Category Archives: KMFA announcers/hosts

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

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.

 

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves visits the KMFA studios!

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

What a thrill it was to hear the great American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. While it was an all-French program, it was a rare treat to have music from such different sources. It was interesting hearing the differences in the timbre Ms. Graves’ voice in Ravel’s hauntingly sumptuous and exotic Shéherazade to the vocal colors she used in the arias, which were delivered in full operatic throttle. There were a few sobs heard as she sang Saint-Saens’ “Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila, but when she came back on stage to sing arias from another one of her signature roles, Carmen, we had a taste of the opera itself. In the Habanera, “L’amour est un oiseaux rebelle,” Ms. Graves gave us some very creative, playful phrasing the likes of which I had not yet heard on recordings.

The Austin Symphony under the direction of Maestro Peter Bay was in fine form with the soloist and in the instrumental pieces, the highlight for me being, Maurice Ravel’s, “La Valse.”

Denyce Graves and KMFA's Dianne Donovan

[Dianne Donovan had the great honor of interviewing Ms. Graves while she was in Austin for her performance with the Austin Symphony. If you missed that episode of Classical Austin, you can listen to it again here.]

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

 

Cub Scouts visit the KMFA studios!

We just enjoyed a visit from an enthusiastic “pack” of Cub Scouts!

On occasion,  we’ll receive a request from a youth scout group to tour the KMFA radio station as part of their efforts to broaden their horizons and learn more about industry and vocations.  Jeffrey Blair serves as teacher and tour guide,  showing off the Master Control On-Air studio, the CD library,  and the recording studios.

“Den 10, Pack 55” had a great time, and we had fun seeing the radio station for the first time through their eyes. They even held still long enough for these photos.  🙂

Mark, Michael, Devin and Dylan on their tour of the KMFA Studios

The chaperons were just as engrossed as the scouts

~posted by Alison @ KMFA  🙂

Preview of ALO’s Lucia di Lammermoor — an interview with the stars

This Saturday, KMFA will be broadcasting the ALO production of Lucia di Lammermoor LIVE from the Long Center!

Maestro Richard Buckley, Dianne Donovan, Lyubov Petrova, and Doug Scholz-Carlson

On this week’s Classical Austin, host Dianne Donovan had the great pleasure of interviewing some of the artists and artistic leaders who are so instrumental in creating this glorious operatic presentation.  She chatted with the star,  soprano Lyubov Petrova, as well as the conductor, Maestro Richard Buckley, and Stage Director, Doug Scholz Carlson.

If you missed this episode of Classical Austin, you can hear the interview portion again here.

~posted by Alison @ KMFA  🙂

“All I want for Christmas is a sackbut.” ~ Sara Hessel, KMFA Music Director

Actually, I don’t really want a sackbut for Christmas. My ears are already ringing with the three amazing early music Christmas concerts that I’ve enjoyed in the past week!

It all started with “Yule, Brittania!” presented by Texas Early Music Project. We enjoyed carols, chant and traditional music from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, spanning the 13th-19th centuries. TEMP’s vocalists were in excellent form, and did full justice to the lovely arrangements by artistic director Daniel Johnson. While they gave us lots of ‘new’ pieces, somehow it’s par for the course at Christmas to enjoy the old familiar favorites the best, like “Ye sons of men, with me rejoice,” and the heart-melting Scottish lullaby “Balooloo, my lammie,” with alto Stephanie Prewitt singing it like only she can.

I couldn’t believe my luck when I heard that the UK-based Dufay Collective would be performing in Houston! I’ve been a fan of their spirited performances for years, and have played their excellent recordings on Ancient Voices many times. Their program of 16th- and 17th-century English music was sheer joy to listen to. Vocalist Vivien Ellis seemed to have stepped right out of one of Henry VIII’s Christmas revels with her clarion tone, excellent diction and storyteller’s sense. Especially memorable was an anonymous ballad called “To drive the cold winter away,” and the very moving “Thys endere nyghyt,” gorgeously arranged by director William Lyons. It was fascinating to watch the players switch effortlessly from one instrument to another: Mr. Lyons played flute, recorder, curtal (an ancestor of the bassoon) and bagpipes!

Rounding out this incredible week of music was the most dynamic performance of Handel’s Messiah I’ve ever heard, given by Austin’s own Ensemble VIII, along with Mercury Baroque (Houston), and directed by Dr. James Morrow. Dr. Morrow’s historically informed performance gave this hoary yet beloved masterpiece a much-needed dust off. The pared-down vocal and instrumental forces made for an extremely transparent texture that allowed the listener to hear nuances usually lost in large-scale productions. Quick tempi were used to great effect, but even the fastest passages were executed with precision. But this was no purely technical performance! The whole emotional spectrum of this masterwork was there for the hearing: the exuberant delight of “For unto us a Child is born,” the mystical “Behold the Lamb of God,” the pathos of “He was despised,” and the majesty of the Hallelujah Chorus and “Worthy is the Lamb.” It was an unforgettable experience, and one that I hope to have the pleasure of repeating next year!

