Podcasts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Another Dallas Opera world premiere by the ‘Dream Team’

“For an opera that sounds really challenging to present, they’ve done some wonderful creative opportunities in what you’re going to see visually… but it’s also just a story of great determination and inspiration,” explains Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, describing the creative team behind The Diving Bell and the… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: New ballet ‘Nightmare Before Nutcracker’ premieres in Richardson in time for Halloween

“Anybody who likes The Nutcracker is going to see a lot of elements in it… this is a darker rendition of those elements,” says Geoff Henley, author and producer of Nightmare Before Nutcracker, a new ballet premiering in Richardson. In this feature, he chats with WRR’s Amy Bishop about the unique story of a ballerina… Read more »

Verdigris concert combines AI with music to advocate for Texas’ endangered species

“We want to inspire action,” says Sam Brukhman, founder and Artistic Director of Dallas-based Verdigris Ensemble. “And that action, in this particular case, is the conservation of our ecosystem and how important our environment is within the context of the City of Dallas – and what we need to do to be able to preserve… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: How the Dallas Symphony is bringing the music to YOU

“We want to do what we do everywhere, for everybody,” says Scott Walzel, Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Principal Bassoon and Director of Community Development. This fall, the DSO has launched a series of free community concerts across the city and beyond, ranging from pop-up performances by The Concert Truck and chamber music performances at Klyde… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Dracula is coming to life in Dallas in this Avant Chamber Ballet production

“It’s incredibly danceable music,” says Katie Puder, Avant Chamber Ballet’s Artistic Director, describing Philip Glass’ music to Dracula. The ballet company will bring the story to life on stage at Moody Performance Hall in October, just in time for Halloween. Puder gives more details on her vision for the production in this feature with WRR’s… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Ben Folds and the Dallas Symphony are uniting for a classically cool crossover experience

“I always hope that my shows can be a way in for some people,” says singer/songwriter/pianist Ben Folds. “What I want is for people to see the orchestra in the best possible light and then come back and see Prokofiev, or Ravel or Beethoven or Mozart or Mahler. There’s really insanely good music right around… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: TWO nights in Vienna with the Plano Symphony Orchestra

“Historically, Vienna has always been regarded as the city of music,” explains Maestro Hector Guzman, Music Director and Conductor of the Plano Symphony Orchestra. Soon, they’ll bring the music of Vienna to the Eisemann Center, followed by their first-ever performance at SMU’s Caruth Auditorium. In this feature with WRR’s Amy Bishop, Guzman talks about the… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: TACA’s new fundraising concept is progressive… literally

“You can only cram so much art in one night,” say Maura Sheffler, the Donna Wilhelm Family President and Executive Director of TACA – The Arts Community Alliance. “So we decided to create this theory, The Fall Arts Crawl.” Taking place over the course of multiple evenings at various locations with various artists, the events… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: It turns out doctors can also be awesome classical musicians

The World Doctors Orchestra consists of approximately 1800 medical professionals who perform around the globe. This October, about 100 will gather in Dallas for a couple of concerts benefiting two local charities. In this feature, WRR’s Amy Bishop chats with two of the organization’s members: Dr. Sing-Yi Feng and Dr. Noah DeGarmo.