Spring is here, that wonderful feeling of hope and renewal is in the air — and Holy Week is upon us. Join us on WRTI for the most beautiful and inspiring music all week long, and for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Every day from March 25 to 29, Breakfast with Bach (at 8 a.m.) with John Scherch will feature music that J.S. Bach wrote for Holy Week and Easter. Throughout the week you’ll also hear pieces composed for or otherwise related to Holy Week, including works by John Tavener, Maurice Duruflé, Pablo Casals, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Richard Wagner and more.
On Good Friday — March 29, from noon to 2:45 p.m. — join us for a complete performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, by Bach Collegium Japan. Recorded in 1999, this performance was conducted by Masaaki Suzuki, featuring soloists Nancy Argenta, Robin Blaze, Gerd Turk, Makoto Sakurada, Peter Kooij, and Chiyuki Urano.
On Easter Sunday — March 31 — hear a special presentation of Handel's Messiah on The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast at 1 p.m. Recorded live last December, this performance was conducted by Nicholas McGegan, featuring soprano Sherezade Panthaki, countertenor Reginald Mobley, tenor Thomas Cooley, bass-baritone Dashon Burton, and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir (directed by Joe Miller).
The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert will be followed by a special Easter edition of Sunday Classical hosted by Mike Bolton until 6 p.m. This program will feature a complete performance of Bach’s Easter Oratorio by Collegium Vocale Gent conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, the Easter Hymn from Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, and other music composed for Easter by Jean L’héritier, William Byrd and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
From everyone at WRTI, we wish you and yours a meaningful Good Friday and a joyous Easter filled with love.
