Tagged: Arts

Part One: Ron Rash. Poet, short story writer and novelist Ron Rash is having a busy year - his latest book of short stories Nothing Gold Can Stay, set in Appalachia with stories that span from the Civil War to present day - was released in February. And his novel Serena is being made into a movie with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. It's set to hit theaters in December. North Carolina native Ron Rash is in town for CPCC's Sensoria Festival, and while he's here, we'll talk about his writing process, the different genres of writing that he works in, and about the experience of having one of his books made into a movie, when Charlotte Talks.

From time to time on this show, we discuss performances of plays, musicals, symphonies or operas composed or created by talented artists who are no longer with us, or who aren't available to join us on the show. On this edition of the show, however, we're joined by a living legend, an American composer and librettist who has been creating famous operas since the 1950's! Carlisle Floyd will join us, along with 4-time Grammy Award-winning American tenor Anthony Dean Griffey. They're in town to do residencies at Wingate University, and while they're here, they'll join us to talk about their craft and their worldwide prominence in opera and music performance, when Charlotte Talks.

Part One: Charlotte Symphony's Classical Idol. The concept behind American Idol is not new. We have always been fascinated by that special talent who comes along and inspires us with their vision and craft. But most American Idol winners are everyday folks with a gift. Classical musicians are highly trained, dedicated and persistent artists who often go unnoticed in the communities they serve with their music. Not in Charlotte. Last year Classical Idol was hatched. It's a friendly competition to raise funds for the Symphony but it's also a way to raise awareness of these incredibly talented musicians in our midst. With offerings from Celtic fiddle to an elementary school choir, Classical Idol has music for everyone.