Edvard Grieg was but 25 years old when Henrik Ibsen—already a towering figure of Norwegian theater—impressed by the young composer's brilliance, approached Grieg to write music for his dramatic fantasy Peer Gynt, whose rogue of a title character Ibsen saw as an embodiment of the Norwedgian temperment, on which the play was intended as a satire. Grieg, fired up by this great creative opportunity, responded with over 20 indelible musical miniatures that are now among among the best known and loved works in classical music, and whose fame has long since eclipsed that of the work for it was originally intended. Wednesday's Classical Music With Foley Schuler will feature a much wider selection of Grieg's incidental music than one usually hears in the two familiar concert suites—in honor of the 150th anniversary of the play's premiere a little earlier this year.
We'll also pay tribute to the legendary Eva Marie Saint—who has just died at the age of 102—with music from two classic films in which she starred so memorably, “North by Northwest” and “On the Waterfront."
You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selection—and stories behind the music—every weekdady afternoon from 1 until 4 on Blue Lake Public Radio.
