101.1 FM WRR • wrr101.com1

WRR CLASSICAL 101.1 FM A MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR FRIENDS OF WRR APRIL 2006

Overture • April 2006

Broadcasting in all-digitalDallas / Fort Worth • wrr101.com

In this issue: Van der Hamen / HD Radios / Dallas Summer Musicals / Tom Sime on Dallas Theater / Puppet Boy

Van Der

The Meadows Museum will bethe exclusive U.S. venue for thefirst monographic exhibition everheld of the work of theMadrilenian painter Juan van derHamen y León. Van der Hamen(1596-1631) was one of the mostfamous and prolific Spanish stilllife painters of the seventeenthcentury.

While the exhibition will pres-ent the very best of Van derHamen’s still lifes borrowed frompublic and private collections allover the world, its larger aim is toshow for the first time the com-plete Van der Hamen, the painteresteemed above all in his lifetimefor his versatility—for his por-traits, allegories, landscapes,flower paintings, and large-scalereligious works executed forchurches and convents in theenvirons of Madrid and Toledo.

Not only did his oeuvre as awhole encompass this unprece-dented range of subject matter,he was, more than any singleartist, responsible for introducingmany of these new genres toSpain. Although his fame todayhas been eclipsed by the longcareer of Velázquez, van der

Continued On Page Three

SF Symphony returns to WRRby Christopher Tucker

“The Sound of Celebration”is what the SanFrancisco Symphony iscalling this year’s 26-week broadcast season.Performed in DaviesSymphony Hall, theorchestra continuesanother exciting year ofcollaboration with itsinternationally acclaimeddirector, Michael TilsonThomas.

The broadcast hosted byKDFC’s Rik Malone airs onWRR Tuesdays at 8 p.m.beginning April 4 and running

until the end of September.The season will feature

Maestro Thomas in 11 concertswith a number of classi-cal masterworks likeStravinsky’s Firebirdand The Rite of Spring,Richard Strauss’ DonJuan, Beethoven’sSymphony No. 9“Choral”, Haydn’s“ H a r m o n i e m e s s e ”Mass in Bb and Gustav

Mahler’s seventh and ninth sym-phonies.

Plus tune in on May 9 asMichael Tilson Thomas leads aperformance of his own work,“Island Magic.”

By Christopher Hackett

Sixty-six years ago insweltering 100 degree heat, thewonderful legacy of summermusical theater began in Dallas.It was called “Opera under theStars” and its venue was theFair Park Band Shell. Openingnight came on June 12, 1941.On stage at the Band Shell wasa production of SigmundRomberg’s “Blossom Time,” anoperetta based on the life ofFranz Schubert.

Flash forward 66 yearsto the cool comfort of the MusicHall at Fair Park with it’s state-ofthe-art audio system, two fan-tastic restaurants and unpar-ralled customer service, and youhave exactly what you had overhalf a century ago – great liveentertainment! It’s now calledthe Dallas Summer Musicalsand has become a vibrant tradi-tion in the North Texas’ enter-tainment/cultural landscape.

This season’s offeringsinclude the best of London’sWest End and New York’sBroadway. “Phantom of theOpera” gets things underwayfrom March 22 to April 16, then“Little Women” runs fromContinued on Page Two

Join WRR at DMA’sLate Night April 21

Join WRR at theDallas Museum of Artfrom 6 to 8 p.m. onFriday, April 21.

WRR will be onsite as part of the muse-um’s Late Nights and inconjunction with its cur-rent exhibit, Lords ofCreation: The Origins ofSacred Maya Kingship.

The evening willinclude WRR give-aways, entertainmentand more. The DMA is at1717 N. Harwood St.

High definition radiois coming to WRR thismonth. It has been a long,complex process, but theend result will impress allwho enjoy listening to classi-cal music.

With the introductionof the new technology, manylisteners have had questionsabout HD radio. Some haveeven wondered if they wouldstill be able to receive WRRonce the station makes theleap to HD.

