Week of March 3, 2025 - Sergei Prokofiev A look at the life and music of one of Russia's most talented and controversial composers, Sergei Prokofiev. Born in Tsarist Russia, Prokofiev was a brilliant pianist who delighted in shocking the bourgeoisie with his outrageous creations. He went on to become one of the most beloved composers of the 20th century, creating seven symphonies, great concertos, and ballets such as Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella.
Week of March 10, 2025 – I Lost It at the Movies The tradition of composing music for silent films began in France when Camille Saint-Saëns created an original score for The Assassination of the Duke of Guise in 1908, and Hollywood took it from there. Bill shares some of his favorite original and arranged scores from great films: Bernard Herrmann’s work for Citizen Kane and several Hitchcock films, Elmer Bernstein’s score for To Kill a Mockingbird, Henry Mancini’s music for The Pink Panther, Ennio Morricone’s compositions for various Westerns, and even some singing from Charlie Chaplin. Grab the popcorn and enjoy the music!
Week of March 17, 2025 - Pastoral Symphonies This week will feature symphonic music inspired by bucolic nature scenes. Bill states that we will hear Harold in Italy, Richard Strauss in the mountains, Vaughan Williams in clover, and Beethoven right where you expect him to be, in the Austrian countryside. We’ll also feature the thoughts and writings of American novelists, and environmentalists, John Muir and Wallace Stegner.
Week of March 24, 2025 - Merrie England Ready your passport! We’re traveling to Merrie, Old England. Ralph Vaughan Williams, Edward Elgar, and John Dowland all composed music inspired by the folk tunes in country pubs, the pageantry of Royal Albert Hall and Covent Garden, and the stunning countryside. Join us as we walk along England's pathways, listening to Greensleeves, Turtle Doves, and Dame Janet Baker. Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves!
Week of March 31, 2025 - Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) Leopold Stokowski was a renowned conductor known for creating over 200 orchestral transcriptions. His works are colorful and varied, spanning a wide range from the organ pieces of Johann Sebastian Bach to the operas of Richard Wagner. Stokowski played a pivotal role in the early development of orchestral recordings, collaborating with Bell Labs and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1940, he partnered with Walt Disney and the beloved character Mickey Mouse to produce the groundbreaking film, Fantasia. Remarkably, had he lived that long, Stokowski would have remained under contract until his 105th birthday, as no one wanted to miss out on his creative energy.
