Explore every episode of the podcast Music in Words
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| EP 20 | Music in Words with Poom Prommachart | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:31:43 | |
Tune in as Thai pianist Poom Prommachart unveils Fantasia Divina, a thrilling new work written for him by celebrated Australian composer Carl Vine and destined to become a piano masterpiece. In this episode, Poom sits down with Prof. Daniel Chua to discuss his connection with the composer and the captivating story behind his royal affiliation, having studied under the patronage of Princess Galyani of Thailand. He also reflects on the challenges of balancing a teaching career with his performance pursuits. Get an exclusive first look at this remarkable work before its world premiere! Fantasia Divina is commissioned by the Music Department and Cultural Management Office of the University of Hong Kong with support from the UOB (United Overseas Bank).
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| EP 19 | Music in Words with Daishin Kashimoto & Alessio Bax | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:23:19 | |
Berlin Philharmonic Concertmaster Daishin Kashimoto and pianist Alessio Bax share a deep friendship on and off stage. In this 'Music in Words' dialogue hosted by Prof. Daniel Chua, they reflect on their decade-long collaboration, the joy of making music together, and the challenges of balancing their busy orchestral and solo careers with chamber performances.
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| EP 18 | Music in Words with Elim Chan | 26 May 2025 | 00:47:28 | |
Conductor Elim Chan captivates audiences at prestigious halls and festivals worldwide. In this 'Music in Words' dialogue hosted by Prof. Daniel Chua, she shares her artistic journey from a young musician in Hong Kong to a globe-trotting conductor, reflecting on her challenges, passion, and dedication to contemporary music.
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| EP 17 | Music in Words with Hannes Minnaar | 25 Apr 2025 | 00:42:42 | |
Dutch pianist Hannes Minnaar is set for his Hong Kong Debut: a 3-hour solo recital of Shostakovich's complete 24 Preludes and Fugues, and a chamber performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with HK Phil string principals. Ahead of the concerts, Minnaar joins Prof. Daniel Chua for an online 'Music in Words' dialogue, offering insights into these iconic works and reflecting on a journey that began with the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Tune in and discover how Minnaar breathes life into every note he plays.
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| EP 16 | Kundera & Beethoven | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:19:02 | |
Explore how Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being intertwines with Beethoven's final string quartet, Op. 135. Professor Daniel Chua, Chair Professor of Music at HKU, delves into the philosophical themes of existence, decision-making, and the contrasts between lightness and heaviness. The episode also features the Czech Philharmonic String Principals, who perform musical excerpts to illustrate the rich interplay between music and literature.
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| EP 15 | Andreas Staier | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:57:02 | |
Legendary harpsichordist Andreas Staier talks with Prof. Daniel Chua before his recital at HKU MUSE.They discuss the philosophy behind his unique interpretations and the aesthetics of his latest solo album, Méditation.
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| EP 14 | Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:22:12 | |
Acclaimed violinist Isabelle Faust and pianist Alexander Melnikov presented the Complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas in 3 concerts at HKU MUSE in 2023. During a 'Music in Words' discussion hosted by Prof. Daniel Chua, they reflected on their musical partnership, examined the subtleties of all 10 sonatas, and offered a glimpse into the composer's extraordinary ability to convey a diverse range of emotions and characters.
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| EP 13 | TwoSet Violin | 15 Oct 2024 | 01:57:44 | |
In this special ‘Music in Words’ dialogue, Brett and Eddy took the Grand Hall stage alongside Prof. Daniel Chua to offer a glimpse of their creative process, how they navigate the landscape of social media, and the rollercoaster ride of building a successful career through digital content and live world tours.
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| EP 12 | CATEEN! Hayato Sumino | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:57:54 | |
Japanese YouTuber-scientist-composer-pianist Hayato Sumino is a rising musical sensation traversing the classical and digital inspirations. He shared his unique musical journey and inspirations with Prof. Daniel Chua during the HKU student-exclusive 'Music In Words' dialogue. Hayato showcased his improvisational skills on the spot with a theme by the audience, and answered intriguing quick-fire questions from Prof. Chua. An accompanying playlist featuring the music discussed is available on Spotify.
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| EP 11 | Paul Lewis: Performing Schubert | 27 Jan 2024 | 00:56:16 | |
Two decades ago, the esteemed pianist Paul Lewis embarked on a musical journey of Schubert's complete piano sonatas. Now after an illustrious career spanning twenty years, he revisits this mellifluous cycle in a new light. In the 2022/23 Rayson Huang Lecture, Lewis discussed with Prof. Daniel Chua his new reading of Schubert's sonatas in relation to the composer's life experience and philosophy as a wanderer instead of a struggler. An accompanying playlist featuring the music discussed is available on Spotify.
