Classical Conversations

Following up on their 2014 album Brahms by Heart, the Chiara String Quartet has just released Béla Bartók’s six string quartets on Azica records, played entirely from memory. Three members of the group, violinist Hyeyung Julie Yoon, violist Jonah Sirota, and cellist Gregory Beaver join us for a preview.

After two decades of spectacular music-making, the San Francisco-based Cypress String Quartet has decided to disband. They leave behind a rich discography, including their latest recording - the last in their series of Beethoven String Quartets. Violinist Tom Stone and cellist Jennifer Kloetzel join us to talk about the reasons behind their decision, and to preview their new Beethoven recording, now available from Avie Records.

Rachel Barton Pine’s relationship with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach runs deep. The best-selling violinist joins us to preview her latest album, Testament, which features a cornerstone of the repertoire: Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin.

Fifteen years ago, cellist Matt Haimovitz famously brought the Bach Cello Suites to folk clubs and rock venues. Now, he brings us a completely new intepretation of these classics works, informed by the manuscript copy made by Bach's wife, Anna Magdalena.

Welsh harpist Claire Jones became a household name in Britain when she performed at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace in April 2011. Now she brings her formidable talents to the US in the form of Royal Harp Strings, a new album from Silva Classics released in conjunction with her 2016 American tour.

The Quartetto di Cremona (Cremona Quartet) has released another volume in their acclaimed series of Beethoven string quartets. Violist Simone Gramalia spoke with us about the new album, which includes a bonus: Beethoven's Quintet, Op. 29, featuring Emerson String Quartet violist Lawrence Dutton. Related Content: The Cremona Quartet in Conversation & Performance at the WGTE Studios

In advance of her appearance with the Toledo Symphony, singer/songwriter China Forbes joins WGTE-FM's Brad Cresswell for a chat about her band Pink Martini, her opera obsession and more.

Anthony de Mare's latest release is the culmination of a four-year recording project that features 36 "re-imaginings" of Stephen Sondheim tunes by modern composers. The enterprising pianist joins us with the backstory of The Liaisons Project and a preview of some of the music.

Venezuelan-born Gabriela Montero is not only a world-famous pianist, she's also a human rights activist who has been an outspoken opponent of her homeland's Chavist government. That activism has expressed itself in Gabriela's first composition, Ex Patria - a powerful tour-de-force for piano and orchestra which portrays the violence and corruption that has overtaken her native country.

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital joins us to preview his album Between Worlds - a genre-defying tour of the globe exploring the nexus between classical, popular and traditional music.