MUSIC OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLDS
Europe, the cradle of classical music, is a relatively small continent inhabited by people from very different countries. They have enough in common to be perceived as Europeans, but have maintained their separate identities. The common language of classical music unites them, and at the same time displays their separate characters. Flower and Flame plans a musical journey through the history of Europe, from Renaissance songs of faith, to music dedicated to ideal love from the Netherlands, and onward through the ethereal French Impressionism, to the robust peasant dances portrayed by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The journey also includes the pure fire of the Spanish dance by Manuel de Falla.
STRANGE STORIES OF OUR GREATEST COMPOSERS
This program explores the eccentric world of composers and also explores some of the most lasting enigmas in musical history.
A RIDE TO THE OLD CHURCH YARD
"It's one of the earliest examples of American fiction, and still one of our best stories—a curl up beneath the blankets kind of feeling comes with it like the vapors that gather in the trees of Sleepy Hollow itself; it contains the wondrous hopes of the timeless young suitor, the awful ride through the woods, and a strange outcome that cloaks the tale in mystery."
— Darrel Fickbohm, narrator/actor
AN EVENING WITH HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
“We were really touched by the reaction,” says Darrel Fickbohm, the actor and adapter of the script. “The show ran along, and even the kids that were there sat mesmerized the whole time. You never know on something like this, how things will go. It’s an antique concept that may or may not work out for you—it worked out really well. The mix of stories and music pretty much reeled in everyone, young and old.”
WALKING WITH THE GHOSTS
"Absolutely one of my favorite tales! I like to believe that people can change -- that their hearts will turn after hearing the humor and terror of their life story unfold in front of them. As the winter evening goes onward into night, this story will fold you up and the music will form a perfect wrapping. How could we ever tire of hearing this amazing and magic story?"
— Darrel Fickbohm, narrator/actor