Music Features

Violinist Soovin Kim visits Jill this week. Mr. Kim has quietly achieved a very high level of success in his years since graduating from Curtis. His latest recording of the 24 Paganini Caprices for solo violin is breath taking. All this has been accomplished while touring with the Musicians from Marlboro, performing in solo recitals with his accompanist Jeremy Denk, and with his trio. He is on the faculty of Yale University and Temple University, and will performing an all-Beethoven recital on May 17th, and on the 19th with program of Mozart trios.

This week, a conversation with Ted Libbey, author of The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music. His book has broken new ground in publishing by having a companion website where readers can listen to full length examples of musical works cross-referenced in the book. Tom Dinardo explains how he spent six years trying to organize a performance of a work for organ by legendary Hollywood composer David Raksin. Susan Lewis explores Betsy Ross House. And Jason Peifer previews the world premiere of Some Men, a Terrence McNally play set to open at the Philadelphia Theatre Company.

Cello virtuoso Matt Haimovitz is at it again. Jill speaks with him on Crossover about his recent album Goulash, a tasty mix of unusual and adventurous works.

This week, we're at rehearsals for the Opera Company of Philadelphia's season ending performance of The Marriage of Figaro to speak with mezzo soprano Kirstin Chavez. Jason Peifer previews The Pirate at the Prince Music Theater. The new musical is a live stage adaptation of a 1949 Vincente Minnelli film starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. And Susan Lewis explores the history of music theater.