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Special Features Archive
2007 special features from Performance Today
Peter Lieberson
The Grawemeyer Award is among the most lucrative honors in music composition. And the 2008 award has been presented to Peter Lieberson for his "Neruda Songs." He wrote them for his late wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who premiered and recorded them. Fred Child talked to Peter Lieberson about the piece and the award.
Listen
(December 3, 2007)
This Business of Composing
Daniel Bradshaw talks about his participation in the Composer Institute, having one of his works premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra, and trying to make a career out of creating music.
Listen
(November 29, 2007)
Jay Greenberg
15 year-old composer Jay Greenberg had a Carnegie Hall premiere this week. When his Symphony No. 5 (yes, his FIFTH symphony) was recorded last year by the London Symphony, he spoke with Fred Child.
Listen
(November 1, 2007)
Busking with Bach
British violinist David Juritz played Bach on the street corners of several continents in order to raise money for music education. We talked to him about his international odyssey.
Listen
(October 31, 2007)
Gil Shaham
Violinist Gil Shaham's new CD is a recording of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto. Fred Child and Shaham talked about the music, its cultural history and the legend behind it. Visit Canary Classics for more info.
Listen
(October 29, 2007)
Stephen Hough
Stephen Hough was flabbergasted when music schools told him he had to choose between playing piano and composing. When and why did those become separate professions? Hough reflects on the history, and on bringing them back together.
Listen
(October 18, 2007)
Dawn Upshaw, genius
On Sept. 25, soprano Dawn Upshaw received a 2007 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant," a $500,000 award to help her further her work with no strings attached. We talked with her about the honor, an eventful year that has included a breast cancer diagnosis, and her passion for new music. Then we'll listen to her sing music of John Harbison and Igor Stravinsky.
Listen to Dawn Upshaw
(September 26, 2007)
PT Goes to the Met
As the Metropolitan Opera prepared to open its season with Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," Fred Child had backstage conversations with Music Director James Levine, star soprano Natalie Dessay and Cecilia Brauer, the woman who plays the glass harmonica in the opera's climactic scene.
Cecilia Brauer
Natalie Dessay & James Levine
Natalie Dessay
James Levine
(September 21, 2007)
Luciano Pavarotti
A collection of music, interviews, video and writings on the legendary tenor.
Visit the feature page
(September 2007)
Mark Applebaum
Mark Applebaum is a composer, professor, and musical inventor. Hear the musical sculpture he calls the "Mousetrap," and hear Applebaum talking about his creations, which are both ambitious and whimsical.
Listen to the audio
(September 10, 2007)
Eugene Drucker
Eugene Drucker is a fine violinist, and is now also a novelist. His new book, "The Savior," is about a German violinist who finds himself caught in a terrible conundrum near the end of World War II. The novel is based in part of stories from the life of Drucker's father. Hear Fred Child talk with Drucker about the novel, his father, and the limits of the power of music.
Listen to the audio
(August 31, 2007)
2008 Features
Beverly Sills
American soprano Beverly Sills died Monday, July 2, aged 78. Here is our tribute to this icon of the American arts scene.
Part 1
Part 2
Beverly Sills in video:
With Danny Kaye
On Sesame Street
Mad Scene in Lucia Di Lammermoor
As Cleopatra
A seven year old Beverly
(July 2, 2007)
Paul Potts won the "Britain's Got Talent" contest.
Listen to a response from one of the judges and from your emails too.
(June 17, 2007)
Golfing with Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell has a passion for sports, competition and music. Here he is with Fred out on the links talking about life, golf and music.
(June 15, 2007)
2007 special features from Performance Today
The Grawemeyer Award is among the most lucrative honors in music composition. And the 2008 award has been presented to Peter Lieberson for his "Neruda Songs." He wrote them for his late wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who premiered and recorded them. Fred Child talked to Peter Lieberson about the piece and the award.
Listen
(December 3, 2007)
Daniel Bradshaw talks about his participation in the Composer Institute, having one of his works premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra, and trying to make a career out of creating music.
