TŌN IN: Woodkid’s “Brooklyn” performed on harp, flute & viola

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Three musicians from The Orchestra Now—harpist Emily Melendes, flutist Leanna Ginsburg, and violist Larissa Mapua—got together from their respective homes to perform a cover of the song “Brooklyn” by Woodkid.

Ginsburg says: Emily, Larissa, and I were supposed to perform Debussy’s Trio Sonata this spring. We had just had our first rehearsal right before everything was shut down. I was so excited to be playing with these incredible female musicians, so it was quite a disappointment to have that taken away. ⁣Now we are in different locations, but I wanted to put together something that would commemorate our missed performance. The song is about being separated from loved ones and longing for the place where they are, which I felt was relevant to this time. ⁣I’ll leave you with my favorite line from the song: “Life is easier where we can join our hands.” ⁣

TŌN on the Radio: Performance Today

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We’re back on the public radio show Performance Today this Wednesday with our performance of Bruckner‘s Romantic 4th Symphony under the baton of guest conductor Gerard Schwarz. You can stream the episode online for the next 30 days by clicking here, or tune in to Classical WMHT-FM 89.1/88.7 tonight at 8 PM. You can read the concert notes, written by former TŌN horn player Ethan Brozka, by clicking here.

AUDIO FLASHBACK: Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini

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Our Audio Flashback this Tuesday is Tchaikovsky’s symphonic fantasia on Dante’s Inferno. In Francesca da Rimini we hear the title character and her lover descend into the circles of Hell, tossed about violently in a whirling storm of souls. Tchaikovsky was initially interested in creating an opera around this story, but the orchestral work he composed instead was an instant success. This performance was recorded at the Fisher Center at Bard in February 2019 under the baton of Leon Botstein. You can read the concert notes, written by TŌN cellist Sarah Schoeffler, by clicking here.

TŌN on the Radio: Performance Today

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Hear our performance of Beethoven‘s “The Consecration of the House” Overture, airing Monday on Performance Today, broadcast on public radio nationwide. Stream online for the next 30 days by clicking here or listen tonight at 8 PM on WMHT 89.1/88.7 FM. Read the concert notes, written by former TŌN violinist Tianpei Ai, by clicking here.

TŌN IN: Sunset Serenade with Viola & Trumpet

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As part of The Orchestra Now’s “Sunset Serenade” series, TŌN musicians performed for a physically distanced audience at Opus 40 Sculpture Park on July 26, 2020.

Bach Cello Suite No. 3
VII. Gigue
Sean Flynn viola

Theo Charlier Études transcendantes
No. 2: Du Style
Guillermo García Cuesta trumpet

AUDIO FLASHBACK: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

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Oh, the joy! Given everything that’s going on in the world right now, we hope you’ll find it soothing to take an hour to luxuriate in one of the greatest symphonies of all time, Beethoven‘s Ninth. This performance was recorded in October 2017 at the Fisher Center at Bard, and features conductor Leon Botstein, soprano Chloé Olivia Moore, mezzo-soprano Teresa Buchholz, tenor John Pickle, bass-baritone Alfred Walker, the Bard College Chamber Singers, and the Bard Festival Chorale.

TŌN on the Radio: Performance Today

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Hear our performance of the 4th movement of Dohnányi‘s Symphony No. 2 on today’s episode of Performance Today, airing on public radio nationwide. Stream it online for the next 30 days by clicking here, or listen tonight at 8 PM on WMHT FM 89.1/88.7. Read the concert notes, written by former TŌN clarinetist Elias Rodriguez, by clicking here.

TŌN IN: Sunset Serenade on Clarinet

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This week’s Thursday video release is from our “Sunset Serenade” series. TŌN clarinetist Viktor Tóth performed the clarinet solo from Act III of Verdi‘s La forza del destino for a physically distanced audience under the train trestle at the New Ulster Marina in Kingston, NY on July 16, 2020.

AUDIO FLASHBACK: Schumann’s Symphony No. 2

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Our Audio Flashback this Tuesday is our 2018 performance of Schumann‘s Symphony No. 2, under the baton of James Bagwell. Schumann was suffering from both physical and mental illness when he was writing this symphony, which he thought was noticeable in the music. “Only in the final movement did I begin to feel my old self again,” he wrote.  And indeed the final movement is a triumph, as the optimistic melody and resolution combat the moody and rebellious nature of the first movement. Read the concert notes by clicking here.

TŌN on the Radio: Performance Today

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Get thee to a radio! You can hear our 2018 performance of Joseph Joachim‘s Hamlet Overture on Performance Today, aired on public radio nationwide. Tune in to WMHT-FM 89.1/88.7 tonight at 8 PM, or stream the program online through August 23 by clicking here. Read the concert notes, written by former TŌN horn player Ethan Brozka, by clicking here.