Tune in this Saturday to “This Just In” at 8 p.m. to discover the latest and most notable releases in the world of classical music. Raymond Jones has curated a selection of the finest pieces, ranging from choral and orchestral music to chamber compositions and grand symphonies.
This Saturday, Raymond Jones presents a suite about a boy and his heroic horse: Adrian Sutton’s Orchestral Suite "War Horse." This suite is based on the music Sutton composed for the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel “War Horse,” capturing the emotional intensity and grandeur of the story. Performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Michael Seal, listeners will appreciate the lush orchestral textures intertwined with more intimate and reflective sections, reflecting contrasts between youthful innocence and the harsh realities of war.
To celebrate Black History Month, Raymond Jones features an album released late last year by Navona Records titled “Adolphus Hailstork: Chamber Works.” Jones has selected the “Piano Quintet: Detroit,” a chamber piece that explores themes tied to African American heritage and the Detroit urban experience. The Harlem Chamber Players' performance captures the depth and vibrancy of Hailstork’s composition.
Another work that encapsulates the essence of the American experience, seen through the eyes of a foreigner, is Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, also known as the “New World Symphony.” Premiered in 1893, this symphony is inspired by American melodies and landscapes, blending influences from African American popular music, spirituals, and Native American dances. In late 2024, Pentatone released an album featuring this symphony, performed by the Czech Philharmonic under Semyon Bychkov’s baton with remarkable precision and expressiveness.
Next, Raymond Jones will guide listeners into a space of reflection and stillness with Louis Vierne’s “The Angelus,” a suite that evokes the solemnity of daily prayers and the sound of bells marking the hours and calling to prayer. This recording is included in the album “In Youth is Pleasure: Art Songs & Melodies of England & France,” released last year. Soprano Rebecca Kellerman and organist Jeremy Filsell perform the piece with unique sensitivity.
From the album “Brahms Cello Sonatas,” released last year by Bridge Records, comes the Cello Sonata No. 2 by Johannes Brahms. Performed by cellist Emanuel Gruber and pianist Arnon Erez, this work showcases striking contrasts between delicacy and strength and is considered a cornerstone of the romantic cello repertoire. To learn more about Brahms, don’t miss “Classics for Kids” every Saturday at 11 AM, which is dedicated to the German composer this February.
If you want to experience all these wonderful compositions performed by today’s most renowned musicians, don’t miss “This Just In” this Saturday at 8 PM. You can listen online or tune in to WHRO FM 90.3.
