STATEWIDE – Classical Ladies takes a rare look at four internationally known classical soloists and their music. In the past few seasons, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has teamed up with these leading ladies of music: Sharon Isbin, Leila Josefowicz, Frederica von Stade, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. This edition of State of the Arts features these acclaimed performers in stories that focus on the passionate connection each has to the music she plays. Classical Ladies airs on Friday, October 14 at 8:30 pm , with a rebroadcast on Wednesday, October 19 at 11:30 pm .

• Sharon Isbin, guitarist
Sharon Isbin is a world class, Grammy Award-winning soloist who plays one of the more unusual classical instruments: the guitar. When composer Christopher Rouse was commissioned to write Isbin a concerto, he created a work inspired by the visionary 19 th century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. In an in-depth interview — done with her guitar in hand — Isbin describes how “Concert de Gaudí” reflects the “drippy, melty” look of Gaudí's eccentric and highly influential buildings. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz uses images of Gaudí's work and speaks with Rouse to give a fascinating look at the creation and content of this award-winning contemporary classical piece. Isbin will be performing on October 20 at the Stockton Performing Arts Center in Pomona , New Jersey , and on October 21 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood , New Jersey .

• Leila Josefowicz, violinist
Leila Josefowicz is one of the foremost young violinists of our time – just how young is revealed in clips from a 1989 State of the Arts story done when she was a child prodigy. Now an established international star, she discusses a violin concerto written by the renowned contemporary composer John Adams. Adams , says Josefowicz, “really believes in classical music that can be influenced by outside culture” such as jazz and rock music. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz talks with Josefowicz about how she translates these “outside” influences into her performance of the Adams concerto, which she claims brought her to a whole new level in her career.

• Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano
Frederica von Stade, or “Flicka,” as she's called, was not yet born when her father was killed in World War II. He was only 25, a talented pianist, and devoted husband and father. His funny, moving letters home from the front were the basis for poems which composer Richard Danielpour then set to music. Sung by Flicka, the songs are heartbreakingly personal. She admits she has been searching for her father her whole life. The songs are also universal, expressing both pain and pride in the toll taken by war. State of the Arts producer Amber Edwards interviews both von Stade and Danielpour for this remarkable portrait.

• Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violinist
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg grew up in Cherry Hill , New Jersey , where she took part in a talent competition that won her the chance to play with the Philadelphia Orchestra when she was only 12 years old. Her choice was Mendelssohn's Concerto in E minor for violin and orchestra, one of classical music's most frequently performed pieces of music. She's still playing the Mendelssohn today as seen in this story with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Her relationship with this famous concerto is many faceted. “Every time I play it,” she says, “as corny as this sounds, I notice something I didn't notice before…and I've played this piece a lot!” In an interview with State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz, she describes how her interpretation of the Mendelssohn has matured, and the challenge of putting her own stamp on such a beloved composition.

State of the Arts , the award-winning, half-hour arts magazine airs every Friday at 8:30 pm , followed by an encore presentation each Wednesday at 11:30 pm.

The current episode of State of the Arts can be viewed online at www.njn.net . Individual stories will be available to view following their broadcast by visiting the program online at State of the Arts .