Yiruma: Pianist Shows the World Gangnam Isn’t the Only Korean Musical Style
When South Korean singer Psy released Gangnam Style in 2012, the world was introduced to the infectiously catchy sound of Korean pop music, or K-Pop, as it’s known. But the world is discovering another extremely popular Korean musician, Yiruma, one whose musical style is quite distinct from K-Pop.
18th Century Violins and 20th Century Anime: Millennial Violinist Timothy Chooi Reaches New Audiences Through YouTube
When Timothy Chooi won the Grand Prize at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Standard Life Competition in 2010, he was one of the youngest award winners. Chooi has won numerous major awards in the decade that followed, including the International Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hanover, the Prix Yves Paternot at Switzerland’s Verbier Festival, first prize at the Schadt Violin Competition in the United States, and second prize of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium.
How London Chamber Orchestra is Committed to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity
Jocelyn Lightfoot recently took the helm of the London Chamber Orchestra, the UK’s oldest chamber orchestra. We spoke about her route into management, plans for the orchestra's 100th anniversary season, and her commitment to equality, inclusivity and diversity within the orchestra.
New York Philharmonic Continues Rich Legacy of Music-Making: New Year to Bring Superstar Conductors, Pianists, Singers and an Epic Hollywood Blockbuster
The rich legacy of the New York Philharmonic continues to this day under its current music director, Jaap van Zweden. As it emerges from the dark days of the pandemic, the orchestra’s commitment to making music of the highest quality is stronger than ever, as can be seen by its extraordinary schedule of concerts planned for the first half of 2022.
Isabel Leonard Has A Lot of Character: Extraordinary Mezzo-Soprano Shares How She Prepares for Her Roles
Isabel Leonard is a heralded regular at The Metropolitan Opera, one of the most in-demand opera singers with a string of accolades and awards. Here’s how she prepares for her leading roles at the world’s great opera houses.
Debuting at Madison Square Garden, Ayanna Witter-Johnson Rides the Wave of Life
My guest today on the Classical Post podcast is singer, cellist, and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson who makes her debut at Madison Square Garden as part of Andrea Bocelli's US tour this December. I'm sure you realize the significance of someone debuting in front of a crowd that could be upwards of 20,000 people. It's an incredible feat.
Beomjae Kim’s Magic Flute: Musician and Painter Enchants Through His Art
“The flute is the true magical rod that changes all it touches in the inward world; an enchanter's wand at which the secret depths of the soul open,” so wrote the German Romantic author Jean Paul. As a child, Beomjae Kim fell under the flute’s spell, and like one of the children of Hamelin, he followed the instrument’s charming sound where it would lead. From his homeland of Korea to the United States, Kim has pursued his love of the flute, and, along the way, discovered another talent, painting. Now he is devoting more of his time to the visual arts, while keeping up a successful and rewarding career in music.
How the Founder of The Violin Channel, Geoffrey John Davies, Built a Media Brand for Classical Music
Geoffrey John Davies, the visionary and charismatic founder of The Violin Channel, talks candidly about the origins of his company, how the internet has changed the experience of classical music, and what he sees for the future of the genre.
'Breaking Bad' Composer Asger Baden with Famed Danish Illustrator John Kenn Mortensen Discuss Making Space for Creativity
I know many of you have seen Breaking Bad, the globally popular show. Today's guest has some tracks that are featured on it. He's also got music on Netflix's reboot of the anime series Cowboy Bebop that was just released. From the beautiful European city of Copenhagen, composer, pianist, and producer Asger Baden joins us on the Classical Post podcast. Also with us in the same virtual studio, the famous Danish Illustrator, John Kenn Mortensen. The two artists actually collaborated on a recent album of Asger's music, released on the Neue Meister label. John did the cover art illustration.
Best Classical Music Concerts at Carnegie Hall This Winter/Spring in New York
Carnegie Hall opened in New York City on May 5, 1891 with a gala concert conducted by none other than Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. For more than 100 years it has lived up that auspicious beginning, hosting the world’s finest classical artists. Its rich legacy continues in 2022 with a series of concerts featuring great American and international orchestras, as well as stellar chamber groups, vocalists and instrumentalists.
