“Sad, moody, happy, funny or none of it,“ Lambert, German songwriter and musician describes the freedom to be “everything at the same time.” Releasing lovely works for several years, eliciting tranquility, many who know and love the music “see the visual part as the perfect description,“ despite some contradictions as darkness and loneliness are portrayed in accompanied videos such as one of our favorites “Sweet Apocalypse.” We were lucky enough to have a few questions answered by Lambert and look forward to following and listening closely as the Lambiverse evolves.

Virgil Boutellis-Taft’s playing throughout his debut orchestral album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Incantation, is brilliant, effusive and gripping. He glides above the orchestra while maintaining a core to the tone and unfolding gorgeous intricate phrases. But it is the depth of his relationship with the material, unique combination of works and history behind why he programmed this CD the way that he did that make this album exceptional. History had silenced Virgil Boutellis-Taft’s family violin. Through Incantation, the violin sings again in an unfurling of seemingly contradictory emotions which are all centered around melancholy.

David Lang’s concert-length work for treble vocal quartet love fail tells universal stories. They are about trust, interconnectivity, disappointment and of course love. Before speaking to Quince Ensemble about their recent recording of love fail, I had a hunch that there would be some overlap between the subject matter and their experience of working on this as an ensemble. The subject matter of interconnectedness, communication, compassion, faith and love are mirrored in Quince’s experience of bringing love fail to life. Quince Ensemble, composed of Kayleigh Butcher, Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, Liz Pearse, and Carrie Henneman Shaw, joins Classical Post to discuss.

Unsurprisingly, the first months of the much-anticipated “Beethoven 250” year have already seen several new releases of the string quartets. One standout is the Tetzlaff Quartet’s contribution, which highlights two major works (Op. 132 and Op. 130, with the “Grosse Fuge”) and—as we have come to expect from this formidable group through a patiently growing discography of thoughtful performances—features probing readings that take the artists out of the spotlight, foreground the music’s dynamism, and let these idiosyncratic, philosophical masterpieces stand front and center.

New Music Gathering, an annual three-day conference dedicated to the performance, production, promotion, support and creation of new concert music, has gone digital for the June 2020 conference. Two of its five organizers, composers Mary Kouyoumdjian and Angélica Negrón, join CP to discuss moving to an online format, making space within the community and balancing their own creative practices with their commitment to NMG.

Renowned soprano Karen Slack joins Classical Post to discuss her new series Konversations, building her career, how roles should be cast with ears instead of eyes, how fewer Black women have international careers these days and more.

Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi is one of classical music’s most streamed artists. His music draws from rock, jazz, American minimalism and from his teachers, avant-garde European composers Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007) and Luciano Berio (1925-2003).

The Grammy Award-winning Oregon Bach Festival announces a commemorative Radio Festival, featuring a lineup of historic recordings from some of the world’s top classical musicians, and the rare opportunity for audiences to enjoy previously archived LIVE and studio recordings throughout the past five decades.

Classical music venues are wondering how to make it through to the other side of COVID-19. National Sawdust’s Managing Director Brian Berkopec joins Classical Post to discuss National Sawdust plans on emerging as a leader in their field.

How do artists work within the parameters of the pandemic and how can organizations support artists in this moment of crisis? These are the questions that composer and National Sawdust’s artistic director, Paola Prestini, is asking. Prestini joined Classical Post for an interview on May 19 to discuss.

The Taiwan Philharmonic has begun performances for live audiences with cautionary measures in place under the leadership of Executive Director Lydia Kuo. Kuo joins Classical Post to discuss reopening, adjusting the orchestra seating layout, remaining financially stable, American orchestras and more.

ChamberQUEER may have cancelled their second annual in-person festival, but they have launched a virtual one! ChamberQUEERantine will feature half-hour Facebook Live performances from June 5-20 every night at 7 PM EDT on their page. Artists performing include Claire Chase, Conrad Tao, Adam Tendler, Spectrum Ensemble and many more. ChamberQUEER was founded in 2018 by Julia Biber, Danielle Buonaiuto, Brian Mummert, and Andrew Yee, with a mission to program queer artists and composers. Julia Biber and Brian Mummert join Classical Post to discuss the necessity of space for queer musicians, capturing the fun of Pride Month, programming, mentorship and more!

Like those of most musicians, my career is a jerry-rigged jigsaw puzzle. Like for so many of us, key pieces of that puzzle involve adjunct teaching at the university level. As a somewhat extreme case, I’ve been juggling four part-time, non-tenure track posts this past academic year – at the conservatory of a private liberal arts school (a rather under-recognized gem), and on three different campuses of the University of California system.

Classical Post has curated a selection of new releases in the form of albums, videos, and streamed concerts to help you discover your new favorite artist! The musical selections range from extraordinarily experimental to pop; all are designed to demonstrate the different directions that classically trained musicians can take.

Celebrated mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges is comfortable in the roles of Queen Nefertiti and Carmen. She joins Classical Post to discuss this balancing act, how her personal practice has shifted during the pandemic, and how her basketball background informs her operatic practice.

Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy (PYPA) transforms into the first-ever, full-scale, digital piano festival this August 1 - 9, 2020 with increased opportunities at a highly discounted rate (50-70% off tuition). PYPA cares about the health and safety of its community, so in light of global circumstances, they will reimagine what a small-but-mighty arts organization can be during this time.

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein joins Classical Post in conversation to discuss her latest album the Bach Cello Suites, Pablo Casals, her #36DaysOfBach, gravitating towards the sixth Bach Suite in these surreal times and more.

For composers, the process of being hired to score television and film projects has seemed elusive since the dawn of the movie business. Many successful composers may brush off their success to luck, but it’s about preparation and knowing the professional etiquette of scoring for TV & Film.

Composer Melissa Dunphy, winner of a 2020 Discovery Grant from Opera America, has been named the next composer in residence in conjunction with the Oberlin Opera Commissioning Program. Dunphy will develop her opera Alice Tierney with librettist Jacqueline Goldfinger through interactive experiences with Oberlin students, culminating in a world premiere at Oberlin in January 2023. Launched in 2019, the Oberlin Opera Commissioning Program supports the development and world-premiere staging of new operas by living composers. Each opera is delivered from conception to completion through extensive on-campus experiences at Oberlin. Dunphy joins Classical Post to discuss Alice Tierney, writing for opera, the collaboration process, and more.