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| EP 10 | Gavriel Lipkind: Performing the Bach Suites | 01 Nov 2023 | 00:58:04 | |
Distinguished Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind, with a lineage from Pablo Casals, has a conversation with Prof. Daniel Chua, head of HKU Music Department. Lipkind shared his insights on interpreting, performing, and recording Bach's Cello Suites, as well as his intriguing experiences as Rostropovich's student and as a contester preparing for the Leonard Rose competition. An accompanying playlist featuring the music discussed is available on Spotify.
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| EP 9 | Bruce Liu in the Time of COVID-19 | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:27:59 | |
Winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Bruce Liu has become a real sensation of the pianistic world and has been on an extensive tour across the world’s most prestigious stages. The recording of his title-winning performance was praised by Gramophone as "one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years, full of maturity, character and purpose." We are thrilled to welcome Bruce to this new episode of 'Music in Words'. In conversation with Prof. Daniel Chua, Bruce talks about his artistic inspirations, interests in jazz and karting, thoughts on his overnight success and how technology influences the evolution of artistic approaches. Click to listen and find out more! An accompanying playlist featuring the music discussed is available on Spotify.
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| EP 8 | Ian Bostridge: Schubert’s Song Cycles | 20 Jan 2022 | 00:51:43 | |
Widely recognized as one of today’s finest interpreters of Franz Schubert, celebrated tenor Ian Bostridge talks about Schubert’s song cycles, Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, and his own journey as a scholar-turned-vocalist. To accompany this episode, tune in to the recordings of these song cycles in the Spotify playlist.
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| EP 7 | Konstantin Lifschitz: The Art of Fugue | 22 Mar 2021 | 01:00:05 | |
"Hope you love the endless, abstract, and powerful message of this work..." Recorded during his visit in 2015 at HKU, pianist Konstantin Lifschitz discussed with Prof. Daniel Chua the art of playing J.S. Bach's The Art of Fugue. An accompanying playlist featuring Mr. Lifschitz's own recording of the masterpiece is also available on Spotify.
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| EP 6｜Angela Hewitt: The Well-Tempered Clavier | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:58:49 | |
Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' has laid the backbone of classical chromaticism, revealing the full-colour spectrum of all the 24 keys. Highly acclaimed as a Bach interpreter, pianist Angela Hewitt discusses the work's architecture, musicality, and spiritual elements, and shares with us what this music means to her.
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| EP 5｜Paul Lewis in the Time of COVID-19 | 11 Jan 2021 | 00:34:43 | |
Pianist Paul Lewis shares with us how he makes use of the lockdown to revisit old repertoire and discover new works, his experience with live streaming, and his reflection on the meaning of live concerts. A heralded interpreter of Beethoven and Schubert, Paul also tells us how he finds their works deeply consoling at this time.
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| EP 4｜Belcea Quartet in the Time of COVID-19 | 11 Jan 2021 | 00:33:48 | |
Krzysztof Chorzelski of the Belcea Quartet shares how the ensemble copes with the unprecedented challenges and what the Beethoven Cycle means to them, and reflects fondly on their time with their mentors, the great Alban Berg and Amadeus Quartets.
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| EP 3｜Jaap van Zweden in the Time of COVID-19 | 08 Jan 2021 | 00:38:52 | |
Maestro Jaap van Zweden shares his leadership philosophy, his interpretation of Beethoven symphonies, his work with the Papageno Foundation, as well as the inspiration from other great conductors, including an episode on picking up the baton for the first time under Bernstein’s encouragement.
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| EP 2｜Oliver Schnyder Trio in the Time of COVID-19 | 08 Jan 2021 | 00:26:46 | |
Oliver Schnyder and Benjamin Nyffenegger of the Oliver Schnyder Trio talk about their projects during the pandemic, how their personalities shape the group’s dynamics, the unique beauty composers reveal through the piano trio repertoire, as well as their experience in presenting these musical gems.
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| EP 1｜Takács Quartet in the Time of COVID-19 | 08 Jan 2021 | 00:32:19 | |
In this dialogue with HKU’s Prof. Daniel Chua, Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes of the Takács Quartet shared their thoughts in response to the unprecedented challenges we all face. Find out how the Quartet’s programming philosophy has evolved, what collaborations they find meaningful, and what music resonates in their minds.
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