Sara Hessel is KMFA’s Music Director, as well as producer and host of Ancient Voices. Tune in on Sundays, 9am and 4pm, to enjoy Ancient Voices, right here on KMFA, 89.5.

Austin Symphonic Band presents “Remembrance and Hope”

~posted by David Crews, KMFA announcer

Last weekend, the Austin Symphonic Band presented a concert on December 2nd. The theme was “Remembrance and Hope,” to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and then promising look forward to the holiday season. We enjoyed music from the 1940s, with exciting pieces like Victory at Sea, as well as lighter offerings such as In the Miller Mood, and some holiday favorites as well.

I was the narrator for one piece titled “Duty, Honor, Country,” based on a speech by General Douglas MacArthur.  I was very pleased to be able to perform this role, especially since my father is a medaled combat veteran of WWII.

The piece I narrated was very well received and it was an altogether enjoyable experience.  Here’s a photo from the event, and you might want to look now – I only wear a suit a few times a decade! Thanks to all the members of ASB for their good work and for the invitation.

KMFA’s first Gamba-cast: listen to La Follia’s “An Angel-ic Concert”

KMFA broadcast a special presentation of An Angel-ic Concert with La Follia Austin Baroque and internationally celebrated countertenor Ryland Angel! KMFA recorded this performance live at St. Louis Catholic Chapel on Nov. 5th. Listeners immersed themselves in the rich voice of one of the finest countertenors working today, as he presented sumptuous Marian hymns from Italy and the Austrian Court, backed by the musicians of La Follia, directed by Keith Womer. Original KMFA broadcast time was Sunday, November 27th at 2:30pm.

If you missed the original broadcast, you can listen to it again, just by visiting the KMFA website:
www.kmfa.org/SH-Angelic-Concert.htm

Enjoy!

A Festival of Organ Concertos

Posted by Sara Hessel, KMFA Music Director

Organist Keith Womer couldn’t have given his recent concert a more fitting title than “A Festival of Organ Concertos.” The whole thing felt like a celebration — not only of the sonorous pairing of organ and strings, but also of St. Austin’s lovely neo-Baroque pipe organ! The concert was in fact in honor of the 10th anniversary of the dedication and installation of the Laukhuff-Bier Organ at St. Austin’s, an instrument built in the style of an 18th century south German organ.

Keith Womer on the St. Austin's organ

Keith and his gallant band of string players from La Follia Austin Baroque treated us to music by Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi, and Handel, along with the famous Adagio for Organ and Strings by Tomaso Albinoni Remo Giazotto.

Hey, wait a minute…

Yes, it’s true! As Keith told us in his entertaining and informative remarks, that famous Adagio was in fact composed by the musicologist responsible for cataloging Albinoni’s works, Remo Giazotto. At first, Giazotto claimed it was a newly rediscovered work by Albinoni. But as time went on, the truth emerged: it was an original work by Giazotto, based on a scant 2-3 measure bass line by Albinoni.

Another musical illusion shattered! But regardless of who wrote it, it sounded magnificent in that space. Concertmaster Go Yamamoto’s solo work was especially moving—the plaintive solo violin contrasted beautifully with the measured intensity of the organ.

The neo-Baroque organ at St. Austin's church

The program concluded with Handel’s beloved F Major Organ Concerto, subtitled “The Cuckoo and the Nightingale.” This was definitely the high pointof the evening—the organ absolutely sparkled! In Handel’s time, an organist was expected to improvise parts of a work like this, and being the talented instrumentalist he is, Keith did ol’ George proud with his effervescent performance.

If you get the chance, please go hear the lovely Laukhuff-Bier Organ at St. Austin’s! You can see a list of upcoming events here: http://www.staustin.org/

For more information about future performances by Keith Womer and La Follia Austin Baroque, please visit their website: www.lafollia.org.

And the Beat Goes On …

We all know that Dianne Donovan, KMFA’s mid-day announcer, is a classical-music lover. But did you know she sings in a jazz trio?

That’s right, Dianne is one of The Beat Divas. Famous for their singing/cooking classes at Central Market, they recently celebrated a new CD release, called Dishin’ With the Divas: Songs of Food, Love & Mayhem, and they presented several of these songs during the opening ceremonies of the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference. They caught the attention of a New York Times’ writer… and they were featured in yesterday’s edition! You can read the whole article by clicking here.

They were also just featured in the Austin Chronicle, and that article is also on their website.

Here’s their new video for the song “Sweet Treat,” featuring Central Market Chef Robert Jenkins. 🙂