American conductor and cellist Jonathon Heyward is the Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. It's remarkable that he's achieved such prominent positions at just 31-years-old. On this Season 5 finale of Speaking Soundly, Jonathon sits down with David to reflect on his meteoric rise, the serendipitous moments in his childhood that led to his flourishing career, his evolution as a musician, and how he earned the nickname "Converse Conductor.”

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To learn more about the orchestras Jonathon directs visit the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center.

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Photograph of Jonathon Heyward by Laura Thiesbrummel.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

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American mezzo-soprano and three-time Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato is "perhaps the most potent female singer of her generation" (The New Yorker), but her path to stardom was anything but easy and linear. In this special episode of Speaking Soundly, recorded live at Lincoln Center, Joyce discusses the challenges in her early career and how she moved through them with grit, how her father gave her permission to pursue a life on the stage, and why her heart still belongs in a choir. David and Joyce reflect on meaningful performances in their lives and the power of music to connect us to moments and heal.

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Photograph of Joyce DiDonato by Sachyn Mital, © Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Preeminent banjo player Béla Fleck is renowned for his unparalleled skills, adventurous spirit, and musical innovation. He's won eighteen GRAMMY Awards in nine different fields from bluegrass to classical and according to him, he's defied the odds. A kid from Manhattan who became obsessed with bluegrass music, Béla reflects on the first time he heard the Earl Scruggs' theme song for "The Beverly Hillbillies," how he got his namesake from three classical heavy hitters, and why it took nine years to return to the banjo after he fell in love with it at the age of six. Béla discusses his quick progression on the instrument, how he skipped college to his parents' surprise, and when he realized he had to find his own distinct sound. David inquires how Béla came to musically interact with classical greats like Joshua Bell and Edgar Meyer, as well as jazz legend Chick Corea, while simultaneously shedding his imposter syndrome, and to close it out Béla tells David about the feeling of making time stand still during a performance. 

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Photograph of Béla Fleck by Jesse Borrell.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

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We're concluding our celebration of Women's History Month with Grammy Award-winning American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges who has been lighting up opera houses with her voice. J'Nai discusses her debut at The Metropolitan Opera and her performance at Jessye Norman's memorial service, why crying and singing don't mix well, and how she channels her emotions to propel her artistry. Reflecting on her athletic background, J'Nai shares how this prepared her for a life on the stage, why she believes a good coach (vocal or athletic) is vital, and how a traumatic basketball experience in high school shaped her future as a professional singer. To close it out David and J'Nai talk shooting hoops with Wynton Marsalis and the biggest gift of her musical career. 

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Photograph of J'Nai Bridges by Dario Acosta.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

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We're continuing our celebration of Women's History Month with British organist, conductor, broadcaster, and social media sensation Anna Lapwood who is a long-time champion of the organ. She discusses the early challenges of playing the instrument with her feet, what it feels like to "pull out all the stops," and the 20 instruments she could perform by the age of 10. Anna tells David about her biggest musical challenge ever, when she truly fell in love with the organ, why she is proud to #playlikeagirl, what it's like to popularize the instrument with her viral videos on TikTok, and how she came to perform with the electronic musician and producer Bonobo at Royal Albert Hall.

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Photograph of Anna Lapwood by Nick Rutter.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our celebration of Women's History month with American classical pianist and trailblazing cultural activist Lara Downes who captivates audiences with brilliant performances highlighting the rich contributions of underrepresented females and Black composers. Lara talks with David about this musical mission and how it stems from personal experiences, which she reckoned with in her early twenties. Reflecting on her "freakishly good" sight reading skills from an early age, Lara describes the "creepy" piano in her childhood basement, how her dad infused her ear with Jazz, and her trick for passing the time while she practiced. She also discusses the joyful discovery of Florence Price's music, the mutual communication that happens when she is performing, and how she discovered she was a New York Times crossword clue.

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Photograph of Lara Downes by Max Barrett.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're kicking off a brand-new season of interviews and our celebration of Women's History Month by featuring David's conversation with Grammy Award-winning soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan. Renowned for her exceptional voice, dynamic stage presence, and inspired conducting skills, any of these talents is enough to distinguish Barbara at the forefront of creation. But, when she decided to sing, act, and conduct simultaneously, Barbara found herself forging new ground. She shares where she got the idea to try conducting, how she developed signals to use when simultaneously singing and leading, and why she programs as much Haydn as possible. Barbara reflects on her first teachers, describes how she worked like a professional athlete to overcome performance anxiety, and shares why she feels it's so important to foster the next generation of musicians.

