Classical Conversations
Classical WETA's Classical Conversations are interviews with today's leading classical music performers, composers and artists. These interviews explore the artists' backgrounds and musical influences.
Vladimir Spivakov
The Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Vladimir Spivakov are joined by award-winning Russian
pianist Olga Kern Wednesday night, May 14th at 8 PM at the Music Center at Strathmore. The
program features Ms. Kern in concertos by Haydn and Shostakovich. Also on the program: Shoenberg's
expressive Verklärte Nacht, and two tangos by Astor Piazolla. Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton speaks
with Maestro Spivakov about his art, and his friendship with both Slava and Shostakovich.
Listen to the conversation >
Hilary Hahn
Violinist Hilary Hahn joined the National Symphony Orchestra May 8-10, 2008 for Paganini's 1st
Violin Concerto. Music Director Leonard Slatkin conducts the program which also includes Del
Tredici's Final Alice and the Overture to Verdi's vespri siciliani. Weekday morning
host David Ginder spoke with Ms. Hahn about her violin, the fun of playing "chamber music" with
an orchestra, and Paganini, the tunesmith as well as virtuoso wild man.
Listen to the conversation >
Stephen Hough
Pianist, composer, poet, and MacArthur Fellow Stephen Hough joined the National Symphony Orchestra
and conductor Hugh Wolff April 24-26, 2008 for an all-French program that includes Saint-Saens' Piano
Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 ("Egyptian"). Classical WETA evening host Nicole LaCroix caught up
with Mr. Hough backstage at the Kennedy Center, where they discussed the "Egyptian" concerto, the
internet, and Mr. Hough's work as a composer.
Listen to the conversation >
Joseph Holt, Choral Arts Society of Washington
Lovers of a cappella choral music were in bliss with "Pure A Cappella: Spiritual Reflections" Sunday
afternoon, April 27, 2008 at National Presbyterian Church. Joseph Holt led a chamber choir of 63
voices from the Choral Arts Society of Washington in a program spanning six centuries, including
the world premier of Missa Pro Pace by Kentaro Sato. Prior to the show, Classical WETA's Deb
Lamberton spoke with Choral Arts' Associate Director Joe Holt, who brought along examples of the
music.
Listen to the conversation >
Julian Wachner
Music Director designate Julian Wachner led The Washington Chorus in "Songs of the Soul" at the
Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Sunday, April 27, 2008. In addition to the full-orchestral scoring of
Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, the program included the Washington premiere of Carlyle Sharp's Proud Music
of the Storm, and Brahms' seldom-heard Gesang der Parzen. Op. 89. Prior to the performance, Classical
WETA's Deb Lamberton spoke with Julian Wachner about the program.
Listen to the conversation >
Kurt Masur
On Monday, April 28, 2008, WPAS brought conductor Kurt Masur and the Orchestre National de France to
the Kennedy Center Concert Hall after a 17-year hiatus. The program included Anton Bruckner's
7th Symphony and Beethoven's 2nd piano concerto, featuring the gifted young French pianist David
Fray. Maestro Masur spoke with Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton about his life in music.
Listen to the conversation >
Robert Eisenstein, Folger Consort
For its final program of the 2008 season, Folger Consort, the early music ensemble in residence at
Folger Shakespeare Library, presented Highland Ayres, a selection of Scottish and Continental music
associated with Scotland from the 13th to the late 18th centuries, from April 18-20. The program
included a number of works for traditional Scottish instruments—harp, fiddle, and bagpipes—as well
as other period instruments in styles ranging from traditional to courtly. Prior to the performance,
Classical WETA's Midday Music Host Marilyn Cooley spoke with the Folger Consort's Robert Eisenstein
about the program.
Listen to the conversation >
City Choir of Washington, Robert Shafer Artistic Director
On April 17, 2008, The City Choir of Washington, Robert Shafer Artistic Director, performsed
Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 at Strathmore. Nearly 250 musicians-including 4 choirs (The City Choir
of Washington was joined by the Shenandoah Conservatory choir, the children's Chorus of Washington,
and the Blue Ridge Choristers) plus soloists and a Baroque orchestra-took the stage in this
monumental high Renaissance masterpiece. Prior to the concerts, Classical WETA's Nicole Lacroix, spoke
with Bob Shafer about the City Choir of Washington' inaugural season, and his very personal
relationship with this music.
Listen to the conversation >
Violinist Julian Rachlin
The brilliant violinist Julian Rachlin joined the National Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor
Yannick Nézet-Séguin for an all-Russian program, April 10-12,2008, featuring Shostakovich's Violin
Concerto in A minor, Op. 77/99. The concerts also included works by Mussorgski and Rachmaninoff.
In the days leading up to the performances, Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton spoke with Mr. Rachlin about
the concerto, and about his new CD of Shostakovich chamber music recorded live in concert at Vienna's
Musikverein for the Onyx label.
Listen to the conversation >
Conductor Thomas Dausgaard
On April 1, 2008, Washington Performing Arts Society brought the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and pianist
Piotr Anderszewski to the Music Center at Strathmore. On the program: Beethoven's First Piano
Concerto and Coriolan Overture, and Schumann's 2nd symphony. Conductor Thomas Dausgaard spoke with
Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton from the studios of Swedish Radio Orebro.
Listen to the conversation >
Joshua Bell
On March 3, 2008 Washington Performing Arts Society presented violinist Joshua Bell and pianist
Jeremy Denk in a nearly sold-out recital at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Prior to the concernt,
Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton spoke with Mr. Bell about his music-making, and about his
world-wide reputation as an "anonymous" busker in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station last April, 2007.
Listen to the conversation >
Composer Dominick Argento and Cathedral Choral Society Music Director J. Reilly Lewis
On March 2, 2008, the Cathedral Choral Society presented the world premiere of a commission by
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Dominick Argento. Scored for symphonic chorus, soprano, treble,
narrator and orchestra, the performance at the Washington National Cathedral featured soprano
Elizabeth Futral. Created as a tribute to his late wife and in honor of the Cathedral's Centennial,
Evensong: Of Love and Angels movingly portrays the transcendent power of the heavenly hosts to heal
the suffering of mortals. Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton invited composer Dominick Argento and
Cathedral Choral Society Music Director J. Reilly Lewis into our studios to discuss the work,
and its genesis.
Listen to the conversation >
Sir James Galway, "The Man with the Golden Flute"
"The Man with the Golden Flute", Sir James Galway, along with wife Lady Jeanne Galway and their
longtime accompanist Phillip Moll performed at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall February 25, 2008
as part of Washington Performing Arts Society concert series. Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton spoke
with Sir James about the art of his music-making.
Listen to the conversation >
![[Header Graphic]](/images/head_text1.jpg)
SEARCH
PLEDGE/RENEW
