Classical Conversations

Christopher Zimmerman

The Fairfax Symphony concludes its current season on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at George Mason University's Center for the Arts. The English and French concert include Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (with Adam Golka), Debussy's "La Mer", Purcell's "Funeral Music of Queen Mary" and his music for "The Gordian Knot Untied", and Elgar's "Enigma Variations." Classical WETA's morning host David Ginder chatted with FSO Music Director Christopher Zimmerman about the life-affirming Elgar variations (enigma or not), the subtlety of Debussy's portrait of the sea, and the astonding magic of a piano concerto that uses only one hand.

ZOFO Duet

ZOFO, or "20-Fingered Orchestra," is the collaboration of pianists Eva-Maria Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi.  Since 2009, they have explored the one-piano-four-hands repertoire, as well as commissioned new works for the genre.  Their recent recital at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, sponsored by the Swiss Embassy, was featured on Classical WETA's Front Row Washington, and they've just released their first commercial CD, "Mind Meld" on the Sono Luminus label.  Producer Deb Lamberton spoke with Eva-Maria and Keisuke about ZOFO Duet, and what it's like to perform together shoulder-to-shoulder at the same keyboard.

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Washington Performing Arts Society is presenting the European Union Youth Orchestra at the Kennedy Center on Sunday afternoon April 15. On its first American tour in 20 years, the orchestra will be conducted by its music director, Vladimir Ashkenazy. Maestro Ashkenazy spoke with Classical WETA’s Marilyn Cooley about musicmaking, the inspiration of young musicians, and his first visit to Washington DC.

David Russell

For the first week in April, our CD Pick of the Week features guitarist David Russell in his latest Baroque album. He stopped by the Classical WETA studios to chat with Marilyn Cooley about the album, Baroque music, and teaching tomorrow’s guitar superstars.

Midori

World-renowned violinist Midori is spending a week in Northern Virginia, working with local music educators, students, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra as part of her Orchestra Residencies Program.  The week culminates with concerts on March 31 and April 1, with Midori playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.  The concert also includes Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, and the world premiere of Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Music Director Kim Allen Kluge’s MEIBUKI – Regeneration. 

Classical WETA’s Marilyn Cooley spoke with Midori about her involvement with music education, and Maestro Kluge about MEIBUKI – Regeneration, which was written for Midori.

Anne Akiko Meyers

Imagine owning not one, but two Stradivarius violins.  Anne Akiko Meyers now does, thanks to her recent $3.6 million purchase of a violin once owned by Napoleon:  the "Molitor" Stradivarius of 1697.  You can hear this instrument in tandem with her "Royal Spanish" Strad of 1730, as she plays them both in a new recording of the Bach double violin concerto on the eOne label.  She chose the "Molitor" Strad, which she's nicknamed "Molly" for the first violin part, and used her "Royal Spanish" Strad, once owned by the king of Spain, on the lower second violin part.

While on tour in Texas, Ms. Meyers spoke with Classical WETA's Deb Lamberton about her new all-Bach album, and her two Stradivarius violins.