Springtime and Renewal on VPR Classical

There is natural poetry in the fact that one of the symbols of the Easter season is eggs, with so much potential for life represented in such a small package. Much like springtime itself.

For the next several days VPR Classical is featuring sounds of the season...all of them! We'll go well beyond birdsongs and pastoral music usually associated with this time of the year to hear how composers have used their unique creative skills to interpret Biblical events like the Easter earthquake, the ferocious pounding hailstones of the Exodus, and Mary's solemn grieving at the foot of the cross.

Exploring Music this week focuses on Bach's masterpiece, the St. Matthew Passion.

On Friday night for another perspective on the Easter story, we'll go In Concert at 8 for a special new performance of Bach's magnificent St. John Passion with Apollo's Fire.

Easter Sunday itself brings the grand finale of VPR's Sunday Bach with Mark Vogelzang. After many memorable years on the air the program has now come full circle, concluding on its 8th anniversary in a grand celebration of the holiday as only Bach can provide.

And then on Monday we break free from the pre-Easter trepidation and somberness in a joyous outburst of dances, 'Alleluias', and celebratory music to welcome springtime and all of the renewal it brings.

This time of the year has served as inspiration for some of the most poignant and vividly powerful sounds in all of classical music. Whatever your traditions, I hope you enjoy the music this week and join VPR Classical in our springtime celebration!

Cheryl Willoughby
Dir. of Music Programming

Mitch's Beard, a True Sign of Spring

Since this is radio and you primarily know us by the sound of our voices, here's a little-known fact: each winter, Morning Edition Host Mitch Wertlieb grows his beard. He traditionally shaves it on the first day the temperature in Burlington reaches 50 degrees.

Friday morning while I was producing the membership drive during Morning Edition, I informed Mitch that my car thermometer had read 52 degrees last Wednesday afternoon. "You're WRONG!" Mitch insisted. "You're WRONG!" A brutal fight ensued (see photo, above). There was talk of calling Eye on the Sky's Mark Breen to help settle the matter. But I let it go.

After a gloriously sunny weekend, I came in this morning hoping Mitch had kept an eye on the temperature which, contrary to what we've all convinced ourselves by this time of year, can sometimes begin with the number 5.

Here's the after picture. It's one of our favorite signs of spring here at VPR. I hope you'll share yours with us online here!