Monthly Archives: April 2012

Brazilian guitarist Yamandu Costa performs in Austin

~posted by Sarah Addison, KMFA Development Associate and Producer of Pianoforte

Saturday night marked the last concert of the Austin Classical Guitar Society’s 2011-2012 International Concert Series and the Guitars Galore Festival. The concert, which was sold out completely, featured the extraordinary Brazilian guitarist Yamandu Costa, who is on his first concert tour of the U.S.

The Guitars Galore Festival Orchestra performing the piece “Nebulae” by Olga Amelkina-Vera

The concert began with the Guitars Galore Festival Orchestra, consisting of what looked to be about 100 guitars, performing the piece “Nebulae” by Olga Amelkina-Vera, who won the Guitars Galore composition competition this year. The piece was haunting and beautiful, and one I certainly hope to hear again.

After a brief introduction by ACGS Executive Director, Matthew Hinsley, Yamunda humbly came out and played for a little over an hour. He played more notes on his seven stringed guitar than I thought possible, and almost all of the music he played he had written himself! The music ranged from upbeat tangos to lullabies, and was accented in places by his singing and even whistling. In between pieces he sipped tea through the straw of a handcrafted mug and chatted a little with the audience. His accent might have been a little difficult to understand, but his exuberant playing left nothing unsaid.

Yamandu Costa on stage

I hope Yamunda’s first tour of the United States has gone well so that he will return to Austin soon!


~posted by Sarah Addison, KMFA Development Associate and producer of Pianoforte

Enjoying “Sonorous Strings” courtesy of the Round Rock Symphony

~posted by Alison @ KMFA

I had the great pleasure of attending a chamber music concert last Monday evening… well, perhaps “attending” isn’t the right word: when you are listening to a talented quartet of musicians, it’s almost as if you participate. Chamber music is traditionally performed in smaller settings, and in this case in a wonderfully acoustic meeting room at the Georgetown Library. We could hear every distinct note from every instrument from only a few feet away. The pressure is on, then: not just for the musicians, but also for the audience, who for the most part perched on the edge of their seats and listened intently, all the while trying not to make a single sound that might distract from the beautiful music.

The Artisan Quartet performs Beethoven (Richard Kilmer, Paula Bird, Brice Williams, and Douglas Harvey)

Ms Toby Blumenthal, pianist, introduces the Mozart Piano Concerto (insider info: she said it was her favorite!)

These musicians in particular were the Artisan Quartet, joined by Toby Blumenthal on piano. The Artisan Quartet is sort of the “A” Team quartet of musicians who, in addition to being members of the Austin Symphony, are each performers and educators of international renown. Toby Blumenthal has similar credentials, and special thanks go out to the Round Rock Symphony who hosted their delightful collaborative performance. And there were even more classical music luminaries in the audience: Dr. Ellsworth Peterson was there, and he had kindly written the program notes for each piece.

The Artisan Quartet started the performance with a Beethoven piece (String Quartet Opus 18, No. 3 in D Major); then Ms. Blumenthal joined them for Mozart’s Piano Concerto (No. 14 in E flat Major), and after a short break, rounded out the evening with a Faure Piano Quartet (in C Minor, Opus 15).  Their music was wonderful, ranging at times from serene to optimistic to suspenseful.

Part of the Round Rock Symphony’s mission is “to musically enrich the greater Round Rock community by presenting affordable and accessible symphonic concerts of the highest artistic order,” and they certainly accomplished that when they hosted this event! Their “accessibility” isn’t just about location, it’s also about their warmth, hospitality, and devotion to promoting live classical music. I’m looking forward to attending their upcoming performances, especially the From Russia with Love concert, and of course the Georgetown Festival of the Arts!  You can check out their website for the dates and more info: www.roundrocksymphony.org/concerts.htm.

Performing the Faure piano quartet

Video preview of this week’s episode of “Pianoforte”

~posted by Sarah Addison, KMFA Development Associate and producer of Pianoforte

Tonight’s edition of Pianoforte features pieces that are a mixture of Classical and Jazz. One of those pieces is actually one that was brought to us by one of our great KMFA volunteers! The piece is called Baroque and Blue and is from a Grammy-nomiated album called Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano, with music composed by French jazz pianist Claude Bolling. Jean-Pierre Rampal is the flutist, and it’s worth mentioning that this is his first recording that isn’t strictly Classical.

Here is a music video of Baroque and Blue, filmed on location at Versailles!

Tune in Wednesday nights at 9pm to hear Pianoforte, hosted by Jules Brandon.

