VPR Classical's Special Summer

VPR Classical turns seven years old today! And thanks to strong listener support, in that time we've grown from being one station (WNCH, 88.1FM in Norwich) to SIX full-power stations, and many translators to help the signal reach even more listeners in the region.

Along with the expansion of our radio signal, we've also become deeper as a broadcasting service with the inclusion of more live performances, special events, and musical conversations with area artists. Just a week ago we shared the recording we made at the Hopkins Center in May, with pianist Sally Pinkas in her spring recital.

On Monday this week we launched "Marlboro Month", a month-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the legendary music festival. Each weekday our live programs are featuring exclusive recordings from the Festival's rich archives: from Mozart and Bach to Argento, Couperin, Copland and many others. You may also revisit many of these unique performances at our new Marlboro Music page - and find out what violinist Soovin Kim has been working on with friends during his time at the Festival!

I'm also very happy to tell you that this evening we will be broadcasting Counterpoint's final performance with Robert DeCormier, their founder and longtime director who has now moved into an emeritus role with the ensemble. Over the first weekend of April this year Counterpoint performed three "Legacy" concerts with DeCormier, and VPR Classical recorded the final one on the afternoon of April 3rd. Springtime weather made it warm outside St. Paul's Cathedral in Burlington, and the emotional current running through the concert gave the space a special warmth on the inside as well.

This is the latest in our "VPR Classical Presents" series of live concert recordings, and you can look forward to a couple of others from Chandler in Randolph and from the Manchester Music Festival in coming weeks. The Counterpoint Legacy performance can be heard from 8-10pm tonight on VPR Classical, and then later it will also be available for online listening.

Here's a video I took on April 3rd during the final moments of the concert. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you for your continuing support of classical music in Vermont!