WRR101 is delighted to partner with our sister station to present WRR on KERA, a special concert series curated by our WRR hosts. From Boccherini to Blanchard, Chopin to Rachmaninoff, you can catch dazzling classical performances on KERA TV channel 13.1.
All show times are at 8 p.m. CST unless otherwise noted.
Friday, March 21 at 8:00
Great Performances at the Met “Grounded”
Tonight, you’ll experience Grounded – it’s the new opera by two-time Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, based on librettist George Brant’s acclaimed play. Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo stars as Jess, a hot-shot fighter pilot whose unplanned pregnancy takes her out of the cockpit and lands her in Las Vegas, operating a Reaper drone halfway around the world. Buckle yourself in and enjoy Great Performances at the Met with Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded, led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Friday, March 28 at 8:00
Jacqueline du Pre: Genius and Tragedy
Jacqueline du Pre: Genius and Tragedy tells the story of one of the greatest cellists of all time, and gives us a glimpse into her enigmatic genius. You’ll see candid moments behind the scenes and in rehearsal that set the stage for her powerful concert performances. The film’s interviews with du Pre’s charismatic contemporaries provide expert insight into why the affection for du Pré — and the wonder at her playing — remains undiminished nearly forty years after her death.
Friday, April 11 at 8:00
Great Performances “Now Hear This: Chopin’s Polish Heart”
Frederic Chopin was born in Poland and lived there until the age of 20. While seeking safety and inspiration when war broke out, he found a new home in Paris… though he always longed for his old one. Scott Yoo and Polish-Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki explore the folk music of Poland, alongside the Romantic-era artists and musicians of Paris. Chopin stayed in France until his untimely death, but his heart always was (and will be) in Poland.
Friday, April 11 at 9:00
Terence Blanchard: Live in Dallas
Join us to celebrate the music of seven-time GRAMMY-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard in this program. In February 2023, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presented two evenings of Blanchard’s work, shining a light on his musical genius and groundbreaking compositions. We’ll include selections from each evening: Soprano Karen Slack and baritone Nicholas Newton join the DSO and conductor Maurice Cohn for excerpts from Blanchard’s opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones. After that, we’ll showcase highlights from the jazz set with Blanchard and his band, the E-Collective, along with the Turtle Island String Quartet. Enjoy Terence Blanchard: Live in Dallas, recorded in the beautiful setting of the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Friday, April 18 at 8:00
Great Performances “Now Hear This: Boccherini: Night Music”
The Spanish court brought Europe’s greatest cellist, Luigi Boccherini, from Italy to Spain. There, he created new musical forms and fell in love with his adopted hometown — until he was exiled to the Sierra. He promptly wrote a love letter to his city, titled Night Music of the Streets of Madrid, which became his most popular composition. Scott Yoo and four great young players take you on an all-night walking tour of Madrid’s current night music to better understand how Boccherini wrote his own. Settle in for this beautiful immersion into the heart of Spain (no passport needed) for this edition of WRR on KERA.
Friday, April 25 at 8:00
Great Performances “Now Hear This: Rachmaninoff Reborn”
Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian aristocrat who lost everything in the Bolshevik revolution: his home, his family fortune, his musical inspiration. Being adrift in a new landscape and speaking little English, he longed for a homeland that had disappeared. So, at 44 years old, he changed careers and charted a new path to support his family. He embraced modern technology, toured relentlessly, and reinvented himself as a visionary Russian-American artist.
Friday, May 2 at 8:00
Great Performances “Now Hear This: Barrios – Chopin of the Guitar”
We’ll wrap up the series with a deep dive into the life and music of Paraguayan classical guitar virtuoso and composer, Augustin Barrios. Born into a family that prioritized music and literature, the young Barrios took an interest in musical instruments at a very young age. By the time of his death at the age of 59, Barrios was regarded as one of the most prolific composers of classical guitar music. You’ll learn more about his extraordinary musical legacy in Great Performances “Now Hear This: Barrios – Chopin of the Guitar” for this conclusion of WRR on KERA.
