This Wednesday at 9:00 p.m., join WHRO-FM in celebrating Women’s History Month with “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection.” Raymond Jones has selected a program featuring works composed or performed by remarkable women in the world of classical music, all with a connection to Virginia.
The evening begins with the lively Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major by Johann Baptist Georg Neruda. Daniel W. Boothe conducts Symphonicity, the symphony orchestra of Virginia Beach, with Dr. Robyn Card as the soloist, showcasing the lyrical power and beauty of the trumpet.
We continue honoring women with “Missa Adsum! Celebrating Women” by American composer Richard Moriarty, a mass paying tribute to women's contributions. This performance features the Ukrainian Festival Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Theodore Kuchar, with soprano Antonina Lisohorska and baritone Vladislav Tlushch.
Listeners will be captivated by one of the most demanding and emotionally intense works in the violin repertoire: Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61. Known for its expansive lyricism, rich harmonies, and technical virtuosity, the piece is masterfully performed by Virginia-born violinist Hilary Hahn, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Colin Davis.
The program continues with works by women composers from Virginia. We’ll hear “Stars” by Mary Howe, an orchestral nocturne that captures the serenity and mystery of a starlit sky. JoAnn Falletta included this piece in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s repertoire, helping to preserve and promote Howe’s legacy.
Next, we explore the rich textures and melodies of Alan Hovhaness’s Sonata for Flute and Harp. Flautist Debra Wendell Cross and harpist Barbara Chapman—both esteemed musicians with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra—deliver a performance praised for its sensitivity and precision, capturing the piece’s contemplative and spiritual essence.
We close the program with “Woven,” a composition by Victoria Bond inspired by the textile works of renowned weaver Jack Larsen. Violinists Renée Jolles and Sheila Reinhold bring this intricate duet to life.
Join our celebration and tune in this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online for an evening of music composed and performed by women with ties to Virginia.