Listen
(November 29, 2007)
15 year-old composer Jay Greenberg had a Carnegie Hall premiere this week. When his Symphony No. 5 (yes, his FIFTH symphony) was recorded last year by the London Symphony, he spoke with Fred Child.
Listen
(November 1, 2007)
British violinist David Juritz played Bach on the street corners of several continents in order to raise money for music education. We talked to him about his international odyssey.
Listen
(October 31, 2007)
Violinist Gil Shaham's new CD is a recording of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto. Fred Child and Shaham talked about the music, its cultural history and the legend behind it. Visit Canary Classics for more info.
Listen
(October 29, 2007)
Stephen Hough was flabbergasted when music schools told him he had to choose between playing piano and composing. When and why did those become separate professions? Hough reflects on the history, and on bringing them back together.
Listen
(October 18, 2007)
On Sept. 25, soprano Dawn Upshaw received a 2007 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant," a $500,000 award to help her further her work with no strings attached. We talked with her about the honor, an eventful year that has included a breast cancer diagnosis, and her passion for new music. Then we'll listen to her sing music of John Harbison and Igor Stravinsky.
Listen to Dawn Upshaw
(September 26, 2007)
As the Metropolitan Opera prepared to open its season with Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," Fred Child had backstage conversations with Music Director James Levine, star soprano Natalie Dessay and Cecilia Brauer, the woman who plays the glass harmonica in the opera's climactic scene.
Cecilia Brauer
Natalie Dessay & James Levine
Natalie Dessay
James Levine
(September 21, 2007)
A collection of music, interviews, video and writings on the legendary tenor.
Visit the feature page
(September 2007)
Mark Applebaum is a composer, professor, and musical inventor. Hear the musical sculpture he calls the "Mousetrap," and hear Applebaum talking about his creations, which are both ambitious and whimsical.
Listen to the audio
(September 10, 2007)
Eugene Drucker is a fine violinist, and is now also a novelist. His new book, "The Savior," is about a German violinist who finds himself caught in a terrible conundrum near the end of World War II. The novel is based in part of stories from the life of Drucker's father. Hear Fred Child talk with Drucker about the novel, his father, and the limits of the power of music.
Listen to the audio
(August 31, 2007)
Visual Distractions?
Can something eye-catching distract from musical enjoyment at a concert? Conductor William Eddins has been accused by an audience member of "wiggling his bum." Pianist Lang Lang was chastised for "attention grabbing tricks" like throwing his head back and gazing at the heavens. Cellist Sara Sant'Ambrigio has been denounced for dressing "too alluringly." Hear what they have to say.
William Eddins
Lang Lang
Sara Sant'Ambrosio
(July 27, 2007)
Can something eye-catching distract from musical enjoyment at a concert? Conductor William Eddins has been accused by an audience member of "wiggling his bum." Pianist Lang Lang was chastised for "attention grabbing tricks" like throwing his head back and gazing at the heavens. Cellist Sara Sant'Ambrigio has been denounced for dressing "too alluringly." Hear what they have to say.
William Eddins
Lang Lang
Sara Sant'Ambrosio
(July 27, 2007)
American soprano Beverly Sills died Monday, July 2, aged 78. Here is our tribute to this icon of the American arts scene.
Part 1
Part 2
Beverly Sills in video:
With Danny Kaye On Sesame Street Mad Scene in Lucia Di Lammermoor As Cleopatra A seven year old Beverly(July 2, 2007)
Leif Ove Andsnes
Leif Ove Andsnes commemorates the 100th anniversary of Grieg's death.
(July 7, 2007)
Leif Ove Andsnes commemorates the 100th anniversary of Grieg's death.
(July 7, 2007)
Conversation with Christopher O'Riley
Christopher O'Riley has been interested in how pop music and classical music intersect for a long time now. Hear his conversation with Fred and his performances of Beethoven and Nick Drake.
(June 22, 2007)
Christopher O'Riley has been interested in how pop music and classical music intersect for a long time now. Hear his conversation with Fred and his performances of Beethoven and Nick Drake.
(June 22, 2007)
Listen to a response from one of the judges and from your emails too.
(June 17, 2007)
Joshua Bell has a passion for sports, competition and music. Here he is with Fred out on the links talking about life, golf and music.
