In this issue: Get to know our guests, the Visiting Nusrses Association, Listen Up!, The Etruscans and more
Dallas / Fort Worth • wrr101.com
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The Official Publication of WRR
March 2009
The Ring of the Nibelung returns to the Met! On March 28, New York’s Metropolitan Opera begins the ultimate operatic endeavor — its 2009 cycle of Richard Wagner’s four operas that make up “The Ring of the Nibelung.” “Das Rheingold” is March 28, followed by “Die Walküre” on April 11, “Siegfried” on April 18 and “Götterdämmerung” on April 25. All four performances will be simulcast on WRR 101.1 FM. If you don’t know what “The Ring” is, or just haven’t yet cracked its code of mythical archetypes, WRR has the perfect introductory course. Bill McLaughlin will lead you through Wagner’s musical world March 23-27 at 7 p.m., as “Exploring Music” illuminates “Wagner’s ‘Ring Cycle.’” While the idea of listening through 16 hours of sung German over four afternoons may seem a daunting proposition, “The Ring” has made zealous fans out of generations of listeners. “It seemed to me I had tasted heaven then,” said C.S. Lewis, the author of the “Chronicles of Narnia” who experienced his first taste of “The Ring” as a schoolboy. “’Music’ was one thing, ‘Wagnerian music’ quite another,” he recalled,
“and there was no common measure between them.” It’s an idea seconded by the British playwright George Bernard Shaw who believed that nothing precluded anyone, regardless of musical knowledge, from enjoying “The Ring.” In his famous 1898 commentary, “The Perfect Wagnerite,” Shaw wrote: “The unskilled, untaught musician may approach Wagner boldly; for there is no possibility of a misunderstanding between them: the ‘Ring’ music is perfectly single and simple.” For the Met’s upcoming production of “The Ring,” James Levine is scheduled to conduct all four Saturday broadcasts. And the Met is employing some of the finest singers today to perform the operas’ taxing parts: bass James Morris is Wotan, soprano Christine Brewer sings Brünnhilde and tenors Johan Botha and Christian Franz are Siegmund and Siegfried, respectively. There are local connections for a
couple of the singers. The South-African-born Botha is scheduled to sing the title role of Verdi’s “Otello” when the Winspear Opera House opens in October. Mezzo-soprano Jill Grove who hails from Galveston sings the role of Erda in “Das Rheingold” and “Siegfried.” For those willing to break open the piggy bank, there are more live performances of “The Ring” planned later this year. Seattle Opera presents their version this summer and L.A. Opera trots out a brand-new production during the 2009-2010 season. See wrr101.com for more details.
Dallas Arts District’s new executive Director Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, City Council Member Angela Hunt and John F. Crawford, President & CEO of DOWNTOWNDALLAS announced in January the appointment of Veletta Forsythe Lill as Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District. Lill comes to the Arts District with the experience to make the area into the world class destination the new York Times is already describing as “among the largest urban arts centers in the nation.” (36 Hours in Dallas By LUISITA LOPEZ TORREGROSA Published: February 8, 2009) As a two term city council member and board member for organizations Veletta Forsythe Lill from the Dallas Museum of Art to Shakespeare Executive Director of the Dallas, Lill has the contacts and know-how to Dallas Arts District do just that. Mayor Tom Leppert said, “There is certainly no denying the significant role the Dallas Arts District has, and will continue to play in the development of our city, both in terms of culture and commerce.” As a council member she played a role in many of the current developments in the Arts District. She was a champion of the expansion of the boundaries of the district to include the area now home to One Arts Plaza. Her work with the Nasher Sculpture Center enabled the city’s contribution to the landscaped area surrounding the facility. During her tenure, the city also committed to making public investments in land acquisition and seed money for construction of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, as well as renovation costs for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. “With a new identity and a stakeholder provided list of priorities, The Dallas Arts District and DOWNTOWNDALLAS will move swiftly to shape the future of the District,” said Lill of her new role. “We sit at a magical moment in time with an opportunity to reposition how Dallas is perceived throughout the world, and to cultivate an unparalleled Arts community. I am thrilled and honored to execute this vision as we move into the next generation of our city.” Lill and others from the Dallas Arts District join WRR and D Magazine for the Classic Cafe in One Arts Plaza. Host Adriana Bate talks with our guests March 2-6 from 11-1 p.m. Visit wrr101.com for Lill’s biography and links to all our guests for the live broadcast.
It’s a Red Carpet Year! for AFI Dallas The third annual AFI DALLAS 2009 International Film Festival Presented by NorthPark Center, Founding Sponsor Victory Park (AFI DALLAS), returns March 26 - April 2. In addition to the lavish parties, Dallas will host three world premieres and five US film premieres. A series of Talk/Shows at the Nasher Sculpture Center will feature filmmakers, industry executives, scholars and journalists in a series of discussions on a wide range of topics. These panel discussions and presentations take place over the opening weekend of the Festival. Talk/ Shows are free and open to the public. Tickets go on sale March 4. Passes and tickets are available via online (AFIDALLAS.com), phone (214.720.0663) and in person at the Box Office located at the AFI DALLAS locations at NorthPark Center and Victory Park. WRR has a handful of tickets to giveaway, so listen and win. AFI DALLAS Artistic Director and CEO Michael Cain joins WRR and D Magazine for the Classic Cafe in One Arts Plaza hosted by Adriana Bate March 2-6 from 11-1 p.m. to talk about festival plans and highlight some of the excitement we can expect. Visit wrr101.com for links to all our guests for the live broadcast.
• March 2009
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