Highway 89 – Details, episodes & analysis

The tale of our guests today begins, perhaps, in a home in which the father, a painter, exchanged some of his paintings for musical instruments. His sons, soon to be a harpist, a fiddler, and a guitarist, grew up to be Kirkmount, a Celtic band that, when the boys were still very young, kept up a rigorous schedule performing at festivals and in concert halls, making recordings, and they even won A Prairie Home Companion's "Talent from Towns Under Two Thousand" contest. Two of those brothers, Harpist Alex Bigney and fiddler Sam Bigney join us in the studio for an hour of medleys featuring traditional tunes and original pieces. Songs featured: Late Summer Aire, Home on the Columbia, Homecoming, Jerry's Jigs, Rosey's Waltz, Wandering.

Anton Nel enjoys a remarkable and multifaceted career that has taken him to North and South America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa. Following an auspicious debut at the age of twelve with Beethoven’s C Major Concerto after only two years of study, the Johannesburg native captured first prizes in all the major South African competitions while still in his teens, toured his native country extensively and became a well-known radio and television personality. As recitalist he has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum and the Frick Collection in New York, at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, Davies Hall in San Francisco, and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Eager to pursue dual careers in teaching and performing he was appointed to the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin in his early twenties, followed by professorships at the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Michigan, where he was chairman of the piano department. In September 2000, Anton Nel was appointed as the Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor of Piano and Chamber music at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches an international class of students and now heads the Division of Keyboard Studies. For the past two years he has been presenting a series of masterclasses in piano and chamber music at the Manhattan School of Music in New York as Visiting Professor, and also teaches regularly at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. He is a Steinway artist. Repertoire: HANDEL Air and Variations from Suite No. 5 "Harmonious Blacksmith"; DEBUSSY Suite Bergamasque (Prelude, Menuet, Clair de lune, Passepied); SCHUMANN Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26, Mvt. 1 "Allegro"; SIBELIUS Romance in D-Flat, Op. 24, No. 9; BEETHOVEN Sonata in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein", Mvt. 1 - Allegro con brio.

Accomplished Italian concert pianist, Antonio d’Abramo is joined by the brother and sister opera duo of Clara Hurtado Lee and Isaac Hurtado. They perform a variety of classical pieces, including piano solos from Antonio, solo pieces from both Clara and Isaac, as well as some duets.  Songs featured: Rachmaninov: Etude-Tableau op. 39 Nº 4, Pozzoli: Etude Nº 30, Puccini: Donna non vidi mai from Manon Lescaut, Mascagni: The Cherry Duet from L'amico Fritz, Gounod: Je Veux Vivre from Romeo et Juliette, Donizetti: Larala...Caro Elisir, sei mid from Elisir D'amore, Puccini: Quando m'en vo from La Boheme, Cilea: Lamento di Federico from Arlesiana, Chopin: Etude op. 25 Nº 25, Sibelius: Etude op. 76 Nº 2

Jutta Puchammer-Sedillot is the vice-president of the International Viola Society, viola soloist, and professor at the Universite de Montreal -- The University of Montreal. She is in town for the Primrose Memorial Concert, held annually after the Primrose International Viola Competition in honor of renowned scottish violist William Primrose. Jutta is known for playing viola in the French style, and shares Paul Rougnon's Appassionata accompanied by BYU School of Music faculty, Jared Pierce. Repertoire: Appassionata - Paul Rougnon; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

After reaching the Top 20 on NBC's The Voice, Belle Jewel returned home to keep working on her music career. In addition to sharing the stage with stars all over the country, she's either #1 on ReverbNation's Indie Charts for Provo or in the top 3 (depending on the day). Charming and soulful, Belle sings covers from a wide variety of styles and artists, as well as an original song of her own. She chats with Steve about original performing stages, raw song covers, and her self-proclaimed obsession with faux fur. A true "vintage indie artist". Songs featured: Us - Regina Spektor; River - Original by Belle Jewel; La Vie En Rose - Edith Piaf; Minnow and the Trout - A Fine Frenzy; Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash; Oblivion - Grimes; Crazy - Gnarls Barkley; What I Wouldn't Do - A Fine Frenzy; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

A Celtic Christmas with Utopia Early Music! Songs and instrumentals in a solstice mode from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and the Isle of Man. Festival reels, medieval chants, and winter lullabies are performed b vocal quartet, celtic hapr, baroque cello, fiddle, and recorder. Now in its 8th season, Utopia Early Music performs historically-informed performances of medieval, renaissance, and baroque music. Enjoy this Celtic Christmas special! Performers: Emily Nelson (soprano), Christopher Lecluyse (tenor), Megan Lee (mezzo-soprano), Michael Chipman (baritone), Therese Honey (celtic harp), Bronwen Beecher (fiddle), Lisa Chaufty (recorder), Eleanor Christman-Cox (Baroque cello); Repertoire: 'Taladh Chriosda', Fr. Ranald Rankin, arr. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona; 'Gaude Virgo Gratiosa', Dublin Troper, arr. Chris LeCluyse; 'Three Ships on the Ocean'; 'Auld Lang Syne', Orpheus Caledonius, arr. Daniel Johnson; 'An Leanbh Aimhreidh', Jerome Duigenan, arr. Emily Nelson; 'Can hela'r Dryw' Traditional, arr. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona; 'Good Night and Blessings to You', Ian MacPhaidan, arr. Jones-Ragona; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

It's Vivaldi by Candlelight! Gerald Elias conducts the orchestra, whose performance is sponsored by the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy. Highway 89 goes on-location at the First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City for this special Christmas concert. The Vivaldi Virtuosi are: Bonnie Terry (concertmaster); Hasse Borup, Jakob Hofer, Krista Utrilla, Kasia Sokol, Amanda Kofoed, Leslie Henrie, Dallin Hansen (violin); Leslie Richards, John Englund, Joel Rosenberg (viola); Meeka Quan-DiLorenzo, Noriko Kishi (cello); Corbin Johnston (bass); Pamela Palmer Jones (harpsichord); Repertoire: SCARLATTI Sinfonia to La Caduta de Decemviri; VIVALDI Sinfonia to Ottone in Villa; CASTRUCCI Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 9 in G Minor; BOYCE Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

John Louviere is a "modern troubadour" who shares music from his albums "The Future is Now" and "The Longest Year", featuring Andrew Goldring on electric guitar. John chats with Steve about album art, autobiography, and much more. Songs featured: Young Fighter, When I'm With You, The Future Is Now, The Longest Year, Are You Listening, Home; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

Unity Gospel Choir is a traveling performance group whose main purpose is to bring souls unto Christ. This performance is directed By Debra Bonner and features interviews with special guest 5-time Grammy-Award-winner Mervyn Warren, the composer and arranger of the repertoire performed by the choir. Debra, Mervyn and soloist Yahosh Bonner chat with Steve about the special Handel's Messiah arrangement and other inspirational topics in this Christmas-themed episode. Songs featured: SCARLATTI Sinfonia to La Caduta de Decemviri; VIVALDI Sinfonia to Ottone in Villa; CASTRUCCI Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 9 in G Minor; BOYCE Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89

Christmas special! The Lux Singers are an elite religious choral ensemble consisting of 35 professional-level singers from varied religious backgrounds, specializing in sacred choral music. Repertoire: Sing We Now of Christmas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Carol of Joy; Follow Highway 89 on twitter: @byuh89 and on instagram: @byuh89