Lois Reitzes

Jamie Barton is a Georgia native, a rising star in the world of opera, and now she is the U.S. representative in what's often referred to as "The Olympics of Opera."  

The mezzo-soprano recently visited the WABE studios to talk with Lois Reitzes about how she has spent the past months preparing for the Cardiff Singer of the World competition that takes place June 16-23.

She also graced us with a few vocal warm-ups.

Listen to Tretheway read her poem "Graveyard Blues" here:

Long before we see the slick brochure for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s new season, music director Robert Spano looks at an empty calendar.

WABE’s Lois Reitzes sat down with him to discuss just how the ASO puts together a season—and what we can expect from the ASO in 2013-2014.

The Whipping Man is a play about fractured relationships. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the action concerns a wounded Jewish Confederate solider returning home to his former slaves.

To go a little deeper into the themes of the show, WABE’s Lois Reitzes sat down with Rabbi Bradley Levenberg and with the Alliance Theater’s General Manager Max Leventhal.

Christmas in tough economic times. That's the theme behind O. Henry’s classic short story, “The Gifts of the Magi.” Today’s tough times made the story seem like a natural choice to Theatrical Outfit.  The theater company is presenting a musical based on the story, directed by Heidi Cline McKerley. WABE’s Lois Reitzes sat down with artistic director, Tom Key—and the play’s star, Nick Arapoglou.

She started the conversation by asking Key to explain what the play’s all about.

The Mountaintop is a play that puts its audience inside of Dr. Martin Luther King’s room at the Lorraine Motel the night before his assassination. AFter directing the show on Broadway, Kenny Leon has brought Katori Hall’s character study to his True Colors Theater Company, in a production led by director Jasmine Guy. WABE’s Lois Reitzes sat down with the director to talk about the show.

Theatrical Outfit is offering a two drink minimum. No, they haven’t opened a bar down at the Balzer Theater, Two Drink Minimum is a new comedy about the difficult relationship between a son and his mother.  Playwright Bill Balzer based the show around his own colorful stories about his mother and recently sat down with WABE’s Lois Reitzes to talk about putting his memories on-stage.

In the 2012-13 season, violinist Midori will celebrate the 30th anniversary of her performing career. She made her debut at age 11 as a surprise guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic in 1982. Today Midori is recognized as an extraordinary performer, a devoted and gifted educator, and an innovative community engagement activist. Last night, Robert Spano opened his 12th — and the Orchestra’s 68th — season with twin peaks of the repertoire: Beethoven’s grand and poetic Violin Concerto with Midori as guest soloist.

A professor of English at Emory University, Pulitzer Prize-winner…oh, and the Poet Laureate of the United States, Natasha Tretheway will be giving the keynote address for the seventh annual Decatur Book Festival.

Theatrical Outfit's latest production, My Name Is Asher Lev, tells the story of a young artist’s struggle for self-expression and self-discovery in his strict, religious household.

Based on a novel by Chaim Potok, the story takes place in post-WWII Brooklyn.

WABE’s Lois Reitzes spoke with the show’s director Mira Hirsch and lead actor Nick Arapoglou about the big ideas behind the play.

Actor Sally Kellerman is perhaps best known for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H*. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for that role and has starred in many films since, including Brewster McCloud, A Little Romance, and the 1986 Rodney Dangerfield vehicle Back to School.

Essential Theatre is an Atlanta theatre group with a strong focus on encouraging local works, with local talent.  Their newest production, aptly named The Local, is said to be a show “of Atlanta, for Atlanta, and by Atlanta.”  WABE’s Lois Reitzes sat down with the show’s director, Ellen McQueen, to find out more about this homage to our fair city.

A longtime WABE radio host and volunteer has died.   Arnold Rosenberg passed away on Monday at the age of 89. He was one of the earliest voices ever heard on 90.1 FM.  Rosenberg is survived by his wife of 68 years, Frances Rosenberg, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His funeral will be held Thursday at 11:00 am at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs.   WABE’s Lois Reitzes has this remembrance.  

The Canadian violinist, Angèle Dubeau loves conveying the complete spectrum of sounds her violin offers. She has said,“Sometimes you will hear my violin whisper, as if divulging a secret.” Dubeau’s latest recording, “A Time for Us,” reveals her attraction to film music.  WABE’s Lois Reitzes spoke with Angele Dubeau about her recent CD.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster David Coucheron took center stage back in May to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Tonight, that performance will be featured on our Atlanta Symphony Broadcast tonight at 9 pm. Previously, Coucheron brought his violin down to our studios and spoke with our own Lois Reitzes about the concerto.

Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra system, known simply as “El Sistema,”  was founded in 1975. Its goal was to provide a real musical education to kids in under-served communities. Inspired by El Sistema, the Atlanta Music Project promotes music education and social change for local at-risk youth.  One of its founders, bassoonist Dantes Rameau, sat down with WABE’s Lois Reitzes for a chat about the Atlanta Music Project, and El Sistema.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County had its world premier here in Atlanta at the beginning of April at the Alliance and created quite a buzz around town. Much of it had to do with the big names attached to the project: with music by T Bone Burnett, lyrics by John Mellencamp and written by the master of horror, Stephen King