On the Road with Joanne Robinson: Show #201

Joanne Robinson, Radio Show Announcer

Hi everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of my travel blog. Sunday’s From the Top taping took place at our home base, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, which, for those not from the area, happens to be located directly across the street from our office. So travel was particularly non-eventful.

The taping, however, was awesome! We brought back one of our most memorable alumni, violinist Maya Shankar, as part of our 10th Anniversary celebration. I remember Maya when she first performed on the show at the age of 12. She was extraordinary then and she hasn’t disappointed.

Maya Shankar returns to From the Top

These days, she’s a 23-year-old Rhodes Scholar studying cognitive science at Oxford, but she left the lab to pick up her violin and perform the gorgeous Melody from Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice.

Other highlights of yesterday’s taping included an outstanding baritone singing one of my favorite vocal pieces of all time, the Vagabond from Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel, and a fascinating lesson on how drums can play melody by a teenage timpanist. Also, an 11-year-old filled the hall with the incredible sound she was able to produce on piano and a 16-year-old cellist beautifully played David Popper’s Fantasy on Little Russian Songs.

Make sure to tune in when this show airs the week of November 9th. It’s a great one!