Cultural, Community, Information

Airs, Sunday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. Harmonia offers a gift of flowers to celebrate Mother's Day, as we explore flower  themes in music, with a special focus on the rose, a symbol of love and beauty. Plus, later, we'll hear a featured release of Christopher Simpson's "The Monthes."  Includes music by Thomas Campion, Clemens non Papa, Tomas De Torrejon Y Velasco, Francisco Guerrero, and more.

Airs Saturday, May 12 at 12:00 p.m.  Red River Radio is pleased to present the Lyric Opera Of Chicago broadcast season with an opening night productions of Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman."  If ever a man was unlucky at love, it’s Hoffmann, the wild-eyed poet who travels the world in search of the ideal woman and ends up thwarted by villains at every turn. First, he’s smitten by Olympia — but discovers she’s nothing more than a mechanical doll. Then, he falls for Antonia, a fragile songstress who’ll die if she sings — and regrettably for him, she does both! Finally he’s seduced by Giulietta — but the treacherous courtesan casts him aside. Impossibly beautiful music (including the famous Barcarolle) combined with flamboyant theatricality — that’s why Offenbach’s extravaganza is the perfect way to open our season.

Airs Thursday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m.  Highlights from an SMF original production called Piano Showdown, including solo performances and duets featuring Aaron Goldberg, Bob Seeley, Eddie Palmieri and Henry Butler.
Back in the 19-teens and 20s, piano players in clubs had to always be on top of their game in order to ensure that their playing could never be surpassed. The great stride piano player James P. Johnson used to go around New York and hear all of the other pianists play, and in case they played something he didn't, he would copy them and incorporate their work into his own style. The reason for this is so that no one could walk into his club and outplay him, and then take away his job. In the SMF production Piano Showdown, none of the players have to fear for their jobs, but all are driven by the spirit of friendly competition. Episode 1 of 2.