VPR Classical

Saturday at 1 p.m., Saturday Matinee brings you the Lyric Opera Of Chicago's recent production of Giacomo Puccini's masterpiece, La Bohème.

Vermont Virtuosi is a new chamber music group including flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, violist Tatiana Trono and pianist Claire Black.  They give their inaugural concerts this weekend in Montpelier and Burlington.  Music will be by Maurice Durufle, Arthur Foote and a world premiere by Vermont composer David Gunn.  We'll get a preview Thursday morning on VPR Classical.

We hear excerpts from a rare recording of Puccini's Turandot with Birgit Nilsson as Turandot and Rolf Björling (Jussi's son) as Calaf.

Listen Saturday, June 15, at noon.

The Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont (a serious ensemble with a tongue-in-cheek name) visits the VPR Performance Studio for a taste of their 'Double Takes' program.  It features paired settings of the same text by different composers, including Bach, Schutz and others.  They perform the program this week in Strafford, Burlington and Montpelier.

It is Peter Fox Smith's belief that Wagner's Tristan und Isolde changed the course of Western classical music. We hear excerpts from the opera and commentary by Peter.

Listen Saturday at 12 noon.

Cecelia Daigle, of Moretown, is a senior at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury.  Her piece for strings plus oboe and bassoon is called "Something About Goblins," and it depicts a civilization of underground goblins who overthrow their oppressive master.

Listen Monday 6/3 at 4:05 pm, Wednesday 6/5 at 12:05 pm, and Friday 6/7 at 8:05 am.

This week, Saturday Matinee brings you the Lyric Opera Of Chicago's production of Gaetano Donizetti's comic masterpiece, Don Pasquale.

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is Don Pasquale. Marlis Peterson sings the role of Norina. René Barbera is Ernesto and Corey Crider is Malatesta.

Stephen Lord conducts.