Sunday Baroque Conversations

Violinist Julien Chauvin is a baroque music specialist who has studied with some of the world's prominent early music experts, including flutist Wilbert Hazelzet, cellist and viol player Jaap ter Linden and cellist Anner Bylsma. Julien Chauvin has also played in many of the leading European Baroque ensembles AND has founded several period instrument ensembles, too. One of those groups is Le Concert de la Loge, and Suzanne spoke with him about his recording with them of Concertos by Antonio Vivaldi for the VIVALDI EDITION recording series.

Mark Kroll is a harpsichord and fortepiano player, a scholar, educator and enthusiastic advocate for early music. He is Early Music America's 2020 Howard Mayer Brown Award winner for lifetime achievement for his career, which spans more than a half century. He is passionate about music and, especially, the harpsichord and he is an engaging raconteur. Mark spoke with Suzanne about his favorite musical instrument.

One of the most important jobs in a symphony orchestra is that of the Concertmaster. What exactly are the Concertmaster's duties and what skills make for an outstanding Concertmaster? Stefani Matsuo became Concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in September 2019, following a competitive audition process that attracted candidates from around the world. Suzanne spoke with Stefani about her pivotal role in the orchestra, and her joyous immersion in music since childhood.

I recently had the pleasure to meet Patricia Ann Neely (Pat Neely) in person, when I interviewed her about her career as a musician for this podcast series. Pat has had a long and varied career as a musician, educator, and administrator. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, especially in the early music community, and serves as Chair of Early Music America's IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Taskforce. Ms. Neely recalls with personal experience her own introduction to the field as a young musician, and she is actively engaged in the quest to reach out and draw in people from underserved communities, so they can feel welcome and valued, and experience the joy and personal transformation that music offers. This is the first in what we hope will be an ongoing conversation with Pat about what diversity and inclusion mean, why these are important goals, and what steps are being taken by various organizations achieve them.

The King's Singers is a 6-member British vocal group that was established in 1968, before its current members were even born! The a capella ensemble is internationally celebrated for its broad repertory, virtuosity, charming audience connection, and versatility of musical genres. Chris Bruerton and Nick Ashby are the two baritone singers in the group, and they joined Suzanne in the studio to talk about what it's like to carry on the longstanding King's Singers traditions and craft the group's evolution.

Patricia Ann Neely has a broad range of accomplishments and intellectual interests. She is a professional musician with experience in historical performance practice playing viola da gamba, vielle, violone and double bass. She's performed with prominent early music ensembles all over the world, and has founded her own groups, including Parthenia consort of viols and Abendmusik - New York's Early Music String Band. Pat Neely and Suzanne chatted about her introduction to music, and her career as a performer, teacher, and arts administrator.

Even as a child, Awadagin Pratt had many interests and talents. He was an excellent student, and he excelled at music and tennis with seriousness and intent beyond mere hobbies. He spoke with Suzanne recently about how he made the choice to pursue music when he realized it was the thing he could not live without. They also chatted about his recording projects - past and future - and other milestones in his career as a performer and teacher.

Lee Pringle is passionate about music. He's a singer and conductor with an exciting career that spans musical genres including classical, African American spirituals, and more. Lee Pringle is also passionate about shining a bright light on music, musicians and history that have been overlooked for far too long. He spoke with Suzanne via Skype about some of his many musical projects.

Most people who play period instruments like viola da gamba and baroque violin start their training using the modern versions of those instruments and ultimately stumble onto their Baroque ancestors. Usually they are adults, often training as musicians in college or working as professionals. But thanks to a unique and groundbreaking program founded by Angelo Moreno at Davis High School in Davis, California, students at the public high school can perform on period instruments using gut strings and baroque bows. Mr. Moreno established the DHS Baroque Ensemble, the first group of its kind at the high school level in the USA.As the group prepares to go on its third European concert tour, Angelo Moreno spoke to Suzanne Bona from the studios of Capital Public Radio in Sacramento.

For more than 15 years, the Naive recording label has been releasing performances of a huge collection of autograph manuscripts by Antonio Vivaldi contained in an archive in Turin, Italy. The extensive and varied contents illuminate the extent of Vivaldi's prolific and creative genius - an extraordinary cross-section of concertos, operas, and sacred music. Susan Orlando is the artistic director of the project, and she recalled one super-fan's message that the project should be worthy of a Nobel Prize because of its power to be 'better than Prozac' in helping her stay relaxed and content. Susan Orlando spoke with Sunday Baroque host Suzanne Bona via Skype about the Vivaldi Edition.