Classical Stories

Join us throughout the day as we highlight the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750). Considered to be the king of Baroque music, and perhaps of all Western music, Bach is synonymous with the art of fugue, magnificent counterpoint, oratorios, passions, masses, and cantatas, and legendary virtuosity on the organ and harpsichord.

WRTI, our region's largest classical music and jazz station, faces a significant threat: Congress is working on legislation that could cut 100% of funding for public broadcasting, which includes $300,000 to fund programming operations for WRTI, plus additional monies used to upgrade our physical infrastructure. These proposed cuts jeopardize WRTI and public broadcasting as a whole.

African-American composers and performers are in the spotlight this month.

Tune in to hear works by composers including William Grant Still, William Levi Dawson, Scott Joplin, and George Walker - the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in music in 1996. We'll also hear music composed by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; although he was British, he had a strong following in America.

On February 13th, from 10 to 11 pm, listen online at wrti.org or on WRTI HD-2 to Kile Smith's Contemporary American Music show, Now is the Time. Works by David Snow, Wendy Mae Chambers, and H. Leslie Adams will warm you up for Valentine's Day.

Sunday, January 2nd on From the Top

Organist Karen Christianson from Media, PA

2 to 3 pm

Ludwig van Beethoven towers as one of history's greatest composers. He triumphed over a total loss of hearing to write some of the most heroic, uplifting music the world has ever known. His repertoire includes nine symphonies, five piano concertos, one violin concerto, sixteen string quartets, and one opera.

Today is Beethoven's birthday! We're celebrating from 6 am to 6 pm with "Lots of Ludwig!" - including the glorious Symphony No. 9, and much more. It's 12 hours of must-listen radio! Join us.

Dave Brubeck: Sacred Choral Works - Songs of Praise

WRTI's New Releases host reviews a new classical CD from a jazz legend!

Jazz improvisation is a prominent feature of some of Dave Brubeck's early choral works, but it's his mastery of counterpoint that is on display in the fervent and complex pieces recorded on Songs of Praise. This disc of Brubeck's sacred choral works, some of which receive their world-premiere recordings, offers much to chew on, so to speak, and definitely much to appreciate. Read More...

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, famous for his "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs," including one about a woman who was held prisoner by the Gestapo, died on November 12, 2010, following a serious illness. He was 76.

Read the article by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Listen to Gorecki's "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"

An Opera Extravaganza!

Saturday, November 20

6 am to 6 pm

You're invited to a fabulous 12-hour day of opera featuring beloved arias, choruses, and ballet excerpts culminating in an unforgettable broadcast of Verdi's Rigoletto at 1 pm, with Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti.

Now is the Time

Contemporary American Music with Host Kile Smith

WRTI HD-2 and the All-Classical Stream

Sunday, November 7

10 to 11 pm

The first broadcast of Kile Smith's popular Sunday night show was on June 1st, 2008. Since then, folks near and far have been tuning in - and listening online - to hear all types of contemporary American music. Sunday, November 7th marks a milestone for the show...program #100!