Tag: Music

West High and Anchorage Opera’s co-production of two Holocaust shows

West High School and Anchorage Opera have come together to produce two moving productions that have one thing in common: Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia during WWII. Join Director Dave Block and actors Suparat Prasannet and Luke Haneck as they give us the story about these extraordinary events: the one-act opera Brundibar, music by Hans Krasa with a new libretto by Tony Kushner and the one-act play I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Raspanti performing this weekend at West High School. KSKA: Friday, Jan. 23 at 2:45pm Listen Now:

Anchorage Opera presents Madame Butterfly

As its season premier, Anchorage Opera is presenting one of the most produced operas worldwide in Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Also making a premier, of sorts, is new General Director of AO, Reed Smith. Join both Reed as he talks about joining AO and returning favorite Kurt Dougherty who plays Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly this week on Stage Talk. KSKA: Friday, Oct. 31, at 2:45 p.m. Listen now:

Perseverance Theatre’s ‘An Illiad’

At its core, theatre is storytelling and in Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare's re-telling of Homer's The Illiad as An Illiad a poet appears in an empty theatre to tell a story about sacrifice, war and the rage of mankind. Bostin Christopher, as The Poet, and Director Art Rotch visit Stage Talk to tell us the story of this remarkable play being presented by Perseverance Theatre in the Sydney Laurence Theatre October 24th through November 2nd. KSKA: Friday, Oct. 24, at 2:45 p.m. Listen now:

TBA’s two-fer

TBA is offering two shows this holiday season-the beloved story of Scrooge, Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, A Christmas Carol, and a one woman play staring Morgan Mitchell titled A Christmas Eve with Laura Ingalls. Wayne Mitchell, who plays Scrooge, drops by Stage Talk to let us in on all the action. KSKA: Friday 12/13 at 2:45pm Listen Now

Renowned Musicians Surprise Akiak With Jam Session

The Kuskokwim Village of Akiak got a special treat last week when their community hall became an official venue for the Fairbanks Summer Art Festival. The festival came to Akiak in the form of two world-renowned recording artists. The sound they brought will likely have a lasting impact on the village. Download Audio

Spenard Jazz Fest: What Exactly IS Jazz?

What exactly IS jazz? We get some help from the experts when Spenard Jazz Fest founder Yngvil Vatn Guttu and keyboardist Dan McElrath join us in the studio. They'll demonstrate jazz conversation and share the roots of what some have called America's own classical music. We especially invite local musicians to join the discussion on if and how Alaska makes space for jazz. KSKA: Wednesday, June 5 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm Listen Now

‘Jailhouse Bach’ and women of the Hiland Mountain prison string orchestra

What can you learn by joining an orchestra? The discipline of practice. A way to express yourself. A commitment to not let fellow musicians down. That's true in any orchestra, and especially in the Hiland Mountain Correction Center women's string orchestra, performing its 9th holiday recital this December. Learn more about how the orchestra began, who pays for it and what participants think of the opportunity. KSKA: Wednesday, 11/28 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Meg Mackey Band: Spenard’s New Indie Darlings

You don't hear the glockenspiel much in modern music. But Alaska singer-song writer Meg Mackey weaves it, along with acoustic and electric guitar, accordion, banjo and foot stomps onto her new Album 'Eat Your Heart Out'. KSKA's Daysha Eaton reports that, although she'll soon be playing at the 'World Cafe Live' in Philadelphia, you can still hear Mackey at small venues around Anchorage. Read More...

AK: Finding Inspiration In Alaska

Singer, songwriter Jeff Kanzler first came to Alaska a decade ago to visit a lovely Alaskan girl. They didn’t end up together, but he still considers her to be something of his angel in life for introducing him to the Last Frontier.

The Bartok of Car Talk: Composer Leiderman’s Music Sets the Stage from Morning Edition to Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me

On a special edition of Hometown, Alaska this Friday, NPR theme composer BJ Leiderman talks about what make music for radio programs work. Download Audio (MP3)

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children

Tuesday, August 2 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm Babies can sign before they speak, and many parents are helping their little ones to communicate in this way with the aid of educational resources like the popular series, Signing Time! Guest Rachel Coleman designed this fun, musical program in response to learning that her own daughter was profoundly deaf. Today, learn Rachel's story and how Signing Time! is helping families with deaf children talk to one another.