Music Interviews

Piano virtuoso Frederic Chiu is celebrating his 50th birthday, which happens to coincide with his 25 anniversary as a Yamaha Artist, with a spectacular concert at Columbia University on October 30th.  He's chosen some of his favorite pieces by Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, and a two piano version of Chopin's Rondo, Op. 73.  Kate Remington talked with Chiu about his career, and about the immersive experiences offered at his Beechwood Arts salons.

The Stamford Symphony Orchestra opens its season on October 18th with a piece by young composer Howard Norman, inspired by Alexander Calder's sculpture, "La Grande Vitesse," and works by Dvorak and Brahms.  Kate Remington talked with conductor Eckart Preu about this exciting program.

The Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival has a mission to present works by living composers, including pieces that have been specially commissioned to perform during their summer season.  On Sunday, Aug 10, the BCMF will present the premier of a work written for them by Howard Shore, composer of the scores for all of the Lord of the Rings films.  Kate Remington talked with the BCMF's founder, Marya Martin about the thrill for performers and audiences to hear brand-new music.  

Dynamic pianist Ilya Yakushev joins the New Haven Symphony as the soloist in Rachmaninoff's lush, Romantic Piano Concerto No. 2, Thursday evening, May 15, in New Haven, and Saturday May 17 in Worchester, MA. Kate Remington talked with Ilya about how inspirational this concerto is.  

The fresh season of concerts presented by Stamford's Treetops Concert Music Society is in full swing.   On Sunday, April 6th, young musicians from Ravinia's Steans Institute will perform a concert of music by Haydn, Schubert, and contemporary composer David Ludwig's Aria Fantasy, inspired by Bach's Goldberg Variations.  Kate Remington talked with the pianist of the ensemble, Henry Kramer, about this exciting program.