For classical musicians, the process of exploring and learning new repertoire never ends. That's especially true for pianists, who have a titanic amount of literature available to them — from seminal keyboard works of the Baroque to the freshly inked compositions of today.

Climbing that mountain of music can be intimidating — but not for Orion Weiss.

Although his student days at Juilliard, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Pianofest in the Hamptons are well behind him, it's the piano's incredible wealth of literature that fuels his inspiration to create music.

"I have an insatiable hunger for discovering the musical literature," Weiss says in the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "It's endlessly enriching to have this repertoire to work through and try to understand and grow with ... I won't ever feel like I'm not a student anymore — I'm striving to achieve something I haven't yet."

Weiss's endless curiosity has served him well throughout his career, and it's the foundation for his latest album, Arc I. The first installment of an ambitious trilogy — what Weiss playfully refers to as his "Lord of the Rings of the piano" — the new album features piano works by Granados, Janacek, and Scriabin written during the frantic build-up to World War I, an unsettling time that sees many parallels to today.

"When I was recording the album, I was trying to understand feelings and the world today. It's hard to know what the future is, but connecting to periods where people were more stressed than normal and had reason to be, somehow makes me feel like the music can explain something to me — how to proceed, how to deal with it, how to understand emotionally what's going on."

In this conversation, we discuss future installments of the Arc trilogy, the ways Weiss sees music as a form of time travel, and how a career in classical music is a lot like climbing an endless Stairmaster. Plus, he shares more about his personal wellness and fitness routines, his favorite spots for the spiciest Szechuan food in New York City, and the power of dark chocolate when he can't muster the energy to practice.

Listen to Arc I on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you stream or download music.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

How does a storied summer music festival thrive in the 21st century? Especially one located in a town best known for its 19th-century gilded glamor and magnificent mansions?

For Newport Classical's executive director, Gillian Friedman Fox, it's all about finding ways to respect history and tradition while forging new paths for access and inclusion. "For Newport Classical, people are looking for a classical music and arts experience that you just can't find anywhere else," Friedman Fox says in the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast.

"On one hand, [Newport's] charm and glamor is a one-of-a-kind experience and is so glamorous. We feed into that, right? But on the other hand, I really want classical music to be welcoming and I want it to be accessible. We don't want people to feel deterred by what can feel like a really formal experience."

Beginning July 1, the 2022 edition of Newport Classical will showcase 32 artists and ensembles in 24 performances across 11 of the town's most beautiful venues, including the iconic Breakers, the "summer cottage" of the Gilded Age's famous Vanderbilt family.

But under Friedman Fox's leadership, Newport Classical isn't just about fabulous locations and big-name performers. It's about shining a light on underrepresented artists who deserve a wider audience. This summer's programming offers a strong focus on women and BIPOC composers, including works by more than 40 women and the world premiere of a new solo piano work from critically acclaimed composer Shawn Okpebholo, commissioned by Newport Classical.

According to Okpebholo, his new work looks to explore the long history of Black music not only in America, but in Newport specifically: "Black classical music matters, and it's not a new thing. It's been going on since this nation was created. We are part of the musical heritage of America."

In this conversation, we speak with both Friedman Fox and Okpebholo about what's in store for Newport audiences this summer. Gillian talks about what inspires her artistic leadership, how Newport's history and architecture inform the festival's programming, and she offers her recommendations for the best places to eat and drink in New York City and Newport. Then, we talk to Shawn about how he approached his Newport Classical commission and what he hopes audiences take away from the new work.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

Longevity and chamber music don't often go together. For every Emerson String Quartet that spends decades performing together, there are scores of chamber ensembles calling it quits every year. So when a group like the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet reaches its 40th anniversary, it's a cause for celebration.

So what's the secret to their continued longevity? For founding member William Kanengiser, it all comes down to a foundation of friendship and gratitude.

"It's really interesting that we were friends first, and then bandmates," Kanengiser says in the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "Like any group, we've had our trials and tribulations ... but we've left a legacy that we're proud of. We've had fun doing it and we've hopefully given people a little bit of joy and solace as we've gone along. We have a lot to be thankful for."

That sense of celebration and gratitude is at the heart of LAGQ's new album, Opalescent. The Grammy Award–winning ensemble's 14th album finds the quartet exploring ideas of light, color, and sound through a wide range of works by composers they've worked with throughout the years.

In this conversation, we discuss the new album, how the joys of human connection inspire William's music-making, and the important role wellness plays in his personal and professional life as a co-founder of the Thornton Musicians Wellness Committee at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

Plus, Bill muses on his favorite espresso and the central role coffee plays in the LAGQ, his passion for cooking as a creative outlet, and how New York City's restaurants served as his gateway to the world while growing up in suburban New Jersey.

Listen to Opalescent wherever you stream or download music.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

In the social media age, the life of a classical musician can appear glamorous — a steady stream of concerts across the globe, album releases, residencies, and black-tie receptions.

But what are the ups and downs we don't see once the cameras are gone? And what roles can wellness and community play in the life of a performing artist today?