Check out Barbara Hannigan on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web and learn more about Barbara's initiatives Equilibrium Young Artists and Momentum.

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Photograph courtesy of Barbara Hannigan.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with a brand-new season of inspiring conversations featuring British organist and TikTok sensation Anna Lapwood, eighteen-time Grammy Award winner and America’s preeminent banjo player Béla Fleck, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and many more!

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Photograph of Anna Lapwood by Andy Paradise, Béla Fleck by Jesse Borrell, and J'Nai Bridges by Dario Acosta,.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're closing out our celebration of Black History Month with one of David's favorite artists and the inaugural guest of the podcast Christian McBride! From the age of seventeen, Christian has been playing with jazz legends and, over the past 30 years, has become one himself. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist recalls a brief stint at Juilliard, the strong influence of his musical family, and how the music of James Brown got him through some tough times.

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Photograph of Christian McBride by David Salafia.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 9, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our celebration of Black History Month by featuring the eight-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard whose interview with David originally aired in April of 2023. 

Original show note: Six-time Grammy Award winner and Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard is a famed trumpeter, band leader, and composer. Recently, he also became the first Black composer commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera since it opened in 1883. Terence discusses his debut at the Met and the enormity of the experience, along with his start at age 19 with The Jazz Messengers, and the greatest lesson he learned from jazz legend Art Blakey. Terence reflects on his expansive work for film, including 17 collaborations with Spike Lee, and answers David's specific questions about a pivotal scene in Mo' Better Blues.

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Photograph of Terence Blanchard by Cedric Angeles.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on April 11, 2023. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re continuing our celebration of Black History Month with Avery Fisher Prize winner and clarinetist Anthony McGill. Anthony is the first African-American to hold a Principal chair in the New York Philharmonic’s 180-year history. He sees his high-profile position as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of diverse musicians. Anthony discusses his work as an artist and activist, the greatest experience of his life, and how Michael Jordan inspired him to strive for excellence.

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Photograph of Anthony McGill by Chris Lee.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on October 15, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we begin our celebration of Black History Month by featuring David's conversation with his longtime mentor and dear friend, the legendary Wynton Marsalis. The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award winner, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center talks about his musical development, the benefits of music, and a treasured gift with David.

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Photograph of Wynton Marsalis by Luigi Beverelli.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on October 11, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy nominated American tenor Lawrence Brownlee has been hailed as “an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory” (The New York Times) and as a voice for activism and diversity in the classical music industry. The pickleball fanatic discusses his Metropolitan Opera auditions, why the high C's aren't the only notes that matter, and what it was like to be cast as Tamino in The Magic Flute before he had ever seen an opera. Reflecting on his childhood rooted in gospel music, Lawrence shares how "music was inside of him" from the age of nine, what he felt at age twelve from the reaction to his first solo, and how he was inspired by The Three Tenors, specifically Pavarotti. Recounting the time an agent told him he'd never succeed because of his height and race, Lawrence talks about where he finds his confidence and what it's like to get a standing ovation mid-performance.

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Photograph of Lawrence Brownlee by Zakiyah Caldwell Burroughs

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel “Manny” Ax has performed in the world’s greatest concert halls, playing on a different piano in each city, and enjoys the challenge of adjusting to each unique instrument. He recalls how an accidental trip to Carnegie Hall ignited his fantasy to perform on that very stage and reveals the secret to making the piano sing.

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Photograph of Emanuel Ax by Lisa Marie Mazzucco.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 19, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International violin virtuoso, Ray Chen is redefining the role of today’s classical soloist. Using social media, Ray aims to educate, enlighten, and entertain his audience before they get to the concert hall. He credits his grit and determination to his experience of being a first-generation immigrant and likens playing his ten-million-dollar Stradivarius violin to wielding Thor’s hammer.

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Photograph of Ray Chen by John Mac.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on November 1, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard describes how she navigates the occasional chaos of backstage as she prepares to sing in the world’s greatest opera houses. She enjoys the challenge of finding emotional inroads to the operatic roles she’s portrayed, even if it's a love-stricken teenage boy.

