Speaking Soundly

Orli Shaham

Sat, 31 May 2025 13:01:36 GMT

Acclaimed Israeli-American pianist Orli Shaham is a compelling performer, educator, and recording artist. A recipient of the Avery Fisher career Grant, she is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Kaufman Music Center, Artistic Director of Pacific Symphony's chamber series, and was Artist in Residence at Vancouver Symphony. On this season 6 finale of Speaking Soundly, Orli sits down with David to reflect on their early musical education together and her motivation to earn degrees from The Juilliard School and Columbia University at the same time. Our guest shares how she was fueled by focus and curiosity, two traits she gained growing up the daughter of scientists and in admiration of her older musical brothers. To close it out, Orli recalls how her relationship to performance changed once she became a mother to twin boys, which led to her founding of the Bach Yard musical program for kids, and why her best collaborator is her husband, conductor David Robertson.

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Check out Orli Shaham on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, or the web. To learn more about Orli's music education program Bach Yard, visit them on the web.

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Photograph of Orli Shaham by Pacific Symphony/Matthew Morgan .

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.

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

Evgeny Kissin

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Grammy Award–winning pianist Evgeny Kissin has been a towering presence in the classical music world for decades and a favorite among audiences worldwide. Evgeny joins David to recall his legendary US debut recital at Carnegie Hall, why firemen closed down his performance in Bologna, and the reason his mother didn't want him to study music.

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Photograph of Evgeny Kissin by Phillip Andrukovich.

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.

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

Leif Ove Andsnes

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Renowned Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes brings a deep sense of introspection to everything he performs. Our guest reflects on his childhood playing the euphonium in a band compared with his lonely pursuit as a pianist, the moment he realized that "this would be his life," and his relationship with practice. Leif Ove discusses the piece of music of which he never tires, his Beethoven journey with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and the advantages of being both the pianist and the conductor at the same time. To close out the conversation Leif Ove explains why he felt at home for his second concert—not his first—at Carnegie Hall.

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Photograph of Leif Ove Andsnes by Helge Hansen/Sony Music Entertainment.

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.

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

Clive Gillinson

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall Clive Gillinson credits his previous career as a young cellist with the London Symphony Orchestra for shaping his creative approach to managing the world's most iconic concert hall. Clive sits down with David to discuss his kinship with musicians, how he became an arts administrator by mistake, and the secret to raising money. Reflecting on his early days as a musician, our guest shares why he was kicked out of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the influence of his mother, and advice for young musicians.

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Photograph of Clive Gillinson by Fadi Kheir.

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.

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

Kayhan Kalhor

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Grammy Award winner Kayhan Kalhor is a world-renowned virtuoso of the kamancheh, the ancient Persian predecessor to the violin, as well as other instruments. He sits down with David to talk about the origins of the instrument, falling in love with it at age 10, and joining the Iranian National Radio and Television Orchestra at 13-years-old performing alongside musicians 4-times his age. Kayhan recalls how music took him to Europe—2,500 miles by foot with the kamancheh on his back—escaping the turmoil of the Iranian Revolution and ultimately landing at the New York Philharmonic with Yo-Yo Ma, and later Silkroad. To close it out, Kayhan reflects on how music is his anchor, refuge, and response to strife.

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To learn more about Silkroad visit them on the web.

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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.

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

Alexa Tarantino

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Alexa Tarantino is a dynamic saxophone performer, composer, and educator, who recently made history as the first female full-time member to join the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

She chats with David about role models, the importance of being fearless, her relationship to practice, and a chance encounter with Philip Bailey that led to her performing with Earth, Wind, and Fire while at the Eastman School of Music. To close out the episode, Alexa discusses her new album, which features a track with Cécile McLorin Salvant, how walking on stage with Wynton is like hitting the football field as the lights go on, and the value of a musical education.

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Photograph of Alexa Tarantino by Anna Yatskevich.

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.

