M onth see page five M onth see page five - WXXI

february2008 CLASSICAL PROGRAMMING 27manon lescautSaturday afternoons are reserved for the Met, and on February16th you can either tune into to Classical 91.5/HD 91.5-1to hear the live broadcast of Manon Lescaut, or see the liveperformance straight from New York City via satellite at theRegal Cinemas at Eastview. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15for children, but stay tuned to WXXI-FM for a chance to winfree tickets!Puccini’s Manon Lescaut tells the story of an ill-fatedheroine who is torn between love and riches. The four-actopera stars Karita Mattila (pictured) as the young woman whocasts aside true love for a life of luxury.THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: Manon Lescaut airs Saturday,February 16 at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5/HD 91.5-1DID YOU KNOW? Before the premiere of Manon Lescaut in 1893,Puccini was a struggling composer who had disappointed all theexpectations his first opera excited. While his friends were hailed asthe saviors of Italian opera, Puccini toiled endlessly over a projectthat many observers considered doomed: Manon Lescaut. Yetdespite its difficult gestation, Manon Lescaut would launch Puccini’sincredible career and set the stage for his later masterpieces.highlightsSymphonyCastTune in for this new weeklyprogram featuring full-lengthconcerts by major symphonyorchestras, including the:TUNE IN FOR THEErie Saxophone QuartetWXXI-FM’s Julia Figueras invites the Erie Saxophone Quartet into the HenryEpstein Studio for the next Backstage Pass. Formed in 2006 at the StateUniversity at Fredonia, the Quartet is devoted to study and performance of thesaxophone as a classical and chamber instrument. Join Julia as she speakswith soprano saxophonist Jacob Swanson, alto saxophonist Sarah Marchitelli,tenor saxophonist Jill Carere, and baritone saxophonist Melissa Widzinski, andinvites the Quartet to perform.Backstage Pass is a live radio series committed to highlighting musicalartists – giving listeners the opportunity to hear local and visiting musiciansperforming live. The series is made possible in part by a grant from theGouvernet Arts Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation.BACKSTAGE PASS with the Erie Saxophone Quartet airs Friday, February 1at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5/HD 91.5-1Los Angeles PhilharmonicPhiladelphia OrchestraCleveland OrchestraMinnesota OrchestraLondon PhilharmonicDresden StaatskapelleBrian Newhouse hostsSymphonyCast airs Fridays at8 p.m. beginning February 1 onClassical 91.5/HD 91.5-1