Classical

Pianist and composer Leon Fleisher. The 67 year old musician was a child prodigy. Thirty years ago he lost the use of his right hand, because of a disability, (later diagnosed as "repetitive stress syndrome") and so he began to play the left-hand repertory. Last year he made a "two-handed" comeback. It culminated with a performance on January 13, with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall. He credits the increased movement in his right hand to the deep message therapy, rolfing. (Interview by Barbara Bogaev)

Walter Turnbull is the founder and of the Boys Choir of Harlem. He has written about his work in "Lift Every Voice" by Hyperion. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Arranger and baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan died Saturday, January 20th, from complications due to surgery. He was 68. We will rebroadcast a 1989 interview with him. Mulliagn was an innovator in modern jazz orchestration. Early in his career he was staff arranger for Gene Krupa's big band. In 1949 he collaborated with Gil Evans and Miles Davis in the Nonet. The nine-piece band shook up jazz arrangers and launched the era of so-called cool jazz. He achieved international acclaim when he started a "pianoless" quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker in the early 1950's.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording by Maria Joao Pires and Augustin Dumay of Mozart and Brahms sonatas on the DG label. Schwartz is Classic Music Editor for the Boston Phoenix.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new 3-CD box set of music by the Soprano Maria Callas, "Maria Callas at Juilliard--The Masterclasses" (EMI)

Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie. She's one of the world's few classical percussion soloists. And she plays with orchestras worldwide. But instead of hearing the music, she feels it. Glennie is deaf, and has been since the age of 12. She's made several solo albums, and several years ago wrote her autobiography, Good Vibrations (Hutchison Publishers, London). Glennie performs at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia Dec 15 and 16. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Internationally-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. He celebrates his 50th birthday this year. He has several new releases, and a PBS special: "The Beethoven Triple Concert" two live concert recordings with pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, and cellist Yo Yo Ma. And "In the Fiddler's House," featuring Perlman playing Klezmer music with four Klezmer bands. There's also a PBS Great Performance special on Klezmer music featuring Perlman. (It aired nationally November 27 at 10PM. Check local listings). Both CD's are on the EMI Classics label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews recordings by British singers soprano Margaret Tate (stage name Maggie Teyte), and tenor Heddle Nash. (on the British label, Pearl.)

American Conductor John Mauceri. He is the host and narrator of a new PBS Great Performances documentary, "Music for the Movies: The Hollywood Sound." Mauceri also composes the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in music from Hollywood films from the 30's and 40s'. (The documentary airs tonight at 9:30). Mauceri is currently music director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in L.A. He has two new CDs: "Between Two Worlds: Music of Korngold," and "The Sound of Hollywood: Music From the Movies" (both on London records).

Music director and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. This month he took over the San Francisco Symphony. He's been conducting for 25 years. At the age of 24 years old he was appointed assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony, and began filling in regularly as conductor when the musical director's health began to fail. THOMAS was mentored by Leonard Bernstein. However, Thomas's roots are in the theater: His grandparents were Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, who founded the Yiddish theater in New York. There's a new book about him, Michael Tilson Thomas: Viva Voce.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a reissue by the late mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberian: Luciano Berio's "Recital I for Cathy and Folk Songs." (RCA)

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the recent performance of American pianist Leon Fleisher. Thirty years ago he suffered a disabling repetitive stress syndrome injury. Since then, he's played almost exclusively with the Left Hand. This recent performance featured Fleisher attempt a Mozart concerto with both hands. 12

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "The Romantic Generation" (Music masters) by pianist Charles Rosen.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording by the young Danish baritone singer Bo Skovhus

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "George Gershwin Memorial Concert," a CD of a radio performance broadcast shortly after the composer's death.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews The First Recordings of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, on the BSO classic label. It features conductor Karl Muck.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz considers the changing reputation but enduring skill of Pierre Boulez who, after years dedicating himself to composition, has returned to conducting.

Classical music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of a major Tchaikovsky opera that hasn't gotten much attention in the United States. It's called "Mazeppa."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new recording of Kurt Weill's "The Seven Deadly Sins," featuring the New York Philharmonic and soprano Angelina Reaux.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz recommends reissued recordings of conductor Sir Thomas Beecham on the Pearl label.