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

Nicola Benedetti

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Grammy Award-winning Scottish-Italian violinist Nicola Benedetti captivates audiences with her passionate and virtuosic performances. The soloist and David kick off the conversation with a debate about the superiority of the trumpet vs. the violin and how Nicola has expanded her instrument's repertoire championing new works, including Wynton Marsalis's violin concerto. Nicola reflects on her childhood listening to classical music with her mom and sister, attending the Yehudi Menuhin school, and how she was badly advised early in her career. She goes on to share what she thought when she was asked to be the Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and how she juggles this role, her performance schedule, and her work as the Founder and Artistic Director Benedetti Foundation. To close it out, Nicola settles an outstanding question about her daughter.

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To learn more about the Benedetti Foundation visit them on the web. For more info about the Edinburgh International Festival check out their site.

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Photograph of Nicola Benedetti by Andy Gotts.

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.

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

Anne-Marie McDermott

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Acclaimed piano soloist, member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Artistic Director of the Bravo! Vail Music Festival Anne-Marie McDermott credits playing with others for shaping her own career. She joins David to discuss her childhood with her musical sisters, why a healthy sense of competition is helpful, and how the piano allowed her to come out of her shell. Anne-Marie recalls performing at Carnegie Hall unaware of the importance, when she quit the piano, and how fearlessness has propelled her. To close it out, David asks about when she was "booted" from Manhattan School for Music, what it's like to judge The Cliburn, and the difference of being a soloist vs. a chamber musician.

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Photograph of Anne-Marie McDermott courtesy by Anne-Marie McDermott/Bravo! Vail.

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.

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

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Multiple Grammy Award winner and MacArthur Fellow Cécile McLorin Salvant is a fearless singer, composer, and visual artist who is one of the most highly regarded jazz vocalists of her generation. To kick the conversation off, David describes bonding with his daughter over Cécile's music at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club. Our guest shares how the vibe of an audience affects a performance, the feeling of being in the spotlight, and her love of opera. Surrounded by music as a child, Cécile reflects on the times she tried to quit the piano, her long hatred for practice, how a small fender bender once saved her musical life, and an important lesson she learned from Wynton Marsalis. To close it out, David asks how the vocalist's visual art influences her music, why she plans to turn Carnegie Hall into a jazz club, and Cécile shares her recurring Met Opera nightmare.

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Photograph of Cécile McLorin Salvant by Mite Kuzevski.

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.

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

Colin Jacobsen

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Violinist and composer Colin Jacobsen is “one of the most interesting figures on the classical music scene” (The Washington Post). The Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient joins David to describe his many musical families including the string quartet Brooklyn Rider, The Knights, an innovative orchestra for which he is the Co-Artistic Director with his brother, Eric, and the Santa Fe Pro Musica. Colin discusses childhood memories backstage at The Metropolitan Opera, the importance of playing with others, and what he loves about multi-generational musical experiences. Colin also reflects about the evolution of The Knights, which will perform at Carnegie Hall this season and his on-going collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma's Silkroad since its founding in 2000.

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For more information on Colin's musical families check out The Knights, Brooklyn Rider, Silkroad, and Santa Fe Pro Musica.

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Photograph of Colin Jacobsen by Marco Giannavola.

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.

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

Gabriela Ortiz

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:30:11 GMT

Grammy-nominated Mexican composer and this season's Carnegie Hall Debs Composer Chair Gabriela Ortiz is renowned for her vibrant compositions that celebrate and transcend musical traditions. To kick things off David shares his excitement about performing Gabriela's work with the Met Opera Orchestra this season and our guest describes what it's like to be paired with musical greats including Wagner and Beethoven, why she wishes she was at the premiere of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring," and where she finds inspiration as an artist. Gabriela reflects on the importance of intuition, falling in love with the work of Bartók, and the rich musical environment her parents provided for her as a child. On the back end the composer discusses how she nearly pursued a profession as a flamenco dancer, career challenges, what she did to get the attention of the Mexico City Philharmonic, and why she likes to sit among the audience when her music is performed.

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Photograph of Gabriela Ortiz by Marta Arteaga.

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.