Not only will you beable to hear WRR, but it willsound better than ever.

Should you buy a HDradio? Models, such asBoston Accoustics’ RecepterRadio, are becoming avail-able to consumers. Prices

start at $300. As competitionand production increase, thecost should decrease.(Remember how much youpaid for your first VCR in theearly 1980s?)

HD radios let you lis-ten to HD Radio Multicastingand a multiple-line displayshows song title, artist, sta-tion name, and other broad-casting data. And, of course,there’s the brilliant clarityand high-fidelity sound.

Kurt Rongey, WRR’sOperations Manager, saideven for those who don’t buyan HD Radio receiver imme-diately, listeners shouldnotice significant improve-ments when the stationbegins broadcasting in highContinued On Page Two

With or without an HD receiver, WRRis going to sound better than ever

MichaelTilson

Thomas

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Sizzling Season:Dallas Summer Musicals

2101.1 FM WRR • wrr101.comOverture • April 2006

WRR General Manager: Greg DavisEditor: Victoria Eiker

‘Overture’ is the official monthly publication of

WRR Classical 101.1 FM

Send comments or story ideas to Overture Editor: wrrmac@wrr101.com

Overture Editor - WRR FM1516 First Ave.

Dallas, TX 75210

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Join Friends of WRR today!Why Support the Friends? Music enriches all of our lives. We at theFriends of WRR are committed to providing programming that enhancesclassical music education and benefits the local community, its artists,and arts groups.

Support from individuals and organizations alike enables the Friends tocontinue responding to artistic needs within the community.

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Members receive many benefits, including:• The monthly WRR Program Guide,• Special discounts for merchandise and special events.

Support the Friends of WRR today, and help to support the education,enjoyment and understanding of classical music in the WRR listeningarea.

By Tom Sime

As a former theatercritic who’s now aproducer and play-wright, I’ve had thechance to look at thetheater scene fromseveral different

angles. And despite theater artists’seemingly constant state of self-doubt, I see a healthy, diverseorganism determined to succeed. Itseems that every time the theaterworld in Dallas-Fort Worth starts torun out of optimism, a fresh crop ofnew talent rising from the area’stheater schools and young compa-nies revitalizes it again.

I’m working at one of those newercompanies now—ContemporaryTheatre of Dallas—where I’m man-aging director. CTD was foundedby artistic director Sue Loncar justfour years ago—and it’s a headysensation as we continue to discov-er and grow our audience. Peopledon’t know we’re here, but oncethey discover us, they’re hooked.It’s the big picture in miniature.

As a critic, I was always struck bythe sheer excellence and accessi-bility of Dallas-Fort Worth theater.Even in small-scale, bare-bonesproductions, talent and convictionwere powerful and deep, and my

most memorable theatergoingexperiences were as likely to betiny productions in out-of-the-wayplaces as well as the poshextravaganzas of the DallasTheater Center or BassPerformance Hall. You can feeda hunger for intimacy or specta-cle or veer eagerly from one toanother.

Personally I love small spaceswhere the actors are just a fewfeet away, like Bath HouseCultural Center or UndermainTheatre or the wonderfully tinyMargaret Jonsson Theatre at theUniversity of Dallas. When I’m atUD, I like to pretend I’m in MargoJones’ Fair Park theater in the1940s, that small space thatstarted the country’s regionaltheater movement. DFW may notbe recognized as such my many,but it’s a lodestone of Americantheater, and continues to quietlypump its energy and talent into athriving network of stages Dallashelped launch.

A…My Name is Alice opens atContemporary Theatre of Dallas April14. For tickets, call 214-828-0094 orwww.contemporarytheatreofdallas.com.Sime’s play All of the Above was pre-sented in a staged reading byWingSpan Theatre Company on March23-24 at the Bath House CulturalCenter.

