of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Jason Peifer explores celebrations of the Chinese New Year in Philadelphia's Chinatown.

As the Grammy winning quintet The Chestnut Brass Company celebrates its 30th anniversary, we speak with founding member Jay Krush.

Susan Lewis explores the life, labor and loves of Frida Kahlo. Kahlo-related exhibitions open in Delaware and Philadelphia this month.

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Creatively Speaking
9:05 am
Sat February 9, 2008

Alan Gilbert--Beethoven's Opus 95--Opera Company of Philadelphia

Conductor Alan Gilbert

Jim Cotter speaks with Alan Gilbert, the Music Director-Designate of the New York Philharmonic.

Susan Lewis looks at the music and life of Beethoven, and in particular at Mahler's transcription of his Opus 95. Alan Gilbert will conduct The Curtis Institute of Music in performances of this work next week.

And we'll hear from composer David DiChiera. The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents the east coast premiere of his new work Cyrano this weekend.

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Creatively Speaking
12:11 pm
Wed January 30, 2008

InterAct Theatre Company -- Opera North

Poster for InterAct Theatre Company's production of Black Gold

Jason Peifer takes us to the InterAct Theatre Company as it stages Black Gold - a world premiere that takes a satirical look at America's dependence on foreign oil.

Susan Lewis looks at Opera North's upcoming concert version of Vanqui, an opera by award winning composer Leslie Burrs and writer John A. Williams. The multimedia presentation takes place on Saturday, February 9th, at the Annenberg Center's Zellerbach Theater, in West Philadelphia.

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Creatively Speaking
3:24 pm
Wed January 23, 2008

Antony Penrose- Pierre Boulez--The Academy of Music; and the Arden Theater's Wittenberg

Pierre Boulez

As The Philadelphia Museum of Art opens a retrospective of the iconic 20th century fine art photographer Lee Miller, Jim Cotter speaks with her son Antony Penrose.

David Patrick Stearns speaks with and profiles the legendary composer and conductor Pierre Boulez; Orchestra 2001 performs his Le Marteau Sans Maitre in concerts this weekend.

As preparations heighten for Philadelphia's annual Academy Ball, Susan Lewis takes a look at the "Grand Old Lady of Locust Street." 

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