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

Alisa Weilerstein: Her musical beginnings and groundbreaking solo concert series Fragments

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:00:23 GMT

To close out the year, 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 President Obama, as well as discusses her groundbreaking new solo concert series Fragments.

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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.

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

Maxim Vengerov

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:00:44 GMT

Grammy Award-winning violinist and conductor extraordinaire Maxim Vengerov is acclaimed for his concerts, recordings, and humanitarian work. The Siberian-born star discusses his discipline as a young musician, why he wanted to be a conductor by age 3, and how he knew at age 5 he had a natural gift for the violin. He reminisces about learning to play while wearing warm gloves, how music became his ticket to the world, and sets the record straight about why he punched his beloved teacher. To close out the conversation Maxim talks about a memorable experience as UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador, David shares his excitement about performing with Maxim and The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra next month at Carnegie Hall, and our guest recalls "freaking out" on Carnegie's stage many years ago.

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Photograph of Maxim Vengerov by Davide Cerati.

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.

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

Angel Blue

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:00:29 GMT

Two-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue is a musical powerhouse. She and David discuss performing at The Metropolitan Opera together, the importance of the Prompter, how Angel draws on her own life experiences when singing, and why she says she is the "the annoying one in the rehearsal room." Reflecting on her childhood, Angel shares what opera she fell in love with at age four, the many voices in which she found inspiration (her father, Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle), the first time she realized she could affect someone with her voice (in fourth grade!), and the parallels between her beauty pageant days and singing. To close it out, Angel shares her pre-performance ritual and David shares his excitement about performing with Angel and the Met Opera Orchestra later this season at Carnegie Hall.

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Photograph of Angel Blue 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.

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

Semyon Bychkov

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:00:27 GMT

Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Czech Philharmonic Semyon Bychkov is an artist whose commitment, passion, and obsession with making music is contagious. To kick off the conversation Semyon and David discuss the unique relationship between a conductor and a musician based on their own experiences performing together at the Metropolitan Opera. The Maestro recalls his earliest musical experiences at age 5 (he had perfect pitch!), the moment when he realized he was born to conduct, and the parallels between his life as an artist and an athlete. Semyon shares why winning the Rachmaninoff Conducting Competition led to his escape from the former Soviet Union and ultimate emigration to the United States in 1975 and how he came to inherit Rachmaninoff's briefcase and some of his scores. To close out the conversation Semyon shares what he loves most about Carnegie Hall and how he perceives the power of music.

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For more info on the Czech Philharmonic visit them on the web.

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Photograph of Semyon Bychkov by Marco Borggreve.

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.

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

Michael Fabiano

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:40:19 GMT

American tenor Michael Fabiano brings an intense passion to every performance. The recipient of the Beverly Sills Artist Award and the Richard Tucker Award joins David to discuss the obligation of every singer, challenges modern day performers face, the importance of being prepared, and how his analytic mind was made for a life in music. Michael divulges why his journey into opera is unique, how he credits his success to his business acumen, his biggest career mistake, and how he got over his inner demons. To close it out David and Michael reflect on a 2015 performance at The Metropolitan Opera where Michael took to the stage with only a few hours of notice and without time to rehearse! Be sure to listen for what slogan David thinks Michael should have printed on a t-shirt.

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Photograph of Michael Fabiano by Diego Bendezu.

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.

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

Aaron Diehl

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:00:44 GMT

Critically acclaimed American pianist and composer Aaron Diehl deftly traverses the jazz and classical worlds. The GRAMMY nominated artist discusses the music of his childhood (Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, and Johann Sebastian Bach), early performances on stage at his family's church, and how he learned to play "Deck the Halls" on the piano at age 5. He tells David why loosening up in his music playing is vital yet still scary and how a summer at Interlochen was a turning point in his musicianship. Aaron recounts how after winning the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition he nearly turned down a European Tour at age 17 with Wynton Marsalis (thank goodness he didn't!!), what he learned through that experience, and why enrolling at The Juilliard School was a gift after this education on the road. To close it out Aaron describes how his life as a pilot mimics his performances on stage.