HD RadiosContinued From Page One

definition.“Due to our new higher-

quality antenna situated at a high-er elevation, many who have hadsporadic reception in the past arelikely to hear our signal moreclearly and with less noisy inter-ference,” he said.

So, whether you rush outand buy the state-of-the-art HDradio, or wait a little while forprices drop, your favorite classicalstation will sound stellar.

Continued From Page One

May 23 to June 4. “Bombay Dreams”takes over the Music Hall’s stageJune 6-18 followed by the classic“Les Miserable” from June 21 throughJuly 2. The worldwide sensation“Mama Mia” based upon the music ofABBA returns to the DSM stage July4 through the 16, then it’s onto to therecent Broadway smash hit “Brklyn”(Brooklyn) for a run from July 25through August 6.

The season concludes withthe State Fair show, the hilarious“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” from

October 3 through the 22.WRR and the Dallas Summer

Musicals will team up again this sea-son to present a preview before eachshow. DSM President and ManagingDirector Michael Jenkins will give theinside scoop on the upcoming show.

Catch the “Dallas SummerMusicals Preview Show” with Jenkinsand WRR’s Christopher Hackett, it’syour ticket to the hottest shows in theMetroplex! Tune in for more details.

Summer Musicals

Tom Sime on Dallas Theater

F o r m e r. . . i n t e r -im...current...AnnKoonsman has

returned as the executivedirector of the Fort WorthSymphony Orchestra. Herprevious tenure with theFWSO lasted 23 years.

HighNote

3 101.1 FM WRR • wrr101.comOverture • April 2006

DAYPART SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

A.M.5:00 MUSIC ALL

NIGHTwith Peter Van

de Graaff

THE MORNING SHOWwith Christopher Hackett

MUSIC ALLNIGHT

with Peter Van de Graaff

6:00

7:00 MORNINGMUSICALE

with Ed Blaylock

7:30TRINITYUNITED

METHODIST

8:00 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MORNING

MUSICALEwith Kevin

Sutton8:30WILSHIREBAPTISTCHURCH

9:00 UNIVERSITY

PARKMETHODIST FROM THE TOP

with ChristopherO’Riley

9:30 LOVERS LANE

UNITEDMETHODIST

10:00 PASTORALREFLECTIONS

MIDDAY MUSICMORNING MUSICALEwith Kevin

Sutton

10:30 ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL

11:00 PRESTONHOLLOW

PRESBYTERIAN

P.M. Noon

COMMAND PERFORMANCEwith Ed Blaylock

CLASSIC CAFE

AFTERNOON CONCERT

Kevin Sutton

12:30

METROPOLI-TAN

OPERA(various times)

1:00 MIDDAY MUSIC

2:00

3:00

THE GOING HOME SHOWwith Kurt Rongey

4:00 ART MATTERS

with QuinMathews

THEAFTERNOON

CONCERT

4:30

THEAFTERNOON

CONCERT

5:00

5:30

6:00

THE GLOBALMAESTRO

6:30

7:00

THE EVENING CONCERT

EXPLORING MUSICwith Bill McGlaughlin

7:30

8:00 DFW

ORCHESTRAS

DETROITSYMPHONYORCHESTRA

THEME AND VARIATIONS

with RaulEnriquez

NEW YORKPHILHARMONIC

THE EVENING CONCERTwith RaulEnriquez

THE MAINEVENT

9:00

10:00 PIPEDREAMSwith Michael

Barone THE EVENING CONCERTwith Raul Enriquez

A NIGHT ONTHE TOWN -George Harter

11:00 ROMANTICHOURS

with MonaGolabek11:30 EVENING

CONCERT

A.M. Midnight

MUSIC ALL NIGHTwith Peter Van de Graaff

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

DAYPART SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Meadows MuseumContinued From Page One

Hamen’s star was very bright when the young Sevillianwas just finding his way at the court of young King Philip IV.

This exhibition, which closes May 28, is the prod-uct of 40 years of research of North American art histori-an William B. Jordan, former director of the MeadowsMuseum, and will be accompanied by a monographdevoted to every aspect of the painters work.

