PODCAST

SCMS: Classical Conversation Podcast

 

As part of its Winter and Summer Festivals, Seattle Chamber Music Society presents informal, in-depth discussions with Classical KING FM 98.1 host Dave Beck and Festival musicians. These Classical Conversation Podcast interviews give an inside look at the Chamber Music repertoire performed during the Festivals with world-class performers’ insight. Dave Beck and Jeremy Jolley, Producers. Bill Levey, Recording Engineer and Technical Production.

 

Erin_Keefe
Erin Keefe
October 8, 2019

In part 1 of our discussion with violinist Erin Keefe, she shares a recording of music by Jean Sibelius and talks about how she’s come to a deeper understanding of that great Finnish composer through her travels and performances with her Finnish husband, conductor and composer Osmo Vänskä.

Erin Keefe

Part 2 of our conversation with violinist Erin Keefe includes her shocking admission that she “detests practicing.” But Erin explains that the social aspect of music, and the friendships and collegiality of chamber music in particular, fuel her passion for perfecting her craft.

Erin Keefe

In the final part of our conversation, violinist Erin Keefe talks about how playing Brahms’ chamber music led to her appointment as concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra, and we hear that performance of Brahms. Erin also shares one of her favorite concertmaster solos, a passage from the Richard Strauss “Four Last Songs.”

Nicholas Phan
September 3, 2019

In the first part of our conversation with tenor Nicholas Phan, he shares his musical background and training history. We also hear a lovely recordings of a song by Beethoven.

NicholasPhan
Nicholas Phan

Part 2 of our conversation with tenor Nicholas Phan, the unique and special aspects of art song and vocal chamber music, which is a particular focus for Phan. A song about witches by Felix Mendelssohn is heard and discussed, as well as the how the vocal music of Mendelssohn and other composers is under-performed.

Nicholas Phan

The final part of our chat with tenor Nicholas Phan, we learn about his founding of the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago to promote opportunities for art song performance. We hear a delightful song by Hugo Wolf and ‘An Die Musik’ by Franz Schubert. Nicholas also speaks warmly of his former vocal teacher Rosemary Russell.

David Harding
August 6, 2019

The first part of our conversation with violist David Harding focuses on Trio Verlaine, his chamber ensemble with flutist Lorna McGhee and harpist Heidi Krtutzen. He also talks about meeting and performing with his wife.

David Harding

Part 2 of our conversation with violist David Harding focuses on his teaching career and his relationship with his own teacher: pedagogue, violist, and painter Emanuel Vardi.

David Harding

In the final part of our conversation, violist David Harding speaks about an SCMS-Commissioned work by Jeffrey Cotton as well as the powerful chamber music of composer Johannes Brahms. We also learn about his instrument – an 18th-century viola.

TessaLark
Tessa Lark
June 4, 2019

The final part of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark. She speaks about attending renowned fiddler Mark O’Connor and his summer music camp she attended as a young player. Tessa also speaks about the music of Eugene Ysaye, and an upcoming recording of Bach.

piano technician
Charles Ball
May 21, 2019

In Part 2 of this special episode of our podcast, we interview Piano Technician Charles Ball, who talks about maintaining exceptional concert pianos. We hear an excerpt of a live performance of Brahms on the SCMS piano by Adam Neiman, and Charles discusses the SCMS piano and its characteristics.

Scott St. John
May 7, 2019

The final part of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John who talks about the period where he took a year off from music, how he got started in his university teaching career, and his passion for public transportation.

Tessa Lark
April 23, 2019

In part 3 of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark, she speaks about performing John Corigliano’s piece “Stomp,” and her interest in and performances of bluegrass and fiddle music. She expounds on the differences in technique in performing classical violin and folk violin.

Scott St. John
April 9, 2019

Part 3 of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John touches on his new teaching position at the Colburn School, the music of composer John Adams, and the challenges of creating a career as a chamber musician.

Charles Ball works on voicing
Charles Ball
March 26, 2019

In this special episode of our podcast, we interview Piano Technician Charles Ball, who is the Head Technician for the Butler School of Music at University of Texas-Austin. He has decades of experience caring for these complex instruments, and discusses the mechanical, tuning, and voicing aspects of piano upkeep.

Tessa Lark
March 12, 2019

Part 2 of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark, she speaks about the similarities between styles of music she loves, including baroque, bluegrass, and contemporary classical. We experience the versatility of the violin and of her playing in particular, hearing some of her bluegrass recordings.

Scott St John
Scott St. John
February 25, 2019

Part 2 of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John focuses on his family, performing music by Bohuslav Martinu, and his role performing as part of the St. Lawrence String Quartet from 2006-2013. Scott also speaks about the influence of his teacher and Guarneri String Quartet founder Arnold Steinhardt.

Tessa Lark
February 12, 2019

Part 1 of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark focuses on her bluegrass roots and her early musical studies, and how that made her interested in the relationship between folk music and classical. We hear an excerpt from Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances.

Scott St. John
January 30, 2019

In Part 1 of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John, he discusses SCMS Founder Toby Saks and how he got involved in the Festival. He also talks about his recordings of Dvorak and Mozart and his musical relationship with his sister, violinist Lara St. John, and his wife, violist Sharon Wei.

James Ehnes
January 15, 2019

This second half of a 2-part Festival Preview episode features SCMS Artistic Director James Ehnes talking about some of the musicians making their SCMS debut during the Winter Festival and the works that will be heard in Free Pre-Concert Recitals prior to every concert of the Festival.

James Ehnes
January 2, 2019

SCMS Artistic Director and violinist James Ehnes gives a preview of the 2019 Winter Festival of chamber music. This first half of a 2-part Festival Preview focuses on how he programs a festival of chamber music with a variety of musicians and repertoire. He also talks about why the Festival contains a 20th-Century piece almost every evening, including the rarely-performed “Gemini Variations” by Benjamin Britten.