Contemporary Classical Music Podcast
A new album by New York-based ensemble Founders presents a wildly imaginative interpretation of Olivier Messiaen's classic chamber work Quartet for the End of Time. The result is a respectful homage to the transcendent beauty of the original work while also incorporating jazz, rock, and other non-classical styles. Performed by: Ben Russell, violin / voiceBrandon … Continue reading #288 Songs for the End of Time Vol. 1
For more than twenty years the Tribeca New Music Festival has brought bold new classical music infused with American pop culture to audiences in New York City and, after March 2020, to the world. We talk with composer and Artistic and Executive Director Preston Stahly about their mission, history and creative pivots during the pandemic. … Continue reading #286 Tribeca New Music
During the LA Philharmonic’s 2018/19 season, they commissioned 50 new works from artists including Louis Andriessen, Unsuk Chin, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, just to name a few. Composer and curator of the first of the LA Phil’s new music series, entitled Green Umbrella, Andrew Norman talks about the Southern Californian composers that he’s presenting. … Continue reading #266 Green Umbrella
Virtuosic violinist Jennifer Koh is known for her commanding performances and technical assurance. Although she performs Tchaikovsky and Bach she’s interested in finding the connection between the arts and music of all eras from traditional to now. Jennifer Koh tells us about some of the 60 works that have been written especially for her including … Continue reading #265 Jennifer Koh
We’re opening our doors to Nick Photinos, David Schrader, and other Thirsty Ears Street Festival performers for a preview concert. The third annual festival kicks off on Saturday, August 11 and ends on Sunday, August 12. You can visit the festival at Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood; the two day event will feature fifteen stellar … Continue reading #264 Thirsty Ears Festival Preview
The Boston Modern Orchestra Project is widely known as the leading orchestra in the United States dedicated exclusively to performing the 20th and 21st century music and its signature record label BMOP/sound reflects those standards. In Boston, we’re listening to the newest recordings off BMOP/sound label and talking to Creative Director and Conductor, Gil Rose. … Continue reading #260 Boston Modern Orchestra Project
The ever-busy New York-based chamber orchestra The Knights has worked with some of the top composers and musicians in the world including Osvaldo Golijov on a stunning new release of his large scale symphonic work, Azul. The piece draws on several world music traditions as do the other pieces on the album. We talked … Continue reading #252 Azul
Founding cellist of Eighth Blackbird, Nick Photinos, joins us in WFMT’s Levin Studio in Chicago to play pieces from his first solo album. Nick worked with an exciting array of diverse composers on the album including David T. Little, Angélica Négrón, Florent Ghys, Andrew Norman and Bryce Dessner. Hosted by Seth BousteadProduced by Sarah … Continue reading #248 Nick Photinos
Composer Jeremy Gill recently had the opportunity of a lifetime when the Boston Modern Orchestra Project agreed to record not one, not two, but three of his concertos. We’ll talk with Jeremy and clarinet soloist Chris Grymes about this fantastic new release and play as much of it as we can. Hosted by Seth … Continue reading #246 Jeremy Gill and BMOP
Four-time Grammy winning super group Eighth Blackbird unveils their newest creative project: “to inspire the next generation of performers and composers to share in the ensemble’s vision: to champion a distinctive, dynamic and engaging performance aesthetic.” We’ll talk to the birds and this year’s participants and bring you into the creative process as the lab … Continue reading #245 Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab