Classical Conversations

Polish-born, Canadian based pianist Katarzyna Musial joins us to talk about her latest album, My Spanish Heart. Including works by Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, and Enrique Granados, the disc takes the listener on a delightful tour of Spain. Katarzyna also tells us about her annual Stella Musica Festival, which takes place in Montreal and promotes the role of women in music.

Pianist Roman Rabinovich has been garnering praise all over the globe for his Haydn Project, in which he plans to perform and record all 62 of Joseph Haydn's rarely heard (but nonetheless brilliant) piano sonatas. He joins us to talk about the first volume in the set, now available at all the usual outlets.

Grammy-nominated composer Gernot Wolfgang talks about his new album Vienna and the West – a jazz-influenced collection of chamber music performed by some of the Los Angeles area's finest musicians.

Pianist/composer Craig Swanson joins us to talk about his fascinating project The French Suite Kit, which presents the music of Bach in a unique fashion – "played on the piano with variety enough to suit every taste." Swanson's version of Bach's so-called "French" suite includes several different interpretations of each movement, handing control over to the listener to assemble their own "definitive" version of the work.

Pianist Lara Downes joins Haley Taylor for a discussion of her new album, Holes in the Sky - a star-studded collection of female artists which pays tribute to the remarkable women of American music, past, present and future. Photo of Lara Downes by Shervin Lainez

Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Toledo Nigel Burgoine joins us to talk about his work with the great Rudolf Nureyev - who is the subject of a new film by Ralph Fiennes called The White Crow. We also hear from the film's composer, Elan Eshkeri.

British film composer Ilan Eshkeri joins us to talk about his third collaboration with actor/director Ralph Feinnes, The White Crow. The film tells the story of famed Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and his defection to France in 1961. Eshkeri's soundtrack, which features violinist Lisa Batiashvili, is meant to mingle with and compliment the ballet music of Tchaikovsky, which bore an important presence in Nureyev's career.

Mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital and jazz bassist Omer Avital join Haley Taylor for a conversation about their high-powered collaborative album Avital Meets Avital, which brings together their two musical worlds with an emphasis on Middle Eastern folk traditions.

The young, American violist Matthew Lipman joins us to preview his new album Ascent – which features a wide variety of works for viola, including the world premiere recording of a recently unearthed piece by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Legendary conductor, pianist, and Toledo native Dennis Russell Davies joins Brad Cresswell for a wide-ranging discussion about growing up in Toledo, how his career took shape, his championing of new music and living composers and his plans to celebrate his 75th birthday on April 16.