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Photograph of Isabel Leonard by Sergio Kurhajec.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 26, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conductor Joshua Weilerstein catapulted to international attention at a young age when he won first prize of the world-famous Malko Competition for Young Conductors with hardly any formal training. He discusses growing up in a musical family, how performing for thousands of youth who had never heard a live concert profoundly influenced his career, earning the trust and respect of musicians, and paying homage with his popular classical music podcast "Sticky Notes" to the late Leonard Bernstein.

Check out Joshua Weilerstein on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or the web and the Sticky Notes Podcast.

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Photograph of Joshua Weilerstein by Paul Marc Mitchell.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on November, 8, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast is taking a short break while we work on new episodes. In the meantime, we're airing some of our most memorable episodes from the first season. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra trombonist Denson Paul Pollard had an unconventional path to the stage and credits his grit, determination, and humble roots for taking him from a small town in rural Georgia to Carnegie Hall. Paul's work ethic is inspiring as he describes the jobs he’s held from Iowa to Hong Kong and his daily commute from Indiana to New York City.

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Photograph of Denson Paul Pollard by Rose Callahan.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 26, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American singer and actress Mandy Gonzalez has shaped some of Broadway's most well-known characters including Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's breakout "In the Heights," Angelica Schuyler Church in the Tony Award-winning show Hamilton, and the green witch Elphaba in Wicked. Mandy reflects on her 1,400 performances on stage for Hamilton and how she kept it fresh, discusses what happens when you make a mistake mid-show (the white room!), and shares what it's like to join a performance mid-run (the put-in rehearsal!). She tells David why starring with an all-Latino cast in a universal story is still near and dear to her heart, how her Jewish Bubbe sang with her as a child, reflects on her early start with Bette Midler, and explains why she launched her Fearless club.

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Photograph of Mandy by Matthew Murphy.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Composer, author, lecturer, and performer Bruce Adolphe is a multifaceted artist. He’s known by millions of listeners for his ingenious Piano Puzzlers on public radio's Performance Today and his concert pieces are played worldwide by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Joshua Bell. Bruce shares how he was inspired by Leonard Bernstein to educate and compose, his love of collaborating with scientists, and the importance of letting your mind wander. He reminisces about the first piece he composed at the age of ten and how his father nearly stole the applause, recounts hearing the shot that killed John Lennon, and discusses his opera-singing parrot Polly Rhythm. David asks about Inspector Pulse, a character Bruce created for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and how the clever Piano Puzzlers came to be. At the end, we leave you with a holiday puzzle—see how many operatic melodies and classic holiday tunes you can hear. 

Listen to Santa and Isolde, A Holiday Opera Fantasy by Bruce Adolphe as performed by The Metropolitan Opera Brass on Apple Music or Spotify.

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Don't miss Bruce's latest books Visions and Decisions and The Mind's Ear.

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Photograph of Bruce by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Santa and Isolde, A Holiday Opera Fantasy used with permission from 5th Show LLC

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy award winner, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Madison Cunningham folds together Folk, Americana, and Indie influences in her soulful music. She tells David about how she blends her voice with the guitar, reflects on how she physically held a full-size Taylor guitar at age six, and considers the first time she affected someone with her music and what that meant to her. Madison discusses the importance of sincerity in music vs. technical perfection, what it was like to direct a choir where the members were more than three times her age, and why being introduced to the music of the Beatles at age seventeen for the first time (and not earlier) was a gift. To finish out the episode, Madison talks about one of her "life highlights," a performance earlier this past year in New York City with Jacob Collier and Chris Thile.

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Photograph of Madison by Todd Owyoung/NBC.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, and pianist Regina Spektor is an indie-pop icon with two albums that debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The Russian-born American musician tells David how difficult it was to leave behind her beloved childhood piano when her family immigrated to America, how she found her first piano teacher in the United States through a chance encounter between her father and a stranger on a train, and why she practiced on an imaginary piano. Regina reminisces about a trip to Israel when she was sixteen that sparked her career as a songwriter, reflects on a Carnegie Hall performance following her father's death, and reveals what she loves most about The Metropolitan Opera. To close it out, David and Regina compare notes about meeting celebrated soprano Renée Fleming!