Cellist from Royal Wedding, Sheku Kanneh-Mason Debuts with New York Philharmonic and Releases New Album, 'Muse'
We all remember the royal wedding of Prince Harry to the American actress, Meghan Markle, in 2018. I remember getting up early to watch it streamed live as I know many Americans did. Serendipitously, a classical cellist performed in the ceremony that day to a global audience of 2 billion people, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. He now makes his New York Philharmonic debut and releases a new album called Muse on Decca Classics.
Examining the Parallel Relationship of Feng Shui and Classical Music with Mark Ainley
Mark Ainley has become quite an authority in historic recordings of classical pianists. His highly-regarded Facebook page, The Piano Files with Mark Ainley, delves into how pianists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries played the instrument. Concurrently, he is a consultant in the Chinese art of Feng Shui and has been helping people integrate principles of nature to create a sense of balance in their homes and businesses.
Bachauer Concert Series Set to Present 2018 Gold Medalist Changyong Shin in Carnegie Hall Recital Featuring Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninoff
In the second week of March 2020, just days before he was slated to perform a recital in Salt Lake City, nearly two years after winning the gold medal in the International Artists Competition of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation, Changyong Shin was visiting local schools as part of Bachauer’s educational outreach program. The day before the recital, with abrupt notice, Salt Lake County shuttered all of the performing arts facilities due to the pandemic.
Changing the Voice of American Music: Professor Louise Toppin Discusses the Importance of the African Diaspora Music Project, Collaboration, and Hitting the Archives
Designed as a living and growing database that will strengthen as more compositions and recordings are submitted and discovered, African Diaspora Music Project (ADMP) supports Dr. Louise Toppin’s ongoing mission to help bring classical works in various languages and from across the globe to concert halls worldwide.
Grammy-Winning Lucas Meachem on Profound Cultural Questions Posed from New Album 'Shall We Gather'
Grammy Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem just released his first-ever solo album called Shall We Gather. It's a collection of American art songs that celebrate resilience and togetherness. His wife, Irina, the dynamic collaborative pianist, joins him on this album.
Jenny Lin Dazzles in World Premiere of Bolcom’s ‘Suite of Preludes’
On the approach of Halloween, that time of released spirits, Jenny Lin unveiled new work by William Bolcom in a concert for the ages. The pianist on Oct. 2 at Hudson Hall performed the Pulitzer-winning composer’s ‘Suite of Preludes’, composed during the pandemic. The evening doubled as a celebration of the work of Philip Glass, a seminal influence on Lin’s repertoire and career. The result is a remarkable tribute to two American composing legends, both of whom Lin has worked with extensively.
Alexander Lloyd Blake Discusses Tonality’s New Album 'America Will Be' and Creating New Works for Today’s Issues, Audiences, and Performers
On Friday, August 20, Tonality & Alexander Lloyd Blake released their second album of socially conscious new choral works: America Will Be. Following their debut Sing About It, released February 2019, the new album expands the award-winning Los Angeles choral group’s mission to “to unify our community through social outreach and serve as a beacon of peace, empathy and justice.” Engineered by Jeff Galindo and produced by Joseph Trapanese for Aerocade Music, the album’s 11 tracks sing of America, in all of its flaws, glory, and, most importantly, possibility.
What Do European Nightclubs Have in Common with Classical Music? After Millions of Streams, Berlin Composer-Pianist Meredi Is Shattering Stereotypes
Berlin-based composer-producer-pianist Meredi joins me on the Classical Post podcast to discuss the musical fusion of German nightclubs with a classical music backbone. In essence, this is her new album called Trance, released on the label Modern Recordings. As an artist who has garnered millions of streams online between all of the various digital services, ELLE magazine declares, "Meredi composes music which shines like stars."
From Netflix's ‘Bridgerton’ to HBO's ‘The New Pope’, Peter Gregson Continues Winning Streak with Release of Deutsche Grammophon Album, ‘Patina’
Cellist and composer Peter Gregson joins us on the Classical Post Podcast, whose music you've most likely heard on Netflix's crazy-popular Bridgerton, and HBO's The New Pope starring Jude Law and John Malkovich. His output even reaches the heights of haute couture in campaigns for Balenciaga, Burberry, and Dior. He’s just released a new album on the Deutsche Grammophon label called Patina.