Interviews
Listen Editor in Chief Ben Finane in conversation with artists across the spectrum
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Soundboard — Davell Crawford
Davell Crawford discusses the rich jazz tradition of New Orleans, the fall of New York, moving forward, and employing the multiple personalities that live within you.
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Soundboard — Bill Murray
Bill Murray discusses American Letters, Mark Twain, James Thurber, absurdity vs. ridiculousness, failure, getting to work, writing vs. acting, rhythm and flow, and improvisation.
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Same Hits, Different Day
Living legend Billy Joel talks about the staying power of his music, the alchemy and process of songwriting, the origins of his aesthetic, Beethoven and the Beatles, and what he’s trying to learn now.
By Ben Finane
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Unscripted
Igor Levit on improvising; his ‘very direct’ and personal sound; and his love for Frederic Rzewski, Marina Abramovic, and voices beyond the classical canon.
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Don't Box Me In
Jonas Kaufmann talks about the evolution of fitness in opera; Parsifal and playing Parsifal; finding an interpretation to suit the composer, director and conductor — and honing it; the essentialness of spontaneity; listening to your body, instinct and doctor; and living on the Five Year Plan.
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An Existential Joy
Thoughts from violinist Leonidas Kavakos on Beethoven and folk music
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By Ben Finane -
The Humanist — Murray Perahia
Murray Perahia discusses the pull of Bach, the invention Of Haydn, his love for Mozart, editing the Beethoven Sonatas, the influence Of Heinrich Schenker, and the importance Of rubato.
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The Artist
Piotr Anderszewski on sabbaticals, filmmaking, his hometown of Warsaw, curation, and his love for Mozart, Janácek
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and Schumann
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Burning It to the ground — Don Airey
Don Airey on the Steinway Sound, finding space, piano vs. organ, the legacy of deep purple, and life beyond the band
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Yes, Why Not? — Lalo Schifrin
Lalo Schifrin, a composer for all seasons, at eighty-five
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By Ben Finane -
A Life, Improvised — Joachim Kühn
Joachim Kühn on his foray into visual art — and his love of Ornette Coleman, J.S. Bach, and African rhythm.
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No Fixed Ideas — Mitsuko Uchida
Mitsuko Uchida discusses Schumann as weirdo, tempo as translation, the difficulty of Mozart and the transcendence of late Schubert.
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By Ben Finane -
The Bridge Builder
Jordi Savall crosses the chasm vast.
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By Ben Finane -
In a Different Light
Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital discusses the rich history of his instrument; the nonexistent border between folk and classical; transcriptions and commissions; embedding nuance; and the artistic persona.
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Spreading the Word
American cellist Zuill Bailey preaches the gospel of life with classical music.
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By Ben Finane -
The Quiet Road Forward
Why the ‘poor little dying girls’ hold no interest for mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča
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By Ben Finane -
Trusting in Quality
David Robertson on rehearsing, marketing and programming classical music.
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By Ben Finane -
The Impostor
Béla Fleck discusses the origins of his name and instrument, the return of one microphone, his banjo concerto, dealing with weakness, his writing process and artistic expression.
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American Maestra
Marin Alsop holds forth on Americans vs. Europeans,the enduring gender gap, and the evolution of the orchestra.
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By Ben Finane -
The Bridge Builder
Hilary Hahn discusses diving into new music, what it means to be American, giving her collaborators an online voice and her knee-knocking introduction to improvisation.
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By Ben Finane -
A Quick One While He's Away
From somewhere in Eastern Europe, Arvo Pärt answers an email.
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By Ben Finane -
A Rock Star in Winter
Embracing his inner baritone and lutenist, Sting goes classical.
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By Ben Finane -
The Traveler
Rosanne Cash talks community, geography, learning on the road, reinvestigating the South, borrowing, melancholy, and respect for tradition.
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By Ben Finane -
The Choreographer
Mark Morris talks about putting music first, the importance of boring music, the problem with musicians, the three Hs, and why it's more fun workign with people who are really good at what they do.
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By Ben Finane -
Still Singular
Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter stresses authenticity, dedication and scholarship.
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By Ben Finane -
Finding a Way In
Isabel Leonard discusses dance training as character building, singing as expression, Frozen versus The Magic Flute, Mozart and Rossini as base building, trouser roles, and contemporary opera.
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Music & Poetry
Baritone Thomas Hampson sings America’s praises.
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By Ben Finane -
Russian Russian
Maestro and impresario Valery Gergiev discusses the legacy of Prokofiev and Stravinsky along with his opera-house arms race.
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By Ben Finane -
The Woeful Romantic
Joshua Bell defends his ventures and aesthetic.
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By Ben Finane -
Pure Instinct
Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas talks Mahler, Stravinsky and the future of contemporary music — in real space and in cyberspace.
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Truth in Music
Gidon Kremer delves into the roots of musical expression.
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By Ben Finane -
The Art of Storytelling
Yo-Yo Ma speaks of artistic principles, Bach as universalist, deepening our perception and appreciation, liberal arts as continuous learning, and the unlimited creativity of nature.
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I Have That Blood — Yuja Wang
Yuja Wang talks About rhythm, approach, avoiding Beethoven and Mozart, Russians who don’t give back, Rihanna, Petrouchka, Chopin and music as people.
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By Ben Finane -
Music in Words — Bill Murray
Bill Murray discusses American Letters, Mark Twain, James Thurber, absurdity vs. ridiculousness, failure, getting to work, writing vs. acting, rhythm and flow, and improvisation.
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By Ben Finane -
Rufus Wainwright: The Throwback
Rufus Wainwright talks about his style, his sound, writing a song, writing an opera, restoring our collective dignity, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and William Shakespeare.
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Lang Lang: Minister of Culture
Lang Lang talks Metallica, music education, Hans Zimmer, Herbie Hancock, global citizenship and being Human.
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By Ben Finane -
Olga Kern: Soaring Melodies
Olga Kern on the rich, pianistic legacy of Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, the Kern Family and Billy Joel
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By Ben Finane -
Illuminating The Masters
Maurizio Pollini reveals his pathways in to Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, as well as to more modern composers.
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By Ben Finane -
Music from the Tribe — Davell Crawford
Davell Crawford on the rich jazz tradition of New Orleans, the fall of New York, moving forward, and employing the multiple personalities that live within you
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By Ben Finane