Morning Classics

We’re playing the overture from La Belle Hélène this morning. And as promised, here’s a drawing that was published for the 1864 Paris premiere of this wonderful opera by Jacques Offenbach.

It’s film composer John William’s birthday, February 8th! And to celebrate I’ve created this short time lapse caricature of the Oscar-winning composer.

Watch the video here.

Crank up your favorite Williams soundtrack or watch while listening to KVNO’s Morning Classics today as I’ll be weaving in a few pieces by Williams into the program.

Either way, enjoy!

This morning we heard from violinist, Anne Akiko Meyers performing Suite Popular Espagnole by Manuel de Falla. She was joined by Sandra Rivers on Piano.

As mentioned on Morning Classics, here’s a video of her appearance from back in the day on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Watch it here.

It’s Mozart’s birthday today—he was born in Salzburg, Austria, January 27, 1756. And to celebrate, I thought I’d create this drawing just for you! 🙂

As mentioned today on Morning Classics, the great French flutist once performed with Miss Piggy on The Muppets. See the video here.

On today’s French Friday Feature, we talk about French robots and how robots relate to the music of Jacques Offenbach–in particular, The Tales of Hoffman. As mentioned on the feature, here’s a photo of Le Grant Élephant of Nantes…

And here’s a video yours truly took a few years back. Enjoy!

On today’s French Friday Feature (8am CST) we celebrate the birthday of composer, Francis Poulenc, born on January 7, 1899. Although early on his love of beautiful melodies went against the common aesthetics of the day (he was considered a “farceur”—a jokester, a comic), he would not only go on to become a member of that famed group of French composers known as “Les Six,” he would also eventually composed more poignant and religious music.

Having said that, he did often sport a smile, which may have given some the impression that he wasn’t to be taken seriously. But what a smile, don’t you think? Maybe we should all smile a bit more…

Happy Friday! Or should I say, Happy French Friday!

French composer Francis Poulenc

It’s National Ugly Sweater Day and as promised on air this morning, here’s a photo of mine! How about you? Have any photos of ugly sweaters you’d care to share? If so, send them my way! Jkoterba@unomaha.edu.

This morning, when introducing a work by Antonín Dvořák, I mentioned a couple of Dvořák’s hobbies: Trainspotting and keeping pigeons. Moments later, KVNO listener, Charlie Duckworth, sent a few photos from his HO scale model railroad. Photos of model pigeons on model boxcars and buildings.

How about you? What kind of hobbies do you have and do you ever pursue those hobbies while listening to KVNO? I’d love to hear from you: jkoterba@unomaha.edu.

Oh, and thanks to Charlie, here are those photos!

This morning on KVNO, we’re playing for the first time a recently-discovered waltz by Chopin. It was also exactly a week ago today that I had a chance to visit for the first time, Chopin’s grave at Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris.

I’m also a big fan of Edith Piaf, so here, also, is a photo of her grave. The cemetery is probably most famous for the grave of Jim Morrison. Indeed, you can see from the photo that his grave is fenced off.

Have you been to this cemetery? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at jkoterba@unomaha.edu.

On this week’s French Friday Feature, we’re celebrating the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. As luck would have it, I was there last Friday evening and just happened to encounter the ringing of the bells. See—and hear—the bells here.

Afterwards, we encountered a magical little Christmas market, complete with a magical little ballet performance!

Have you been to Paris? How about Notre-Dame? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Get in touch: jkoterba@unomaha.edu

On my second day after taking over Morning Classics, while playing Beethoven, this little fella showed up. So, I’ve been calling him Ludvig. One listener also suggested Otis 13, which I like as well. Still, I’m leaning towards Ludvig the Possum. Ludvig has been back only a few other times. Will we see him again?