WRR invites listeners to a special event celebrat-ing this exhibit on Sunday, April 2. From 2-4 p.m., WRRwill be broadcasting live from the Meadows Museum onthe SMU campus. In addition to free admission duringthe event, there will be refreshments, musical entertain-ment, and WRR and Meadows Museum giveaways.

Puppet Boy atStageWest

Stage West Theatre in Fort Worth current-ly is presenting the world premiere of anew version of the classic Pinocchio tales.Puppet Boy by Lee Trull sets the story infascist Italy in the 1920’s, but retains thespirit and feel of Carlo Collodi’s tales of animpish puppet’s quest to become a realboy.

Filled with magic, comedy, pathos andadventure, Puppet Boy works for all ages.Pinocchio suddenly finds himself in a bodyhe doesn’t understand, a wooden boy in aworld of fire. Involved in a classic queststory, he’s a hero with no special skills andno clear idea what he’s supposed to do. Sohe mostly follows his own whim, whichleads to a series of encounters rangingfrom comical to terrifying as the absurdi-ties of growing up play out against thebackground of a country losing its soul.

Puppet Boy runs through April 16 in theSanders Theatre of the Fort WorthCommunity Arts Center, in the heart of FortWorth’s Cultural District. Performancestimes are 8pm Friday, 3pm and 8pmSaturday, and 3pm Sunday. Ticket pricesrange from $10 to $20, with special familypacks available for the matinees andFriday night performances. Tickets andinformation are available atwww.stagewest.org, or by calling 817-784-9378.

Welcome Back,Koonsman

Dance for the PlanetApril 29-30The 10th annual Dance forthe Planet will be April 29-30at Samuell-Grand Park, 6200East Grand Avenue in Dallas.Admission is free. More than150 dance groups and 1500performers are expected.Make plans to attend!

4

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PAIDDALLAS, TX

PERMIT NO. 13

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WRR CLASSICAL 101.1 FM A MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR FRIENDS OF WRR APRIL 2006

101.1 FM WRR • wrr101.comOverture • April 2006

Broadcasting in all-digitalDallas / Fort Worth • wrr101.com

Must-hear radio:April WRR highlightsBy Kurt RongeyOperations Manager

The celebration of Mozart’s 250th birthanniversary continues the first two Mondays of thismonth at 8 p.m. Claus Peter Flor and Robert Levinjoin the Dallas Symphony for Piano Concertos #23

& 24 and Symphonies #40 & 41.Then on April 24 at 8 p.m., the DSObrings us the Golden Age of Film.You can enjoy music from classicscores such as Gone With TheWind, The Magnificent Seven andLawrence of Arabia. The program,conducted by Richard Kaufman,

also includes a special tribute to Henry Mancini. April 17, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

salutes Shakespeare with special guest MichaelYork.

April 14 is Good Friday. That night, we willbring you one of the most spiritually charged worksever written, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in itsentirety. J.S. Bach set all of his skill and devotionto the purpose of illuminating the life of Christ in thissweeping masterpiece.

One of the most highly anticipated musicalvisits to the Metroplex this year is Lang Lang. Topreview his concert on April 11, we will present aspecial program exploring his origins and musicalphilosophy. Join us Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m for“Lang Lang – Memory – A Musical Conversation.”

April 2 Join WRR at the Meadows Museum from 2-4 p.m. for a live broadcast.See the special exhibit, Juan van der Hamen y Leon & The Court of Madrid. During the WRR event, enjoy free admission, refreshments, entertainment and great giveaways.

April 21 Don’t miss Late Night at the Dallas Museum of Art. From 6-8 p.m., WRRwill be on site with promotional items just for you.

April 29-30 It’s the 10th annual Dance for the Planet. This year it’s at Samuell-GrandPark, 6200 East Grand in East Dallas.

Upcoming WRR Events