WQXR FM 105.9

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 11:33am on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

WQXR FM to Broadcast 'Brandenburg' Concerti

New York (January 22, 2010) -- The New York City-based Orpheus Chamber Orchestra announces the completion of six new "Brandenburg" concerti. Orpheus' three-year, six-part New Brandenburg commissioning project paired six celebrated living composers with one of J.S. Bach's original "Brandenburg" concerti, widely regarded as some of the finest musical compositions to emerge from the Baroque era. Orpheus challenged each composer to write a companion piece inspired by an original Bach "Brandenburg." This groundbreaking project culminates in the premiere of the final concerto, Sea Orpheus by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, inspired by Bach's "Brandenburg" No. 5, at a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City at 8pm on Saturday, February 6.

This February 6 performance will be broadcast live at WQXR 105.9 (in the NYC listening area) and streamed online throughout the country at wqxr.org, for those unable to attend the live performances but interested in hearing this new set of concerti. WQXR will also feature Orpheus' New Brandenburg project during the week of February 1. Re-broadcasts of each of the five previous New Brandenburgs are scheduled for that week at 8pm, leading up to the final live performance on February 6. Orpheus will be taking this final New Brandenburg on a tour of the eastern United States to Richmond (VA), Durham (NC), Purchase (NY), Atlanta (GA), and Easton (PA).

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Sea Orpheus will feature the acclaimed pianist Christopher Taylor in the premiere. Maxwell Davies, an English composer and conductor, currently serves as "Master of the Queen's Music." With over 200 published works in every medium performed worldwide, Peter Maxwell Davies is acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time. Davies is also a conductor and was Associate Conductor/Composer of the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic for ten years. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is being honored around the world this year with many concerts celebrating his 75th birthday; he will attend the premiere of Sea Orpheus at Carnegie Hall.

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 10:23pm on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

New York public radio station WNYC announced on July 14, 2009 that it has purchased classical music station WQXR from The New York Times Company:

"Major changes are coming to New Yorkers' radio dials. In a three-party deal announced today, the city's only full-time classical radio station -- WQXR -- will be acquired by WNYC, and the New York Times will get out of the radio business. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has details.

The deal is between WNYC, The Times and Univision, the Spanish-language broadcaster, and executives from the three companies say the transaction will preserve classical music on New York airwaves, and better serve the area's Spanish-speaking community.

When all is said and done -- pending FCC approval which is expected in the fall -- WQXR will move to 105.9 and be run by WNYC as a classical station. Univision's Spanish-language music station will move from 105.9 to 96.3 FM. Univision will pay the Times 33.5 million dollars, and WNYC will pay the Times 11.5 million.

WNYC intends to continue two of WQXR’s most listened-to live programs – Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and The Philharmonic This Week – on WQXR.

WQXR will become the third station operated in New York by WNYC Radio."

Eric Kallgren    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 10:46pm on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

WQXR FM may be be for sale, the New York Post reported on April 28, 2009:

"BEETHOVEN and Bach could become the latest victims of the New York Times Co.'s financial crisis.

Rumors are raging that top suits have discussed putting classical radio station WQXR (96.3 FM) on the block to shore up the company's dwindling cash stash, which, The Post reported last week, is down to $34 million after debts are weighed in. The Times itself is dropping sections and demanding huge cutbacks at The Boston Globe.

Allan Sniffen, who runs the influential New York Radio Message Board, told Page Six: "It would make sense for the New York Times, and the rumors that make the most sense usually have legs." As to how much the station is worth, Sniffen said, "In this market and with the state of radio? Anyone's best guess. Maybe $50 million?""