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Photograph of Regina by Shervin Lainez.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy nominated Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero is celebrated for her exceptional musicality and her ability to improvise complex pieces on themes suggested by her audiences at live performances. The best-selling recording artist, Latin Grammy Award winner, and human rights activist discusses recording at Abbey Road Studios, seeing her album poster-size Tower Records near Lincoln Center, and what she discovered about her brain when she performs spontaneously. Gabriela reminisces about learning to play the piano at eight-months old, performing Haydn D Major at age nine, her desire to leave the piano behind in her early thirties, and her ultimate return to the instrument. She shares with David how her music influences her political activism and what it meant to her to perform with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Anthony McGill at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Check out Gabriela Montero on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

As discussed in the interview, you can see Gabriela perform Haydn D Major at age nine here.

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Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible.

Photograph of Gabriela by Anders Brogaard.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenji López-Alt is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, renowned chef, culinary scientist, podcast host, YouTube sensation, and violinist. Despite his transformative impact on the culinary world and how most people cook at home, he sits down with David to discuss his true passion, making music. Kenji reflects on his early beginnings on the violin at age 4 at New York City's School for Strings, why he thinks the Suzuki method is "pretty special," and how he evaded practice at home, thus David crowning him the "Ferris Bueller of the violin." They go on to discuss Kenji's summers at Greenwood Music Camp where he fell in love with music and pulled off mischievous tricks, why he ultimately chose the path of an engineering degree from MIT instead of studying at a conservatory, and his excitement for an event he's co-hosting with James Ehnes for the Seattle Chamber Music Society this July. In the second half of the interview Kenji talks about his daughter's first performance that made him "ugly cry," as well as his first restaurant job, when he hit rock bottom of his cooking career, and how he changed course. To close it out Kenji contemplates the rewards of practice (cooking and music), his hopes for his children’s musical education, and why Beethoven's Opus 130 still makes his back tingle.

Check out Kenji López-Alt on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or the web. Shop Kenji's books here and listen to his new podcast The Recipe with Kenji and Deb.

To learn more about and buy tickets to Kenji's Tasting Notes event with James Ehnes benefitting the Seattle Chamber Music Society click here.

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Photograph of Kenji López-Alt courtesy of the guest.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

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Swiss-American conductor, educator, scholar, and President of Bard College, Leon Botstein has dedicated his musical career to the performance of lesser known repertoire. Maestro Botstein candidly discusses the practical and emotional challenges a conductor faces while leading an orchestra and the importance of forgoing theatrical gestures. Leon reflects on how his choice to pursue music was a form of rebellion within his family of physicians and when he understood he wouldn't be a virtuoso. David and Leon talk about what makes a good leader of school, Leon's belief in a broad education (as opposed to that of a conservatory), the importance of an inquiring mind, and arts patronage.

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Learn more about American Symphony Orchestra here, Bard College here, and The Orchestra Now here.

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Photograph of Leon by Matt Dine.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient, Avery Fisher Prize winner, and acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk is also a New York Times bestselling author. He sits down with David to discuss his memoir Every Good Boy Does Fine, which was published to universal acclaim and how he managed to write the book with demanding concert and practice schedules. Jeremy recalls how his dad rescued a graffiti-covered piano from a burlesque house, getting beat up for blasting classical music with a boombox on his childhood school bus, and when he began to practice for the love of practicing. Jeremy shares lessons he learned from numerous piano teachers over the years and an early mistake he made when first starting out as a teacher himself. To close the conversation out, David and Jeremy share a laugh about the smell of the practice rooms on the fourth floor of Juilliard.

Check out Jeremy Denk on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

You can order Jeremy's book Every Good Boy Does Fine here.

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Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible.

Photograph of Jeremy by Shervin Lainez.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Saxophone virtuoso Jess Gillam has had a meteoric rise to fame and is leaving an indelible mark on the music world. The first-ever saxophonist signed to the prestigious Decca Classics label, both of Jess's albums have shot to No.1 in the Official UK Classical Charts. The host of the podcast This Classical Life for BBC Radio 3 tells David about her early beginnings with a local community carnival band, what she loves about the sax, and how her debut at Carnegie Hall contrasts other performances. Jess discusses her infectious enthusiasm and passion for classical and non-classical music, why she is so similar to her childhood role model Lisa Simpson (it's not just the saxophone!), and David crowns Jess the "most British person" he's ever interviewed.

Check out Jess Gillam on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web and learn more about her show This Classical Life here.