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Photograph of Aaron Diehl 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.

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

Lisette Oropesa

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:30:24 GMT

American soprano Lisette Oropesa is one of today's most in-demand opera singers. After performing with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra this past summer in Asia, Lisette sits down with David for our season premiere. To kick the conversation off she discusses what goes through her mind as she sings, how she avoids being a tortured musician, and David's faux pas in Tokyo. Reminiscing about her childhood as a flutist and band nerd, Lisette shares why she shifted to become an opera singer and how generous LSU Opera supporters helped prepare her for auditions at the Met early in her career. Lisette candidly talks about her weight loss and running journeys and how they made her a stronger performer. To close it out Lisette excitedly discusses her upcoming recital debut at Carnegie Hall later this month.

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Photograph of Lisette Oropesa by Steven Harris.

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.

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

Jonathon Heyward

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:00:51 GMT

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.

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

Joyce DiDonato: Live at Lincoln Center

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:50 GMT

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.

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

Lawrence Brownlee

Tue, 28 May 2024 09:00:35 GMT

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.

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

Kenji López-Alt

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:30:49 GMT

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.

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Gerard Schwarz

Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:17 GMT

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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Nathalie Joachim

Tue, 07 May 2024 09:00:47 GMT

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.

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

Gabriel Kahane

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:50 GMT

American composer, singer, songwriter, and sonic storyteller Gabriel Kahane uses pop, folk, and classical music to craft captivating works that illustrate the human experience. Gabriel discusses the importance of using music to create community, his song Sit Shiva, what type of opera he imagines he'd write if given the opportunity, and how he responds to humor that is ultimately empathetic. Reflecting on the influences of his psychologist mother, concert pianist father, and his musical childhood filled with violin, piano, guitar, and singing, Gabriel talks about his start at New England Conservatory as a jazz pianist, how his interest shifted to theater at Brown, and his ultimate arrival in New York with his cellist friend Alisa Weilerstein where he began to write songs.

Check out Gabriel Kahane on Instagram, Facebook, Substack, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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Photograph of Gabriel Kahane by Jason Quigley.

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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Avi Avital

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:36 GMT

The first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy, Avi Avital's remarkable virtuosity from Baroque masterpieces to contemporary compositions has reignited fascination with the mandolin as an instrument worthy of center stage. Avi discusses the intuitive nature of a plucked instrument and how it still excites him to this day, why he finds boredom a blessing, and how his poor pick grip is recognizable by a select group of mandolinists. Reflecting on his childhood performances with his local youth orchestra, Avi shares how the social aspect kept him playing despite his hatred for the tedious and solitary nature of practice, something he still feels to this day despite his talent and success. Avi considers two turning points in his musical development, the first while in high school when he fell in love with the rock music of Nirvana and Pearl Jam and learned how to play drums, keyboard, and guitar, and the second while attending a performance of Il Giardino Armonico at a Jerusalem theater while studying at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. To close it out David admits that if he hears the mandolin in Mozart's Don Giovanni, he's in trouble!

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Photograph of Avi Avital by Christoph Köstlin.

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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Louis Cato

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:00:07 GMT

Louis Cato is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and the band leader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The "musical genius" discusses starting the drums before he could walk, his childhood in a tight-knit church community where he wasn't exposed to pop, rock, or jazz music, and how he mastered (or not) the trombone by age fifteen. Louis tells David why he is a "jack of all trades, master of none" in the music world and what he learned from Jon Batiste, Questlove, Doc Severinsen, and Paul Shaffer about being a great band leader.

Check out Louis Cato on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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Photograph of Louis Cato 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.

