WGBH responds

I got it all wrong about WGBH, so I want to set the record straight. Ben Schwarz, the marketing manager for Boston’s legacy public radio station WGBH sent me an email with this information.

Your comments about WGBH Radio, in particular, are not an accurate assessment of us as a radio station. In the past year, we have, if anything, increased the amount of classical production on 89.7, as well as supporting our all-classical HD service and internet stream. Here are some points you should be aware of.

* In a typical week, we produce and air two to three live three live classical music performances from our newly built Fraser Performance Studio (to see more about this space, please see http://www.flickr.com/photos/wgbhradio/collections/72157604184594526). As I’m writing this, Augustin Hadelich is performing in our studios, and we’ve recently aired performances by David Deveau, Irina Muresanu, Heng-Jin Park, Bion Tsang and Anton Nel, and Kim Kashkashian and Robert Levin.

* In the past year, we’ve produced and aired more concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra than ever before, building on our live broadcasts of the BSO on Friday afternoons. For example, next month we will be the only radio station to record and broadcast the full five acts of the BSO’s performance of Berlioz’s Les Troyens.

* In the past year, we’ve recorded and aired more concerts by local New England ensembles for our Sunday Concert program than ever before. For example, in the past few months we’ve aired our own recordings of Opera Boston, Boston Philharmonic, the Handel & Haydn Society and the Boston Lyric Opera; just to name a few.

I think you’ll agree these are examples of a robust and relevant broadcaster of classical music. While we are thrilled that technology has allowed us to share this effort with online and HD radio listeners, I assure you we’ve taken nothing away from anyone. All of our audiences have benefited, regardless of the platform.

Thanks, Ben. It’s good news and I’m glad to have the link so we can listen to these studio performances and live BSO performances. Click here to listen.

Sorry for the misinformation, and thanks for the opportunity to tell our readers about your wonderful service.

Viva la musica!