By Michelle Medina Villalon Spoiler warning: This article reveals major details about Bridgerton Season 3. If you prefer to get the buzz about this season from Whistledown herself, proceed with caution. Last weekend was a particularly busy one in the ton, or more accurately, for dear fans of the Netflix original series Bridgerton. After a two year long absence, the series has returned with a new season centering the slow-burn romance of Lady Whistledown herself, Penelope Featherington, and Colin Bridgerton. The first four episodes of the appropriately dubbed “Polin season” debuted on May 16th ..read more

By Lawrence Toppman My favorite moments of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) last concert of the 2023-24 Classical Series were the final 30 seconds. The offstage women’s voices in the “Neptune” section of “The Planets” had died away Saturday, but guest conductor William Eddins stood statue-still on the Belk Theater podium. And stood. And stood some more. Nobody in Belk Theater dropped a beer cup or snapped a photo or even spoke. Finally, when he felt we’d digested the cosmic trip we’d just taken, he turned around. Applause rained down. “The Planets” capped an evening begun by two compo ..read more

By Lawrence Toppman I’m told certain parts of Mecklenburg County saw the Aurora Borealis last weekend, due to freak solar flares. But you might have found an equally compelling light show indoors at Blackbox Theater, this one accompanied by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Or perhaps the light show accompanied the CSO. These elements were so carefully integrated that “MERGE: Symphonic x Electronic” blurred the lines between senses. The people who danced meditatively, perhaps in a trance, in the pit between the screen and the string players had the right idea. The CSO web ..read more

By Michelle Medina Villalon After nearly two years, WDAV is pleased to announce that we are broadcasting on a brand new transmitter! This transmitter replaces a thirty-year-old analog transmitter we used as a back-up after our previous one was damaged by lightning. We began broadcasting on the new transmitter on April 17th. Listeners may have noticed a few brief pops off the air during this process. We appreciate your patience as this important piece of equipment was installed. You may have noticed something else that’s returned after a long time missing: the artist and title information disp ..read more

By Lawrence Toppman Administrators and conductors like to remind concertgoers to enjoy “your Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO).” But what does “your” really mean? The mostly white, prosperous, educated people who attend performances at Belk and Knight theaters? (This includes me.) The donors, corporate or individual, whose gifts pay the largest part of the bills? Or does “your” orchestra mean “everybody’s?” The city’s busiest performing arts group cast a vote for the latter Sunday, when the CSO Roadshow made its debut. This new mobile stage, bedecked with sprightly paintings by Charlott ..read more

By Lawrence Toppman The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) concert Saturday was designed to appeal to Anglophiles, fans of massive choral pieces, people who welcomed the return of former music director Christopher Warren-Green to the podium, advocates for obscure female composers and anyone who grew up within a short drive of an ocean. I fit into all five categories, so I blissed out. Warren-Green chose never to address the audience for the first time I can remember. He husbanded his energy for the last piece, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ majestic but unrelenting “A Sea Symphony,” which takes an ..read more

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a recognition created by and for people on the autism spectrum. This movement aims to de-stigmatize conversations about autism by promoting a cultural shift towards true inclusion.  It is important we center autistic voices every month of the year, especially in the arts. Our creative spaces are often sanctuaries for those seeking welcoming, accepting environments.  People on the spectrum have profoundly influenced all art forms, and classical music is no exception. One of those influential people is Tim Arnold.  A London-born artist known for ..read more

By Lawrence Toppman Kwamé Ryan and fans of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) both got a taste of the future last weekend at Belk Theater. Concertgoers who may have missed his two audition concerts saw him lead his first performance as music director designate. And Ryan took on Brahms and Tchaikovsky, the kind of mainstream composers we’ll hear frequently in the 2024-25 season, now that the CSO has opted for more conservative programming. (Ryan will conduct Brahms’ Requiem in November, in one of only two appearances next season.) Saturday’s concert began with waves of applause. Symph ..read more

Guest Article: Charlotte SHOUT! by Rick Thurmond On now through April 14 in Uptown Charlotte, Charlotte SHOUT! is the region’s largest arts festival. There’s so much to see and do that it’s hard to know where to start – so, we made this handy guide just for WDAV listeners! Charlotte SHOUT! Printable Map First Ward Park (Zone 1) This area is home to the Ally Main Stage and several interactive art installations. It is in close proximity to the stage at the amazing art-filled Victoria Yards, the Market at 7th Street food hall, and ImaginOn. You could spend the entire day here and still wan ..read more

By Michelle Medina Villalon Today, WDAV celebrates National Walking Day with a specially curated playlist for our classical community. Whether you take this 50 minute playlist along on a sunny trail or the treadmill, we hope it brings you a moment of joy, reflection, and encouragement for your Wednesday! All pieces were chosen to be specifically “walkable” with approximately 90-110 BPM. You may notice the playlist picks up along the midway mark to put some pep in your step as well.  Check out our playlist below, also available on Spotify. “Serenade for Wind in D Minor Op. 44 III Andante ..read more