Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
Called “alluring” and “wildly inventive” by The New York Times, the “irresistible” (San Francisco Chronicle) music of Vietnamese-American composer Viet Cuong (b. 1990) has been commissioned and performed on six continents. In his music Cuong enjoys exploring the unexpected and whimsical, and he is often drawn to projects where he can make peculiar combinations and sounds … Continue reading #374 Viet Cuong
Since their founding in 2007 New Music Detroit has produced an annual marathon of new music called Strange Beautiful Music, commissioned new works, presented concerts in major institutions and off-the-beaten path venues alike and generally been an all-around force in adventurous music. Seth Boustead talks with pianist and Creative Director Justin Snyder, co-founder and saxophonist … Continue reading #373 New Music detroit
Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, DMA is a soprano, improviser, composer, and organizer specializing in contemporary classical music. She is the founder of Quince Ensemble, an all-women contemporary vocal group, and Hasco Duo, an experimental improvisation and songwriting project. She is also a member of and program curator for Ensemble Dal Niente, a Chicago-based chamber orchestra that … Continue reading #372 Amanda Deboer bartlett
Set against Afghanistan’s volatile history, A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the breathtaking story of Mariam and Laila, two Afghan women. Brought together under the brutal Taliban rule, the bond between Laila and Mariam leads to unthinkable sacrifices, and ultimately, one family’s survival. Based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel, this story has captured the hearts of millions including … Continue reading #371 A Thousand Splendid Suns at Seattle Opera
Suzanne Farrin is a composer and performer of the ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument created by the engineer Maurice Martenot in the 1920s as a response to the simultaneous destruction and technological advances of WWI. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times called her first opera, dolce la morte, a work of “shattering honesty.” Her debut … Continue reading #370 Suzanne Farrin
Chicago musician & composer Raquel Gonzalez has spent the last five years as a studio and live musician for various bands throughout the Midwest, often involved in the composing and arranging process. Their composition series, Sonic Creations with a Lyra-8 highlights a synthesized violin sound and duets between the instrument and a Lyra-8 synthesizer. About … Continue reading #369 Raquel Gonzalez
Host Austin Williams chats with LoadBang ensemble members Andy Kozar and William Lang about their most recent Premieres concert. This is the 20th volume in this concert series where the ensemble continues to champion new works by composers at all stages of their career. The unique ensemble instrumentation allows for specific writing to showcase each … Continue reading #368 Loadbang
JUNO Award-winning composer Vivian Fung has a unique talent for combining idiosyncratic textures and styles into large-scale works, reflecting her multicultural background. Matthew Dotson talks with her about her upcoming opera and new string quartet projects with the Jasper Quartet. MUSIC String Quartet No. 1 mvmt 3 "pizzicato" (excerpt) - Performed by the Jasper Quartet … Continue reading #367 Vivian Fung
The country's largest chamber music conference was back this year after a three-year hiatus and Relevant Tones was there. One of the highlights of the conference was two days of incredible ensemble showcases at Drom in lower Manhattan. We feature audio recorded live at these showcases from Shouthouse, Interwoven, the Beo String Quartet and the … Continue reading #366 Chamber Music America Showcases
Nina Shekhar is a composer who explores the intersection of identity, vulnerability, love, and laughter to create bold and intensely personal works. Described as “tart and compelling” (New York Times), “vivid” (Washington Post), and “surprises and delights aplenty” (LA Times), her music has been commissioned and performed by numerous leading artists. Since 2021, Shekhar has … Continue reading #365 Nina Shekhar