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

Paul Watkins

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:00:22 GMT

Grammy nominated Welsh cellist and conductor Paul Watkins has enjoyed an illustrious musical career. Whether performing as a chamber musician or music director, his talent for collaboration is unparalleled. Paul reflects on his early beginnings, why he saw professional classical musicians as untouchable in his youth, and how this perspective changed while he attended the Yehudi Menuhin school as a teenager. David asks what it was like to lead the cello section of the BBC Symphony Orchestra at age 20 without any professional experience (terrifying!) and how Paul found the courage to ultimately forge a path as a soloist and chamber musician. Paul discusses how he nearly turned down an audition for the famed Emerson String Quartet, which he ultimately joined thanks to his encouraging wife and a bottle of champagne! To close it out, Paul leaves listeners with invaluable advice.

Check out Paul Watkins on Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

You can listen to and learn more about the Emerson String Quartet on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, and the web.

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Photograph of Paul Watkins by Jurgen Frank.

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.

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

Béla Fleck

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:38:57 GMT

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.

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

J'Nai Bridges

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:00:46 GMT

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.

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

Anna Lapwood

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:00:04 GMT

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.

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

Lara Downes

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 10:00:00 GMT

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.

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

Barbara Hannigan

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:49 GMT

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.

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

Introducing Season 5

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:43:55 GMT

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.

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

Christian McBride (Rebroadcast)

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 22:14:20 GMT

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.

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

Terence Blanchard (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:12 GMT

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.

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

Anthony McGill (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:31 GMT

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.

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

Wynton Marsalis (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:51 GMT

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.

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

Emanuel Ax (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:13 GMT

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.

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

Ray Chen (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:50 GMT

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.

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

Isabel Leonard (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:00:11 GMT

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.

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

Joshua Weilerstein (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:00:02 GMT

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.

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

Denson Paul Pollard (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:00:03 GMT

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.

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

Mandy Gonzalez

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:02 GMT

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.

Check out Mandy Gonzalez on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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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.

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

Bruce Adolphe

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:16:25 GMT

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.

You can find more Piano Puzzlers on the web.

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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.

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

Madison Cunningham

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:00:28 GMT

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.

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

Regina Spektor

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:48 GMT

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.

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

Gabriela Montero (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:56 GMT

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.

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

Leon Botstein

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:17 GMT

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.

Check out Leon Botstein on Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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.

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

Jeremy Denk (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:19 GMT

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.

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

Jess Gillam

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:00:57 GMT

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.

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

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:00:03 GMT

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.

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

Alisa Weilerstein (Rebroadcast)

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:00:56 GMT

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.

Check out Alisa Weilerstein on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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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.

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

Fabio Luisi

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:22 GMT

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.

Check out Fabio on Spotify, Apple Music, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Don't miss Fabio's FL Parfums.

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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.

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

Midori

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:00:12 GMT

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.

Check out Midori on Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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.

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

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

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

Joseph Conyers

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:00:47 GMT

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.

Check out Joseph Conyers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, or the web.

Learn more about Joseph's Project440.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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

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

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

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

Introducing Season 4

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 18:14:38 GMT

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.

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

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

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

Alisa Weilerstein

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:28 GMT

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.

Check out Alisa Weilerstein on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

Jeremy Denk

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 GMT

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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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

Gabriela Montero

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:41 GMT

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.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

Introducing Season 3

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:00:25 GMT

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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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram or the web.

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

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

Dr. Richard Antoine White

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:34 GMT

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.

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

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

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

Terence Blanchard

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:00:26 GMT

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.

Check out Terence Blanchard on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

David Chan

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 09:00:11 GMT

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.

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

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

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

Missy Mazzoli

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:30 GMT

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.

Check out Missy Mazzoli on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

Tine Thing Helseth

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:54 GMT

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.

Check out Tine Thing Helseth on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

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You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

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.

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

James Ehnes

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:00:34 GMT

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.

Check out James Ehnes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

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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.

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

Kaoru Watanabe

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:38 GMT

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.

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

Rufus Wainwright

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 22:46:05 GMT

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.

Check out Rufus Wainwright on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, or the web.

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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.

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

Marin Alsop

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:11 GMT

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.

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

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

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

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:00:59 GMT

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.

Check out Anthony Roth Costanzo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, or the web.

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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.

