In the debut of Unorchestrated, co-hosts Christopher and Tom talk with poet Rita Dove about Sonata Mulattica, her book of poems detailing the relationship between the black violinist George Bridgetower and Beethoven.

This is the first episode in a 14-part series: Sonata Mulattica with Rita Dove.

Rita Dove is a Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, and the only poet honored with both the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of Arts. An Akron native, she is currently Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

The episode closes with a performance of Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, opus 47, performed by Akron Symphony Concertmaster Tallie Brunfelt and pianist Nathaniel LaNasa.

(Photo of Rita Dove by Fred Viebahn)

In Episode 2 of Unorchestrated, co-hosts Christopher and Tom talk with poet Rita Dove about the early life of violin virtuoso George Bridgetower from her book of poems, Sonata Mulattica.

This is the second episode in our 14-part series, Sonata Mulattica with Rita Dove.

The episode closes with a performance by Akron Symphony Assistant Concertmaster Amy Cave of the Largo and Allegro assai movements from Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C major.

Rita Dove is a Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, and the only poet honored with both the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of Arts. An Akron native, she is currently Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

(Photo of Rita Dove by Fred Viebahn)

In Episode 3 of Unorchestrated, co-hosts Christopher and Tom talk with poet Rita Dove about the prodigy years of violinist George Bridgetower from her book of poems, Sonata Mulattica.

This is the third episode in our 14-part series, Sonata Mulattica with Rita Dove.

The episode closes with a performance of Haydn’s Duo for violin & viola in F major, performed by two members of the Akron Symphony, Pablo Sanchez-Pazos, violin, and Maia Hoffman, viola.

Rita Dove is a Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, and the only poet honored with both the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of Arts. An Akron native, she is currently Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

(Photo of Rita Dove by Fred Viebahn)