Author Rebecca Fischer — who for 18 years performed as first violinist in the Chiara String Quartet — explores those questions and more in her new book, The Sound of Memory: Themes from a Violinist's Life.

"I'm hoping to share a really honest account of what a musician's life is like from the inside," Rebecca explains on the latest episode of the Classical Post Podcast. "I really wanted to expose my own vulnerabilities — as a human, as a mother, as a woman — and invite others to celebrate their own vulnerabilities."

A collection of essays written over two and a half years, The Sound of Memory sees Rebecca meditating on the life of a performing artist in the 21st century, growing up in a musical family, and how she balances wellness with the anxieties — and joys — that go into maintaining a classical performance career.

In this conversation, we discuss Rebecca's book, why her definition of "success" is always evolving, and get a host of great recommendations for places to eat, drink, and enjoy life in New York City.

She shares why she heads to the Bronx when it's time to enjoy a beer but stays in her Manhattan neighborhood for the perfect Negroni, as well as the German chocolate her family can't live without — and the importance of spontaneous living-room dance parties.

Grab your copy of Rebecca's book on Bookshop.org.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

The American conductor Ryan Bancroft joins us on the Classical Post podcast today, where we speak about his new appointment as the Chief Conductor Designate of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Beginning in the 23/24 season, it’s a very important role at one of Europe’s premier orchestras.

Growing up in California, Ryan made his way to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he discovered conducting. He then shot into the spotlight in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen. He was appointed Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2019, won the RPS Conductor Award in 2020, and now is appointed Chief Conductor Designate of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

Trio con Brio Copenhagen joins us on the Classical Post podcast today, which was recorded earlier this spring when they were on tour in the US. Right off the heels of winning the German Record Critics' Award, we spoke particularly at a time when many organizations had been grappling with presenting music written by Russian composers due to how their audience views the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Near the end of the episode we dive into this topic.

Trio con Brio Copenhagen are actually all related. The violinist and cellist are Korean sisters (Soo-Jin Hong and Soo-Kyung Hong), and the Danish pianist, Jens Elvekjaer, married the cellist. Now based in the gorgeous European city of Copenhagen, it’s a convivial family that plays a vital role in the cultural life of Denmark.

We hear of an excellent Korean restaurant in Manhattan you definitely should try out, and as in many of our episodes, more wine recommendations.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

Soprano Laura Strickling joins us on the Classical Post podcast to discuss her Grammy nominated album, Confessions. Calling the U.S. Virgin Islands home, she tells the story of managing a mammoth commissioning project from the Caribbean while in lockdown.

Before the pandemic began, she launched a large undertaking called “The 40@40 Project,” where she commissioned 40 composers to write 40 new works, celebrating her 40th birthday. Even though the pandemic hit right after the project began, creating these new works fed her soul artistically and kept her connected even while live venues were shut. Now, the project is ongoing. More commissions are happening and numerous albums will be released, the first one potentially in early 2023.

The fun takeaway from this episode, though, is how she’s become “classical music's finest rum runner” — according to her own labeling. As one of the Caribbean’s most loved exports, this is a humorous tangent.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

It’s not everyday you hear about a vibraphonist, but today you will on the Classical Post podcast. Calling in from his home in Luxembourg, we spoke with the fascinating vibraphonist, composer, and producer Pascal Schumacher. He has a new album out on the Neue Meister label called LUNA. We dig into the background of creating this, including the accompanying gorgeous music videos.

We also explore his passion for wine from Luxembourg and Austria. He has several excellent recommendations, by the way. And, hear how wellness centers with lots of saunas have become popular in his country, and contribute to mental and physical wellness, taking a queue from Scandinavia.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet joins us on the Classical Post podcast today to discuss their latest album, UNCOVERED Volume 2, featuring the music of Florence Price. The star pianist Michelle Cann is also on the show as this album was a collaboration with her.

The quartet’s UNCOVERED project is a multi-volume set of albums released on Azica Records. The initiative celebrates beautifully crafted works by artists who have been overlooked and sidelined in classical music, especially because of their race or gender. Volume 1, released last year, includes the string quartet and quintets of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Stewart Goodyear. Volume 2 just came out this year and features music by Florence Price. Volume 3 and beyond will feature Coleridge-Taylor, Perkinson, William Grant Still, and George Walker, among others.

As a side note, violinist Abi Fayette was not on the podcast, but you will hear the other quartet members — violinist Karla Donehew Perez, violist Paul Laraia, and cellist Karlos Rodriguez — and the pianist Michelle Cann.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.

Zachary Carrettín and Mina Gajić are the dynamic duo on the podcast today. Zachary is music director of Boulder Bach Festival and Mina is its artistic and executive director. They have just released a chamber music album on the Sono Luminus label — Confluence — featuring a fascinating juxtaposition of Balkan dances and tango. I know tango speaks deeply to me, so I was very intrigued to hear the backstory of how this album came to be — seemingly disparate styles, but dovetailing so cleverly into a strong artistic statement in this album.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classical Post® is created and produced by ⁠Gold Sound Media⁠® LLC, a New York-based marketing agency for the performing arts industry. Explore how we can ⁠grow your audience⁠ to make a lasting impact in your community.