Classical Conversations

Composers Jamie Leigh Sampson and Andrew Martin Smith stop by the studio to talk about their composer collective ADJ•ective New Music and their project with the Toledo Symphony celebrating the full solar eclipse. Several of the composers represented by the group have composed a new suite of Planets, to be performed alongside Gustav Holst's famous Planets suite.

Pianist and composer Marina Arsenijevic (arson-nee-vitch) offers a Valentine tribute to Frédéric Chopin with her album Chopin Obsession, and she speaks with Mary Claire Murphy on how, as someone who has lived through the turmoil of war, she deeply resonates with the music. Through Chopin Obsession, she gives us a window into the nuanced emotions of Chopin's waltzes, his Ballade No. 1, and more.

Composer Peter Boyer speaks with Mary Claire Murphy on his celebratory "Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue," commissioned by pianist Jeffrey Biegel for the centennial of George Gershwin's iconic "Rhapsody in Blue." He and Jeffrey are pursuing an ambitious "Rhapsody National Initiative" to perform the work in each of the 50 US states, and they're already on track for performances with more than 50 or...

Violinist Curtis Stewart, conductor James Blachly, and the Experiential Orchestra invite us into a musical dialogue with Julia Perry and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson. Both Curtis and James join Mary Claire Murphy in a discussion of the works on this new album, American Counterpoints, and they introduce us to Curtis' own composition "We Who Seek."

American born, Scotland based conductor Kellen Gray chats about the second album in his African American Voices series from Linn Records. Re-teaming with the Scottish National Orchestra, Kellen leads the first commercial recordings of landmark works by Margaret Bonds, Ulysses Kay, and Coleridge Taylor Perkinson.

In his latest album, William Susman performs selections from his monumental piano series, Quiet Rhythms. The acclaimed pianist/composer speaks with Mary Claire Murphy about the recording, which was captured live at the music venue Spectrum in New York City.

Toledo Ballet's Artistic Director Eric Otto and Wardrobe Supervisor Heather Pooley talk about the 83rd annual Nutcracker happening December 9th and 10th at the Stranahan Theatre. We hear what's new for this year with costumes, choreography, and music, and we even include a little throwback to Toledo SymphonyLAB with a Nutcracker Quiz (minus the special sound effects).

Superstar Classical Guitarist Miloš Karadaglić talks about his new album Baroque, and how the music on the album is intimately intertwined with his musical and personal philosophy.

Nigel Burgoine and David Jex discuss their new ballet (scenario by Nigel, music by David) which receives its world premiere from Ballet Theatre of Toledo on November 10th and 11th at the Valentine Theatre. Inspired by artworks in the Toledo Museum of Art, the ballet follows the adventures of a young girl as follows: It’s the holiday season and Florence and her mother are visiting the museum. Flore...

In this Zoom conversation with WGTE's Mary Claire Murphy, Grammy®-nominated flutist Brandon Patrick George talks about his new album TWOFOLD from In a Circle Records. A pairing of canonical works for solo flute with new compositions, TWOFOLD represents a fascinating dialogue between composers of the past and composers of the present.

Plínio Fernandes explores the enduring genius of J.S. Bach in his latest album from Orchid Classics, Bacheando. The Brazilian guitarist joins WGTE's Mary Claire Murphy for a conversation about the recording, which not only contains some Bach favorites, but Brazilian works that are directly influenced by J.S. Bach.

Pianist and composer Carlos Simon grew up in a religious household, surrounded by hymns and a musical culture that has had a profound influence on his own work. Carlos joins us to talk about his album Together, which welcomes stellar performances from violinist Randall Goosby, mezzo J'Nai Bridges, baritone Will Liverman and cellist Seth Parker Woods.

Classical violinist Rachel Barton Pine has a secret. Well, not really a secret, especially after her recently-recorded collaboration with heavy metal and hardcore punk composer Earl Maneein. Together, they chat about their album Dependent Arising, which brilliantly pairs the classical/heavy metal violin concerto by Maneein with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.

