Thanks, Greg Waxberg!
On a recent Monday I tuned in to PRM* a little before 9:00 P.M.
to catch PipeDreams. I heard the tail end of Mississippi
Concert Hall (which Greg produces), and was pleasantly
surprised with a selection by the 17th/18th century Spanish
organ composer Juan Cabanilles, played by Warren Steele
on the Wilhelm organ in the University of Mississippi's
Paris-Yates Chapel. It was a thoughtful lead-in to
PipeDreams, and was as good as anything I heard on
that program. Steele is an outstanding player, and the
Wilhelm organ is a unique and wonderful instrument.
Thanks, Greg!
*Public Radio in Mississippi is still a legal name
of the radio side of Mississippi Public Broadcasting,
because it was called that in the enabling legislation,
which has not, so far as I know, been changed. I use
PRM unashamedly when I wish to refer to the radio side
of MPB. MPB is, however, a legal alias: "Public Radio
in Mississippi, doing business as Mississippi Public
Broadcasting", and I use it when I wish to refer to the
combined radio and television operation.
It is my impression that classical music programming on
PRM has increased somewhat since the major programming
upheaval (more than a year ago), and, because there is
only one Greg Waxberg, who cannot be everywhere at all
times, the network broadcasts of Peter Van de Graaff
have been used to fill in in the daytime, as well as in
the evening. This is a good arrangement. On Thursday
night (Aug 10), for example, I heard an absolutely
astonishing aria from Vivaldi's opera Griselda, sung
by an Italian female vocalist, whose name I did not
catch. As I myself have at best a voice that is not
even as good as mediocre, I can only admire from afar,
and while I have heard some excellent singers, I have
never before heard anything like this. I am still
not sure that what I heard was really possible.
I also appreciate the occasional live classical music
concerts from the University of Mississippi - they
have been both exciting and informative. Mississippi
Concert Hall continues, as does request day on Fridays.
PRM thus still features classical music significantly,
and I am grateful for that, and for the informed comments
by Greg Waxberg (and by Peter Van de Graaff) that go with
it. Thanks again, Greg!
Glenn A. Gentry