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Photograph of Jess by Robin Clewley.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Three-time Grammy Award-winning pianist and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin is the Music and Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain, and Music Director (aka David's boss) at The Metropolitan Opera where he's just the third person to hold this position in the company's long 140-year history. In the episode—recorded backstage at Carnegie Hall—Yannick discusses the primary role of a conductor, his calm and friendly demeanor while on the podium (spoiler: he doesn't know how to be mean!), how he became inspired to conduct at age 10, and why he reclaimed his love for the piano during the pandemic. Yannick shares the importance of taking every opportunity to perform seriously and his deep belief that music can connect and transform anyone who listens.

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Photograph of Yannick by George Etheredge.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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We're revisiting our interview with MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow and American classical cellist Alisa Weilerstein. The internationally celebrated artist discusses her first instruments (made by her grandmother!), her solo debut at age thirteen with the Cleveland Orchestra, and why she chose not to go directly to conservatory after high school. Alisa reminisces about performing at the White House and chuckles about receiving an apology from the President of the United States, as well as discusses her groundbreaking new solo concert series Fragments.

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Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible.

Photograph of Alisa by Evelyn Freja.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Grammy Award-winning Italian conductor and Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Fabio Luisi is also the Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, and a perfumer. Fabio discusses the challenges and joys of conducting with unbridled enthusiasm, compares great conducting to great cooking, and reflects on his early days of musical development as a pianist, beginning at age 3, and the treats and toys he got for practicing. The conductor tells David how working with singers changed his life, his difficult decision to leave a career as a pianist behind, and how he finds beauty in different interpretations of music and different scents in perfumes.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Photograph of Fabio by Monika Rittershaus.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by Jessica Handelman and David Krauss. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Grammy nominated Japanese-American renowned violinist Midori is a visionary artist, activist and educator who made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11. She reflects on her decision to "pursue a career in music as a performer" in her 20's, what she learned from mentors famed violinist Isaac Stern and legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, and why she loves to practice after a performance. Midori shares about her foundation Midori and Friends, which has helped to provide music education to over 300,000 underserved youth in NYC, opens up about her love for her home away from home (the dressing room), and David reminisces about the first time he heard her on the radio. 

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Learn more about Midori & Friends here.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Photograph of Midori by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bass Joseph Conyers discusses his recent promotion and the unusual circumstances of his audition (it's not everyday one competes with their own students!), reminisces about his early introduction to classical music through his mother, and reflects on the music of his childhood Black Baptist Church and its emphasis on joyful noise, not perfection. At the end of the interview, David calls Joseph "one of the most disciplined people he knows" for reasons you might not expect.

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Learn more about Joseph's Project440.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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We're back with a full season of inspiring conversations featuring Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and pianist Regina Spektor, Grammy nominated violinist Midori, the three-time Grammy Award-winning conductor and pianist Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and many more!

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This trailer has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow and American classical cellist Alisa Weilerstein is a musical prodigy. The internationally celebrated artist discusses her first instruments (made by her grandmother!), her solo debut at age thirteen with the Cleveland Orchestra, and why she chose not to go directly to conservatory after high school. Alisa reminisces about performing at the White House and chuckles about receiving an apology from the President of the United States, as well as discusses her groundbreaking new solo concert series Fragments.

Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible. Get your tickets here to see Alisa Weilerstein perform live at Ravinia on August 17th.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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American conductor Gerard Schwarz has led some of the world's finest orchestras for the past half-century. With 9 Emmy Awards, 14 Grammy nominations, and a catalogue of over 350 recordings, it's remarkable to consider that Gerard's illustrious journey began with a pivotal decision—leaving behind his first career as a trumpet soloist. Gerard reflects on this decision and early influences of his musical career including Szell and Bernstein, summers at Interlochen Center for the Arts, and a performance of Aida he saw at age 7. He discusses walking away from the trumpet to pursue a second career as a conductor, why he calls himself a musical traditionalist, and how the audience experience has changed over the years.

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Photograph of Gerard Schwarz by Ben VanHouten.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient, Avery Fisher Prize winner, and acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk is also a New York Times bestselling author. He sits down with David to discuss his memoir Every Good Boy Does Fine, which was published to universal acclaim and how he managed to write the book with demanding concert and practice schedules. Jeremy recalls how his dad rescued a graffiti-covered piano from a burlesque house, getting beat up for blasting classical music with a boombox on his childhood school bus, and when he began to practice for the love of practicing. Jeremy shares lessons he learned from numerous piano teachers over the years and an early mistake he made when first starting out as a teacher himself. To close the conversation out, David and Jeremy share a laugh about the smell of the practice rooms on the fourth floor of Juilliard.

Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible. Get your tickets here to see Jeremy Denk perform live at Ravinia on July 28th.

Check out Jeremy Denk on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

You can order Jeremy's book Every Good Boy Does Fine here.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Grammy nominated Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero is celebrated for her exceptional musicality and her ability to improvise complex pieces on themes suggested by her audiences at live performances. The best-selling recording artist, Latin Grammy Award winner, and human rights activist discusses recording at Abbey Road Studios, seeing her album poster-size Tower Records near Lincoln Center, and what she discovered about her brain when she performs spontaneously. Gabriela reminisces about learning to play the piano at eight-months old, performing Haydn D Major at age nine, her desire to leave the piano behind in her early thirties, and her ultimate return to the instrument. She shares with David how her music influences her political activism and what it meant to her to perform with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Anthony McGill at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make this interview possible. Get your tickets here to see Gabriela Montero perform live at Ravinia on July 21st.

Check out Gabriela Montero on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

As discussed in the interview, you can see Gabriela perform Haydn D Major at age nine here.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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We're back with three more inspiring conversations featuring pianist Gabriela Montero, pianist Jeremy Denk, and cellist Alisa Weilerstein.

Thanks to our good friends at Ravinia for helping to make these interviews possible. To see these guests perform live this summer, check out Ravinia's calendar.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This trailer has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Preeminent Principal Tuba for the Santa Fe Symphony and New Mexico Philharmonic Dr. Richard Antoine White's personal journey to the stage is astonishing. He shares how he overcame the circumstances of his early childhood plagued by poverty and homelessness to become the first Black American to earn a doctorate of music in tuba. Richard recounts how he ultimately won a spot at the competitive Baltimore School for the Arts despite his inability to read music, discusses the importance of his lessons with American orchestral tuba player and teacher David Fedderly, and embodies the power of positivity.

Check out Dr. Richard Antoine White on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or the web.

Don't miss his book I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Six-time Grammy Award winner and Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard is a famed trumpeter, band leader, and composer. Recently, he also became the first Black composer commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera since it opened in 1883. Terrence discusses his debut at the Met and the enormity of the experience, along with his start at age 19 with The Jazz Messengers, and the greatest lesson he learned from jazz legend Art Blakey. Terence reflects on his expansive work for film, including 17 collaborations with Spike Lee, and answers David's specific questions about a pivotal scene in Mo' Better Blues.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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American Violinist David Chan is the esteemed Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, an honored position he's held for more than two decades. He's also made a name for himself as a respected concert ensemble Conductor and Music Director. The Davids reminisce about Chan's Carnegie Hall solo debut and discuss the roles of the Concertmaster and Conductor. David Chan reflects on his first-rate education, his relationship to practice throughout his youth, and a childhood trip that cemented his desire to play violin. He also shares how his entrepreneurial spirit enabled him to pair his loves of music and wine together.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Grammy nominated artist Missy Mazzoli has established herself as one of the top composers of her generation. In 2018 she made history when she became one of the two first women to be commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera. Missy lets David in on her tips for overcoming writer's block, shares the early hurdles she faced as a young artist, and compares the rush of performing versus the feelings she gets watching her work be performed by other musicians. She talks passionately about the importance of mentorship and how the industry needs to change its perception of composers, so that the field is more diverse.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Internationally recognized trumpet player Tine Thing Helseth is the first ever classical artist to win Newcomer of the Year at the Norwegian Grammy Awards—the Spellemannprisen. Tine talks about her ever changing nerves, how she finds her greatest confidence, and the perspective she gained after facing a serious depression in 2017. She also gives behind the scenes details about performing on a roof in a horrible windstorm, talks candidly about her cancer diagnosis, and lets us in on how she came to play barefoot, thanks to a question from one of David's students.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Two-time Grammy Award winner James Ehnes is one of the most sought-after violin soloists on the international stage. James and David discuss a shared performance at Carnegie Hall and an unexpected mishap during the concert, the special sensation that James feeds off of when he connects with an audience, and the limitless possibilities of great art. James also reflects on the recordings he made during the pandemic lockdown (spoiler: be sure the fridge is unplugged!) and dishes on being part of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi recording. 

