Classical Archive

Interview with organist Gail Archer. Having recently released The Muse's Voice, her new CD of female composers' organ music, Archer speaks about the inception of this album and her career as an organist, teacher, and director of the Barnard & Columbia Chorus. Interview conducted by Stepan Atamian

An interview broadcast on Cereal Music on Tuesday, March 18th with two members of the JACK string quartet, violinist Ari Streisfeld and violist John Pickford Richards. The recipient of New Music USA's 2013 Trailblazer Award, the quartet has performed to critical acclaim at venues across the globe, from New York to the Netherlands to Indonesia.

Interview with violinist and composer Mari Kimura. She is a specialist in violin subharmonics — credited with "discovering" and mastering the technique for use in performance — and is a pioneer in interactive computer music. Kimura has completed violin studies at the Toho School, Japan's top conservatory; Boston University; and the Juilliard School, and has studied composition with Mario Davidovsky at Columbia University.

An interview broadcast on Cereal Music on Monday, March 17th with Jeffrey Milarsky, one of the leading conductors of contemporary music in New York City. He is conductor and senior lecturer at Columbia University and conductor of contemporary music ensembles at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music. He has conducted ensembles across the globe to critical acclaim, as well as being a well-established timpanist and percussionist with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

An exclusive interview with conductor Alain Altinoglu. A young conductor famous already for his interpretations of French opera, Altinoglu speaks about French style and conducting at the greatest opera houses in the world. This interview was conducted on February 10, 2014 at the Metropolitan Opera following a rehearsal for a new production of Werther, which Altinoglu is leading.

An exclusive interview with legendary mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig. Born in Germany, Kammersängerin Ludwig sang for nearly 50 years, with a repertoire from Bach to Berg. Considered by many as the definitive interpreter of Wagner, Brahms, and Mahler, Ks. Ludwig speaks about her extensive career and experiences performing with some of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. This interview was conducted by Stepan Atamian at the Blakely Hotel on January 16, 2014, which was the day after a masterclass she led at Carnegie Hall.

Interview with American Verdi soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Preparing for her appearances in the Met's Trovatore, Radvanovsky describes the challenges of her newest roles Aida and Tosca, as well as her preparation for her (then) upcoming roles, Norma and Donizetti's Tudor Queens. Interview was conducted by Stepan Atamian at Lincoln Center on April 15, 2011.

Interview from our Viva Verdi! bicentennial broadcast with George M. Martin. Author of the recent book Verdi In America, Martin is one of the foremost American scholars of the great Italian composer. He speaks here about the US performance history of Verdi's operas and how Verdi became the most popular opera composer in the US during the second half of the twentieth century. Interview was conducted by Stepan Atamian at WKCR on September 18, 2013.

Interview from our Viva Verdi! bicentennial broadcast with American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Often considered today's great Verdi singer, Radvanovsky has made her mark in roles from Leonora to Aida. Now today's great Norma, the multifaceted diva speaks about balancing her career between Verdi, verismo, and bel canto. This interview was conducted by Stepan Atamian at Lincoln Center on October 6, 2013.

Interview from our Viva Verdi! bicentennial broadcast with Dolora Zajick. Since her Met debut in 1988, Ms. Zajick has sung over 150 performances of four Verdi roles: Amneris; Azucena; Eboli; and Ulrica. What is more remarkable is that, now in her 60's she still manages to sing them with the same vocal health and authority as when she first started singing. In this exclusive interview, Zajick speaks about technique and nurturing the next generation of dramatic voices. This interview was conducted by Stepan Atamian via phone on September 27, 2013.

Interview from our Viva Verdi! bicentennial broadcast celebration. For the past twenty-five years, Maria Guleghina has sung on all the world's leading stages and has made dramatic Verdi roles such as Lady Macbeth and Abigaille her specialty. In this particular interview, she speaks about her views on some of the most punishing roles of the repertoire. Interview conducted by Stepan Atamian via Skype (Ms. Guleghina was in Russia) on September 21, 2013.

Interview with Maria Guleghina from our Vivi Verdi! two-day bicentennial broadcast. One of the leading Verdi singers of the past twenty-five years, Guleghina is known for numerous Verdi heroines including Lady Macbeth, Amelia, and especially Abigaille.