Event

WXXI Classical Presents

Each year WXXI Classical presents a series of films that are related to classical music in some way. Selected by our classical music hosts Brenda Tremblay, Mona Seghatoleslami, and Steve Johnson each film chosen exemplifies the power of music in a non-traditional narrative. Films are often preceded by subject-related live music in The Little Cafe or followed by live panel discussion following the film.

Mark your calendars for WXXI Classical Presents 2022: Four films you won't want to miss

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM

Published January 21, 2022 at 10:50 AM EST

The film stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig.

Each film will be followed by a discussion of the film and the music. WXXI Classical hosts will lead the discussions.

Saturday, March 19 @ 3pm
Road to Perdition (L5)
2012, 105m, Drama, R
Tickets available here

Having achieved something wonderful with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes and American composer Thomas Newman teamed up again in 2002 for Road to Perdition, a slick American crime drama starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman set during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Saturday, May 7 @ 3pm
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (L5)
2000, 120m, Drama/Action, PG-13
Tickets available here.

The score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was written by Chinese born American composer Tan Dun for the 2000 Ang Lee film of the same name. The blends Chinese harmonies and instruments with Western orchestra music, creating moods ranging from wistful romance to heroic triumph.

Saturday, October 1 @ 3pm
Like Water for Chocolate (L5)
1992, 105m, Drama/Romance, R

Like Water for Chocolate, based on the popular novel, published in 1989 by first-time Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel, earned all 11 Ariel awards, including the Ariel Award for Best Picture, and became the highest grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the United States at the time. The score was written by Cuban composer, conductor, and classical guitarist Leo Brouwer (Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida).

Saturday, November 19 @ 3pm
Singing Revolution (L5)
2006, 94m, Doc, Not Rated

Most people don't think about singing when they think about revolutions. But song was the weapon of choice when, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. During those years, hundreds of thousands gathered in public to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to rally for independence. The score for Singing Revolution was written by American composer John Kusiak who said this about the challenge:

When James Tusty, producer of The Singing Revolution, asked me if I would consider signing on as composer for the film, I had to admit my minimal knowledge of Estonia. Outside of a vague sense of Estonia being on the Baltic Sea, I knew nothing of the Estonian people’s non-violent struggle for freedom from the Soviet Union.