Join us this Saturday at 8 p.m. for “This Just In,” a three-hour journey through new classical music. We’ll explore a variety of Easter-themed vocal works, expansive and emotional symphonies, and also intimate piano music. It’s an evening of diverse sounds, from grand orchestral moments to delicate, expressive piano performances.
The highlight of the night will be the “Easter Sonata” by Fanny Mendelssohn, performed by British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. This sensitive yet powerful interpretation breathes new life into a piece that, for many years, was wrongly attributed to her brother Felix Mendelssohn. It’s a much-deserved recognition for this beautiful work.
From CPO, we have the album “Symphonic Poems” by Norwegian composer Hjalmar Borgstrøm. In this edition, Raymond Jones has selected “Jesus i Gethsemane, Op. 14,” performed by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Eivind Aadland in a performance that captures the emotional depth of the piece, masterfully conveying both suffering and resignation.
Listeners will also enjoy a freshly released album from the Avie label, perfectly fitting for this time of year: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Easter Oratorio, BWV 249. This oratorio blends spiritual depth with the exuberance of Easter joy, brilliantly brought to life by the Cantata Collective ensemble, conducted by the renowned Nicholas McGegan.
In this Saturday’s program, we will continue exploring the album “The Symphonies” by Norwegian composer Christian Sinding, recently released by the Capriccio label. In previous programs, we’ve heard the first two symphonies, and now it's time for the third, a brighter and more optimistic work than its predecessors. This performance comes from the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Karl-Heinz Steffens.
We also continue our journey through “George Lloyd: Requiem and Psalm 130,” released by Lyrita. In previous programs, we listened to the Requiem, and tonight we’ll hear “Psalm 130.” This a cappella work for mixed choir demonstrates Lloyd’s ability to write expressive and accessible choral music. The music flows naturally, allowing the text to shine, especially in this interpretation by the Exon Singers, conducted by Matthew Owens.
To close the night, we’ll listen to Chopin’s “Études, Op. 10” performed by Yunchan Lim. This is part of his debut album following his historic victory at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he became the youngest winner in the competition's history at the age of 18. This album has received critical acclaim for its originality and technical prowess and has been nominated for the 2025 BBC Classical Music Awards. A true treat for our listeners!
It is all yours this Saturday evening at 8 p.m., here on WHRO-FM 90.3 and also online. Whether you’re discovering new favorites or revisiting timeless works in fresh recordings, this edition promises an evening of reflection, emotion, and musical brilliance. We look forward to sharing it with you!