 

~posted by Sarah Addison, KMFA Development Associate and producer of Pianoforte

In the KMFA studios: stars from the cast of ALO’s “Turandot”!

~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA mid-day announcer and producer of  KMFA’s program, Classical Austin

Lise Lindstrom (Turandot), Frank Poretta (Calaf), KMFA's Dianne Donovan, and ALO General Director Joseph Spector

Say, if you missed Classical Austin, you can still hear the interview I did with the two of the stars, Lise Lindstrom (starring in the title role as Turandot) and Frank Porretta (starring in the role of Calaf). I also got to chat with A.L.O.’s new General Director, Joseph Specter.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

  • Hear how Lise Lindstrom keeps her signature role fresh.
  • Frank Poretta comes from a family of opera singers but that didn’t stop him from trying his vocal chords in rock (think: Aerosmith, Led Zepplin).
  • ….Guess who else did some rock singing?

If you missed the show on Wednesday night, you can hear the interview portion on our website.

Don’t forget KMFA’s Live Broadcast of A.L.O.’s production of Turandot: Saturday, April 14th @ 7pm.

      ~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA announcer and producer of Classical Austin

Just for fun: “classical” architecture

~ posted by Alison @ KMFA 🙂
“When the owner of this structure asked for a music building, the architect took the request quite literally. Located in Huainan City, An Hui Province, China, the Piano House was built by the local government to draw interest to the newly developed area. It’s also a place where music students from the local college can practice and perform. A gorgeous transparent violin is attached to the piano building, which features a staircase that connects the two giant instruments.” ~ http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/the-piano-house

In the KMFA Studios: Robert Skiles

~posted by Sarah Addison, producer of KMFA’s Wednesday night program, Pianoforte

Pianist and composer Robert Skiles, with KMFA host Jules Brandon

We had the great pleasure of welcoming Austin pianist, composer, and professor Robert Skiles for an interview recently. He  joined KMFA host Jules Brandon in the KMFA studios and spoke about his music, teaching, and even improvised a couple of pieces. If you missed this interview, you can hear it again on our website. (May take a few moments to load.)

Tune in Wednesday night at 9pm for Pianoforte.

If you (or someone you know) is one of Austin’s fantastic group of pianists, and would like to be featured on this show, please contact Pianoforte producer Sarah Addison.

 

An April Fool’s blog post

~posted by Alison @ KMFA  🙂

KMFA just recently wrapped up our Spring Fund Drive (thanks to our dedicated and appreciative listeners and supporters). And while we were able to raise enough funds and awareness to continue broadcasting commercial-free classical music in Central Texas, we did end up a little shy of our goal… and I can’t help but wonder, “What if….?” What if we did not have a successful pledge drive? What if listeners kept listening, but stopped supporting this rare gem?

For the past few years, our average listener base has been approximately 100,000 listeners per week. You might be surprised to learn that only 5% of of that number actually support KMFA with personal donations in any dollar amount.

A while back, my colleagues and I shared a creative-writing exercise during our lunch break. It basically proceeded thus: What if KMFA vanished tomorrow? No longer existed? Poof, gone? We tasked ourselves to eulogize the very radio station that we assumed would be around forever. The point of our exercise was to articulate exactly what we valued most about KMFA, and what we would miss if we didn’t have an all-classical oasis on our radio dial. Of course, to keep it from being too sad, we injected a bit of hypothetical humor as well.

So, in the spirit of April Fool’s Day, here is what we wrote:

IN MEMORIAM

On [date of demise], Central Texas lost it’s only source for classical music on the radio. KMFA, our classical music friend and companion, departed this world after a long battle with apathy. It’s last words were reputed to have been “472-2221…”

In its 45 years on this earth, KMFA blossomed from a 1-room, 2-employee, 4-hour operation into a glorious enterprise consisting of a dozen employees and 24/7 service to the community. KMFA dedicated its life to expanding musical horizons in its community while providing the finest classical music programming. It also strove to provide comfort and solace to any who sought the warmth of its welcoming embrace. 

“The community is in a state of disbelief today at the loss of KMFA, Classical 89.5,” said Austin Mayor Leslie Cochran. “We thought it would always be there to provide its rare programming. There were only 9 such radio stations in the United States; now there are 8. Our city’s cultural landscape is devastated by its absence.” 

KMFA will be forever remembered as providing companionship, inspiration, therapy, and solace.

Survivors include listeners, (former) members, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. They will dearly miss the palliative effects on road rage, crying babies, pet-sitting, and late-night studying. 

Fans request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the KMFA Phoenix Fund.

~ posted by Alison @ KMFA 🙂