Classical Conversations

Two members of the celebrated Miró Quartet talk about the group's history and the latest entry in their Beethoven cycle: the String Quartet Opus 131 in C sharp minor, one of the composer's most profound and enigmatic works.

Stage director/vocal coach Kathy Kelly and soprano Jennifer Cresswell join us for a preview of Kerrytown Concert House's upcoming production of Laura Kaminsky's As One, an opera about the transgender experience. (Note: due to copyright, musical selections have been edited out of the podcast version of this episode)

The University of Toledo Opera Ensemble's director Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini joins us along with coach/accompanist Wayne Anthony and four cast members to preview their production of Benjamin Britten's opera A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on the Shakespeare play. Please note: due to copyright, musical selections have been edited out of this interview.

The Masterworks Chorale of Toledo's director Timothy Cloeter joins us to preview their spring classics concert, From Darkness Into Light, which pairs music of Johann Sebastian Bach with that of John Rutter. (Note: due to copyright issues, music selections have been edited out of this podcast).

Celebrated composer, conductor, teacher, and author Samuel Adler turns 90 this month. Sam joins us for an extended conversation about his life, career, and music – with a focus on the recent album One Lives but Once: A 90th Birthday Celebration from Linn Records, and Sam's recent autobiography Building Bridges With Music: Stories from a Composer's Life from Pendragon Press. Note: due to copyright, musical selections have been edited out of this podcast audio.

We continue the conversation with composer, conductor, teacher, and author Samuel Adler on the occasion of his 90th birthday, featuring his recent album One Lives but Once: A 90th Birthday Celebration from Linn Records, and his recent autobiography Building Bridges With Music: Stories from a Composer's Life from Pendragon Press. Note: due to copyright, musical selections have been edited out of this podcast audio.

Pianist Lara Downes talks about her intimate tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his American legacy in her new album from Sony Classical, entitled For Lenny. This 28-track recording features world premieres, new arrangements, and inspired collaborations between Lara and artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Thomas Hampson, and Kevin Olusola.

The vocal ensemble Hudson Shad is in town to perform the work they know best: Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht's Seven Deadly Sins, with Storm Large and the Toledo Symphony (they've performed it more than any other group in history, in fact!). Hudson Shad (Tim Evans, Mark Bleeke, Wilbur Pauley, Peter Becker, Eric Edlund) joins us in the studio to sing some of their favorite songs and share in conversation.

Star violinist Rachel Barton Pine introduces us to her latest album, which pairs the equally romantic violin concertos of Max Bruch and Sir Edward Elgar.

Christina Farrell, founder of Opera Ignite, is in town to bring her Opera is a Story program to pre-schoolers throughout the area under the auspices of Toledo Opera. She joins us for a conversation about the rewards and challenges of bringing opera to the youngest generation, and music education in general.