(June 15, 2007)
La Folia on the web
An effort to list all derivations and interpretations of the famous theme La Folia (June 4, 2007)
An effort to list all derivations and interpretations of the famous theme La Folia (June 4, 2007)
Cliburn's Amateur's 2007
Find out more about the fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs™.
(June 6, 2007)
Find out more about the fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs™.
(June 6, 2007)
Jennifer Larmore
Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore, one of the best in the world today, admits in this commentary that there's always something new for her to learn.
(May 19, 2007)
Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore, one of the best in the world today, admits in this commentary that there's always something new for her to learn.
(May 19, 2007)
Remembering Rostropovich: A PT special
Mstislav Rostropovich died Friday morning April 27th, after a long bout with intestinal cancer. We remember him as a great humanitarian, teacher and musician, in the words of his colleagues and students, and with his performances.
(April 27, 2007)
Part 1
Part 2
Mstislav Rostropovich died Friday morning April 27th, after a long bout with intestinal cancer. We remember him as a great humanitarian, teacher and musician, in the words of his colleagues and students, and with his performances.
(April 27, 2007)
Part 1
Part 2
Mstislav Rostropovich
March 27th, 2007 marked the 80th birthday of one of the world’s great musicians and humanitarians, Mstislav Rostropovich. Rostropovich is among the great cellists of all time, and also a passionate spokesman for political and artistic freedom. This week, we are honoring him all week with performances, stories and remembrances. (photo: www.cmu.edu)
Listen to these brief anecdotes from some of his students, colleagues, and friends.
(March 27, 2007)
Mstislav Rostropovich
How he plays
Soviet troubles
Shared suffering
Political music
Life is complete
David Finckel
Learning Slava’s name
First Slava recordings
Impact of the recordings
First time seeing Slava
Meeting Slava backstage
Hugh Wolff
SPCO and Rostropovich
First time seeing him
Rostropovich on Prokofiev
Rostropovich on Shostakovich
Mailing a letter
Ted Libbey
First time meeting
Why’s he so great?
Machine gun cello
Soviet loss of privileges
Soviet system
Return to USSR 1990
Rostropovich & the 20th c. cello
Tanya Remenikova
Spontaneous teacher
Very influential man
Class trip
Lesson days
Rostropovich and Britten
March 27th, 2007 marked the 80th birthday of one of the world’s great musicians and humanitarians, Mstislav Rostropovich. Rostropovich is among the great cellists of all time, and also a passionate spokesman for political and artistic freedom. This week, we are honoring him all week with performances, stories and remembrances. (photo: www.cmu.edu)
Listen to these brief anecdotes from some of his students, colleagues, and friends.
(March 27, 2007)
Mstislav Rostropovich
How he plays
Soviet troubles
Shared suffering
Political music
Life is complete
David Finckel
Learning Slava’s name
First Slava recordings
Impact of the recordings
First time seeing Slava
Meeting Slava backstage
Hugh Wolff
SPCO and Rostropovich
First time seeing him
Rostropovich on Prokofiev
Rostropovich on Shostakovich
Mailing a letter
Ted Libbey
First time meeting
Why’s he so great?
Machine gun cello
Soviet loss of privileges
Soviet system
Return to USSR 1990
Rostropovich & the 20th c. cello
Tanya Remenikova
Spontaneous teacher
Very influential man
Class trip
Lesson days
Rostropovich and Britten
"The Grapes of Wrath"
Listen to music from this world-premiere opera -- sung by the cast from the Minnesota Opera production -- as well as a conversation with composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael Korie.
(February 9, 2007)
Listen to music from this world-premiere opera -- sung by the cast from the Minnesota Opera production -- as well as a conversation with composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael Korie.
(February 9, 2007)
Matt Haimovitz plays Ligeti
Hear more of Fred Child's interview with cellist Matt Haimovitz, who also performs a piece by contemporary composer Gyorgy Ligeti that was inspired by unrequited love.
(February 1, 2007)
Hear more of Fred Child's interview with cellist Matt Haimovitz, who also performs a piece by contemporary composer Gyorgy Ligeti that was inspired by unrequited love.
(February 1, 2007)