Randall Goosby brings his outstanding reputation as a solo violinist and arts advocate for diversity to bear in his second album for Decca Classics, which includes the first commercial recording of two concertos by Florence Price. In this conversation with WGTE's Brad Cresswell, Randall chats about the album - which pairs Price with the well-known concerto by Max Bruch - in both studio and live co...

Pianist and composer Alexandra Stréliski talks about her new album, Néo-Romance, the followup to her platinum-selling album Inscape. Intrigued by the meeting of dark romanticism with the modern world, Alexandra fills Néo-Romance with beautiful musical short-stories — including some that mirror events in her own life.

Modern music specialist Maya Beiser (cellist, producer, multi-media artist and more) records — for the first time — one of the pinnacles of the cello repertoire, the Bach Solo Cello Suites. But, Maya's rendition has a bit of a twist, in that it's being released with different sound profiles, based on the space where it was recorded (in this case, a barn in the Berkshires of Massachusetts). Maya Be...

Artist Matt Wedel joins WGTE's Brad Cresswell and Mary Claire Murphy for a discussion surrounding his exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art, entitled "Phenomenal Debris." We get to the heart of what makes Matt's artistry so unique, and learn about his process in creating the many sculptures and drawings that make up the exhibit. "Phenomenal Debris" closes on April 2nd, but Matt Wedel will be in Tole...

Toledoans may remember superstar violinist Rachel Barton Pine's appearance with the Toledo Symphony a couple of seasons ago. Now, to mark the 25th anniversary of her pioneering album of works by Classical and Romantic composers of African descent, Cedille Records has re-released that album... with a new addition: Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, co...

Award-winning Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak joins us to preview his recital at BGSU on January 11, and to share a couple tracks from his debut album, IMPULSE. Described as “an exciting new voice in Classical performance” (I Care If You Listen), Jordan was named one of Classic FM's "30 Under 30" Rising Stars, and was a featured artist for WQXR’s inaugural Artist Propulsion Lab. Jordan is an...

Pianist and radio host Sarah Cahill joins us for a thoughtful discussion about her ongoing performance and recording project The Future is Female. She's recently released the second album in the series, subtitled The Dance, with ten tracks by women across time and space, from the French Baroque composer Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre to the modern-day composer, cellist, and vocalist Theresa Wong,...

As the war in Ukraine rages on, GRAMMY® Award-winning Ukrainian-American pianist Nadia Shpachenko offers the album INVASION with music by the composer Lewis Spratlan. As she watched in horror her home city of Kharkiv (and the rest of Ukraine) being destroyed and civilians being murdered every day, Shpachenko tried to come up with ways to express her feelings of utter despair and anger, as well as...

As both a virtuoso sax player and a BBC3 radio personality, Jess Gillam is a "double-threat," known for her infectious personality as well as for her irresistible performances. Having just made her Carnegie Hall debut, Jess took a few moments to chat with us about her career, as well as her album Time from Decca Classics.

Acclaimed baritone Keith Phares joins us in the WGTE studios to talk about his career, share musical excerpts, and preview his upcoming Faculty Recital at Bowling Green State University on November 2nd. Recital Details (BGSU website) http://keithphares.squarespace.com/ (Photo of Keith Phares in the studio with WGTE's Brad Cresswell)

Superstar vioinist Hilary Hahn joins us to talk about her album ECLIPSE, from Deutsche Grammophon records. A celebration of Hilary's return to the stage (after a year-long sabbatical), ECLIPSE documents her artistic growth during that experience – represented by three wonderful works that speak to Hilary's virtuosity in different ways. Listeners will revel in Hilary's performance of Pablo de Saras...

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson talks about his deeply personal album From Afar, released by Deutsche Grammophon records on October 7th, 2022. The album reflects Ólafsson’s musical DNA, from childhood memories growing up in Iceland to his international career and contemporary inspirations, recorded on both grand and upright pianos. https://vikingurolafsson.com/ Photos (c) Ari Magg