The Live from Hochstein spring concert series will be a hybrid of special encore programs and several live programs, airing exclusively on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3 FM and streaming at wxxiclassical.org (no live audience in the hall*). The broadcasts will start Wednesday, March 24, 2021, from 12:10–12:50 pm. You can also hear an encore broadcast of Live from Hochstein later the same day at 10 p.m. on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3.
The Live from Hochstein concert series gives the radio audience an opportunity to enjoy classical music by outstanding musicians, including soloists, duets, and small ensembles. Hosted by WXXI Classical 91.5’s Mona Seghatoleslami and broadcast live on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3 FM, Live from Hochstein is the longest-running live broadcast concert series in Western New York. *Please note that because of health and safety guidelines during the pandemic, the live programs in the spring concert series will be broadcast without a live audience in the Performance Hall.
3/24: David Brickman and Diane Walsh (original air date:11/13/19)
Violinist David Brickman and pianist Diane Walsh perform two works by Claude Debussy – Sonata in G Minor and Beau Soir – and Brahms’ Sonata No. 3 in D Minor. In this program, discover how Debussy and Brahms use the combination of violin and piano to create utterly contrasting sound worlds, full of joy and melancholy. Former Principal Second Violinist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, David Brickman is a member of the Amenda Quartet. He will be joined by award-winning Steinway artist Diane Walsh, who has given solo and chamber music concerts in major venues in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Russia, China, and New Zealand.
3/31: fivebyfive (original air date: 5/15/2019)
The quintet fivebyfive focuses on engaging audiences in the collaborative spirit and creativity of modern chamber music. On this program they performed Rounder Songs by Patrick Burke and Emily Pinkerton, with banjo player/singer Emily Pinkerton, and the world premiere of a new piece by Glenn McClure. The musicians of fivebyfive are: Laura Lentz, flute; Marcy Bacon, clarinet; Sungmin Shin, electric guitar; Eric Polenik, bass; and Haeyeun Jeun, piano.
4/7: Antara Winds with Ramon Ricker (original air date: 5/3/2017)
Hochstein favorites Antara Winds play a quintet by American composer Irving Fine and are joined by Ramon Ricker (bass clarinet) to play Leos Janá?ek’s sextet “Mládí” (“Youth”). The musicians of Antara Winds are: Diane Smith, flute; Judith Ricker, oboe; Margaret Quackenbush, clarinet; Natalya Rose Vrbsky, bassoon; and Nikolette LaBonte, horn
4/14: Women with Pluck (Live!)
Harpist Grace Browning plays music by female composers spanning three hundred years and five countries; music by Dussek, Walter-Kühn, Lizotte, Younger, Renié, and Tailleferre. Access a PDF of the program with notes and bios here.
4/21: Music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Ratcliff (Live!)
Pianist Cary Ratcliff – with guest Robert Simonds on violin – performs music by Chopin and Rachmaninoff, along with his own compositions. Known as a composer of choral, orchestral, chamber music, art song, and opera, Ratcliff also is keyboardist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Madrigalia chamber choir. Robert Simonds is Principal Second Violin with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Click here for a PDF of the program, including notes and bios.
4/28: A Trio of Trios: Music by Debussy, Mozart, and Piazzolla (Live!)
Violinist YooJin Jang, cellist Mimi Hwang, and pianist Elinor Freer join forces for a program featuring a mature work by Mozart, the Piano Trio in C Major, K. 548, contrasted with a very youthful work by Claude Debussy, the first movement of his Piano Trio in G Major, written when he was just 18 years old. Complementing those two works will be the evocative “Spring” from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla. Click here for a PDF of the program, including notes and bios
5/5: Hochstein Faculty Cello Quartet (Live!)
Celebrate spring with the Hochstein Faculty Cello Quartet, featuring Jennifer Carpenter, John Delmonico, Natalie Spehar, and Rachel Mills. The program includes music ranging from Bach and Mendelssohn to Metallica, along with works by Goltermann, Dvo?ák, Lodge, and Piazzolla. There will be a Slavonic dance, a tango, a rag, and a beautiful serenade. This concert includes some of the performers’ favorites and all the works sound wonderful with cello quartet. Click here for a PDF of the program, including notes and bios.
5/12: Hochstein Merit Scholarship Winners (Newly recorded program)
Featuring Hochstein students who are nominated by their teachers for their outstanding performance ability and selected via audition. These performances will be recorded in advance for a program starring: Isaac Pollock, guitar; Joshua Fugate, violin; Sean Li, piano; and Katherine Huang, flute, with pianist Joe Werner. The program includes music by Barber, Franck, Brouwer, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy. Click here for a PDF of the program, including notes and bios.
