Coming up this week on All-Classical WGBH, Bill McLaughlin has programmed an iconic performance from the Boston Symphony Orchestra on “Exploring Music.” If you haven’t heard Bill’s show, give it a try. Each week, he goes seriously in-depth on a particular topic, spread out over five episodes (Monday – Friday at noon on All-Classical WGBH). This week he’s “Exploring” Claude Debussy, and that’s where the BSO comes in. The sound of the BSO, as it evolved during the first half of the 1900’s, was strongly influenced by French musicians and conductors, leading to a silky, graceful approach in the strings and bright, kaleidoscopic colorings in the winds and brass. By 1956, those characteristics had been optimized through the perfection of Symphony Hall’s acoustics, and Music Director Charles Munch grabbed the opportunity to lead the orchestra in what has become a landmark recording of Debussy’s La Mer. Dial up All-Classical WGBH on the internet or on 89.7 HD-2 this Thursday at noon to hear how Bill McLaughlin weaves that piece into the story of this fascinating composer. And to hear Ted Libbey and Fred Child talk about that same recording, stop by NPR Music.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Debussy and the BSO on Exploring Music
Coming up this week on All-Classical WGBH, Bill McLaughlin has programmed an iconic performance from the Boston Symphony Orchestra on “Exploring Music.” If you haven’t heard Bill’s show, give it a try. Each week, he goes seriously in-depth on a particular topic, spread out over five episodes (Monday – Friday at noon on All-Classical WGBH). This week he’s “Exploring” Claude Debussy, and that’s where the BSO comes in. The sound of the BSO, as it evolved during the first half of the 1900’s, was strongly influenced by French musicians and conductors, leading to a silky, graceful approach in the strings and bright, kaleidoscopic colorings in the winds and brass. By 1956, those characteristics had been optimized through the perfection of Symphony Hall’s acoustics, and Music Director Charles Munch grabbed the opportunity to lead the orchestra in what has become a landmark recording of Debussy’s La Mer. Dial up All-Classical WGBH on the internet or on 89.7 HD-2 this Thursday at noon to hear how Bill McLaughlin weaves that piece into the story of this fascinating composer. And to hear Ted Libbey and Fred Child talk about that same recording, stop by NPR Music.
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