KDFC 102.1 FM

Its a god enough station but it doesn’t go deep enough to the vast realm of classical music. It has this kind of silly upbeat flavor. Some of the announcers sound a bit over the top in their presentations.
Think it needs more depth and leave the sports metaphors at the playing field

What happened to classical 102.1 FM? Where would I go for Ravel and Wagner now?
I am disappointed and want my sanity-​restoring radio station back, because it’s nowhere to be found. I would even agree to re-​program my car radio if only it came back on a different frequency.
I promise I won’t switch the station at too much Bach or Dvoák or even a million variations of «Joy to the World» a month before Christmas. I promise to say ‘ohm’ every time I hear «1812 overture» or «In the Cave of the Mountain King.»
Just please, please, please, come back! Anywhere, even AM.

New and disproved: classical radio station loses its frequency, its power (broadcast), its power (half its listeners) — and keeps its call letters (KDFC), website, and «gains» two underpowered radio frequencies…
Still listening?
Oh, that’s right the new and disproved KDFC is «listener supported» or will be (they’re going to get back to us on that).
Is it just me, or do I hear the ghost of KJAZ in the background?

I love this station and its announcers, and it’s always playing in the background of my home.
One thing I do not understand is why they play certain pieces over and over and over: Right now they’re playing Wagner’s Lohengrin Act 3 Prelude (trust me, you’ve heard it). And it makes me cringe every time they play Beethoven’s Fur Elise… they do it often. I just don’t get it. There is so much beautiful classical music, and they’re not a pop radio station that’s under extreme pressure to air the latest hits.
If they’d just build their play list out of less well known classical treasures that have come out over the last few centuries, they’d probably never have to play the same song twice.

KDFC is not bad to listen to, especially while at work or even on your way to work. I mainly switched over to KDFC because I lost the Sacramento station KXPR on the dial (thankfully, I found it somewhere else on the dial and I try to listen to it more frequently)
The reason this station is not as good as it’s Sacramento counterpart is that Sacramento has no commercials (they do funding drives like PBS, but they’re very good at getting right back to the music), the Sac station has great weekend programs such as Friday Night at the Opera, From the Top (featuring our Nation’s youngest musicians), and other valuable programs.
KDFC really doesn’t delve too deep into the classical realm. I suppose if you’re a novice and just enjoy it for background music, you’re not going to care either way. But, for someone who’s genuinely into music as a whole, they’ll get tired of hearing music that’s so often heard.
I will admit KDFC has introduced a few gems here and there, and this is why I do give them 3 stars. They are also fairly relaxing and even though they do play commercials, they’re not annoying to the least.

I’m fond of listening to this station, and keep in on in my apartment on an almost continual basis, including leaving it on for the cat when I am away from home.
It’s true that in many ways their offering is sort-​of «classical music lite,» and that they do play certain selections with remarkable frequency, considering the centuries of music that there are to choose from. On the other hand, I believe that their selections are based on listener surveys with regard to listeners’ favorite composers and pieces, so that is probably what keeps them on the air.
They are very good at keeping their listeners informed with regard to current local musical events, which has enabled me to timely buy tickets for some very enjoyable performances. They also continually sponsor a number of different contests and promotions through their web site, many of which I have personally benefitted from. I have won free tickets to several concerts and other performances, and at least one really opulent free dinner at a restaurant that is out of my ordinary budget. I have also enjoyed several of their other sponsored events like «Opera at the Park,» and Opera at the Ballpark.” I’m glad to have access to KDFC.

To paraphrase Dr. Evil:
«KDFC is not a Classical music station, KDFC is the Diet Coke of Classical music stations. Just one calorie, not Classical enough.»
KDFC is fine radio station if your idea of classical music is the following:
Mozart, but none of his operas, singspiels or choral works
Baroque, but only Bach and Handel and played on modern insturments and no choral or organ works
Nothing after Debussy or early Stravinsky
Nothing Choral, Operatic or Vocal
And lots of Piano Sonatas and Concertos
Seriously, classical music is more than just that. Just because the genre isn’t «popular» that doesn’t mean you narrow the music you play to the lowest common denominator. Look at KCSM, for example, they play all sorts of Jazz from Dixieland to Bebop to Latin to Fusion and every once in a while they play vocalists like Vaughn and Sinatra. If KCSM was of the Caliber of KDFC, they’d play nothing but Big Band.
Also, could they play more than just one random movement from an orchestral work?
I’m surprised that in the Bay Area, a supposed center of intellectualism and culture, has such a bland Classical station. Can’t they mix in some Reich, Glass and Adams and some Renaissance music. And something involving singers outside of Christmas season would help too.
Thankfully, I have Sirius. Between the Met Opera and the Orchestral channels, I don’t need to listen to this station anymore.

Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you I am a refined gentleman with a deep appreciation for the arts. Like, totally dude. Thus, I’ve taken the time to comprise a short list of some of my favorite KDFC jams for your listening pleasure.
1. Bach, Little Fugue in G. I’m not sure what a «fugue» is, I just like saying that word.
2. Mozart, La Clemenza di Tito. Wow, an opera about the Jackson 5. How awesome is that.
3. Handel, Water Music Suite no 2 in D major. I find the Baroque period to be the most danceable. Don’t you?
A closer examination of this list will also illustrate that I’m a complete moron. But at least I’m a classy moron.
In reality, KDFC is a wonderful radio station. They play a nice combination of pieces you might recognize with obscure works from little known conductors or performers. The commercial breaks are also kept to a minimum, because most of these songs are like 10 minutes long. My favorite show is the cheeseball sounding «Island of Sanity». I like to listen to this show with a 5 liter box of Franzia chilling in the fridge. See, told ya I was Klassy. 5 stars.