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Acclaimed composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Silk Road Ensemble member Kaoru Watanabe began playing Western Classical music at a very young age. After graduating from conservatory as a jazz flutist and saxophonist, he spent a decade overseas performing with and ultimately leading the world-renowned Taiko drum performance group Kodo. Kaoru reflects upon his ten years in Japan and how it profoundly influenced his practice, artistry, and identity. Now a leading musician of both the Taiko drum and the Japanese transverse flute Shinobue, Kaoru describes the pure elegance and brute force of the practice and the visceral response he felt the first time he saw them performed at Carnegie Hall. David considers Kaoru's numerous collaborations while discussing how Kaoru retains a sense of authenticity and the natural world informs and inspires his creative process.

Check out Kaoru Watanabe on Instagram, Facebook, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

Don't miss this video of Kaoru playing in the natural world as discussed in the interview.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Nathalie Joachim is a Grammy-nominated flutist, vocalist, and composer whose creativity spans pop and electronic to classical music and beyond. Co-Founder of the critically acclaimed duo Flutronix, the Haitian-American musician discusses her debut solo album Fanm d'Ayiti (Women in Haiti) and how a girl's choir from her community's small church spurred her creativity. Nathalie tells David why she has become an early morning composer, how she was introduced to the flute in 4th grade and her rapid progression on the instrument that helped land her on the stage of Avery Fisher Hall (the current David Geffen Hall) at age 11, and when music became her first true love. As native New Yorkers, Nathalie and David share and compare their experiences shopping at Tower Records, attending Juilliard's Pre-College program, and what led David's mom to steal a piece of the iconic school's music stands as a keepsake. To close it out Nathalie shares why she is grateful to Beyoncé and reiterates her unbelievable connection to music. 

Check out Nathalie Joachim on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or the web and don't miss her duo Flutronix.

You can listen to Nathalie's newest album, Ki moun ou ye, from New Amsterdam / Nonesuch Records, here. 

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Photograph of Nathalie Joachim by Erin Patrice O’Brien.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Pop artist Rufus Wainwright is one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation. He's recorded ten studio albums and composed numerous film soundtracks, as well as two operas. Born into musical royalty, Rufus reflects on his earliest memories alongside his famed Canadian folk singer-songwriter mother Kate McGarrigle, discusses how music brought him closer to his prominent singer-songwriter father Loudon Wainwright III, and dissects the influence of his extended family on his artistry. He talks about singing like his life depends on it, his need to practice the piano daily, and the brutal experience of sharing his songs for the first time.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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The only conductor to receive a MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship, trailblazer Marin Alsop is the first woman to lead a major orchestra in the United States, in South America, in Austria, and in Britain. In addition to her accomplishments, she is vigilant about keeping the doors open for other women. Marin and David discuss the importance of partnership between musicians and a conductor, challenge of criticism, trouble of artistic perfection, and how she views the audience as an active participant in the concert experience. She reflects on her early musical idols, the Beatles and her longtime mentor and teacher Leonard Bernstein, and two of her landmark initiatives, the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship whose mission is to mentor, support, and promote women conductors as they advance in their professional careers, and OrchKids, which provides Baltimore City youth with equitable access to community-based, high-quality music instruction and programming that teaches musical and social skills transferable to all areas of their lives.

Check out Marin Alsop on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, or the web.

You can learn more about OrchKids here and the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship here.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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Grammy Award-winning American countertenor, actor, and producer Anthony Roth Costanzo has enthralled audiences with his artistry in the greatest opera houses worldwide. He talks about his distinct, commanding, and dramatic voice, performing naked at the Metropolitan Opera, and the importance of engaging new audiences. Anthony recalls his theatrical childhood, how he was "bit by the opera bug" performing onstage with Pavarotti, and the elaborate thesis he co-wrote and performed while a student at Princeton.

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The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

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This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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Two-time Grammy Award winner, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and folk artist Rhiannon Giddens is a musical polymath. Defying the odds, she enrolled at Oberlin College to study opera without being able to read music, nor having seen a live performance. Rhiannon credits her formal training at conservatory and an apprenticeship with Black string musician Joe Thompson for her success, and sees music as her most powerful vehicle. The Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble talks about her recent collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Francesco Turrisi, love of the banjo, and mission to reclaim American musical traditions.

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