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

Rhiannon Giddens

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:48 GMT

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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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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Ibrahim Maalouf

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:23 GMT

International superstar and Grammy Award nominated French-Lebanese trumpeter, composer, producer, and arranger Ibrahim Maalouf's music traverses genres and pushes creative boundaries. He reminisces about his earliest lessons with his prominent father, the trumpeter Nassim Maalouf, unpacks their complicated relationship, and shares the dramatic moment his life as a classical music virtuoso came to a close. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Ibrahim also speaks about the lack of acceptance he faces among the styles of music he commands and how that shapes his musical ethos. He reveals why Quincy Jones eating sushi was a good sign and talks about the power of music.

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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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Introducing Season 2

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:00:55 GMT

We're back with more inspiring conversations featuring singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, folk artist Rhiannon Giddens, trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, conductor Marin Alsop, violinist James Ehnes, 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.

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

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

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BONUS: Growth as an Artist

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 10:00:52 GMT

In this bonus episode, David reflects back on guests from the first season of Speaking Soundly who spoke about their growth as musicians. Hear from Ray Chen, Joyce DiDonato, Christian McBride, and Dr. Denson Paul Pollard.

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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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BONUS: David Krauss (A Crossover with 76West)

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:00:25 GMT

In this bonus episode David talks about how Speaking Soundly got its start, what he loves most about interviewing his friends and colleagues, and his own musical background and relationship to practice. David is guest interviewed by Jason Blitman of 76West: A Podcast from the Marlene Meyerson JCC.

Special thanks to 76West: A Podcast from the Marlene Meyerson JCC, host Jason Blitman, and audio engineer Matt Temkin

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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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Elizabeth Rowe

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:42 GMT

Performing as Principal Flute with the Boston Symphony Orchestra while simultaneously initiating a gender discrimination lawsuit against the organization for equal pay was the most difficult period in Elizabeth Rowe’s professional life. She credits the support of her colleagues, her dedication to perform under pressure, and the unique state laws of Massachusetts for getting her through this period.

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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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Nico Muhly

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:34 GMT

Celebrated American composer Nico Muhly’s brain is wired to work at the speed of sound. His compositional style embraces old and new, and he rebels against the old-fashioned notion of being a tortured artist. Nico is smart, hilarious, and spontaneous as he discusses his musical life and invites us into his compositional workflow from brainstorming on paper to a live performance.

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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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Alicia Graf Mack

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:00:31 GMT

Despite multiple injuries, a pivot to seek out a degree from Columbia University, and a burgeoning corporate career, Alicia Graf Mack was always destined to be in the dance world. As the youngest and first woman of color to be the Dean and Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, Alicia aims to break the cookie-cutter mold by embracing dancers of different body types and skin tones.

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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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Joyce DiDonato

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:00:33 GMT

American mezzo-soprano and three-time Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato compares singing into a packed opera house to Roger Federer’s swing, as an effortless, efficient flow that feels like you’re on a sailboat taken by the breeze. She recalls the profound process of developing her voice and marvels at its humanizing and therapeutic value.

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

Special thanks to Tommy Harron at Armazi Productions for his help with the audio.

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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Keri-Lynn Wilson

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:00:46 GMT

Canadian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson has led orchestras and opera companies around the globe to great acclaim for over two decades. Earlier this year, with her cousins on the battlefield of Ukraine, she turned her outrage into action when she founded the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra in coordination with the Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera. Keri-Lynn and David talk about this meaningful work, the key to being a conductor, the advantage of experience, and reminisce about a respected and feared teacher they shared at Juilliard.

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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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Anthony McGill

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:00:47 GMT

Avery Fisher Prize winner and clarinetist Anthony McGill 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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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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Joshua Weilerstein

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:00:16 GMT

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 before 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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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.

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

Ray Chen

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:00:12 GMT

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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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Joseph Alessi

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:18 GMT

Longtime Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic and Juilliard faculty member Joseph Alessi discusses his musical childhood, the key to inspiring his students, and a recent health scare that jeopardized his career and caused him to consider a life without the trombone.

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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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Spencer Rubin

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:35 GMT

Juilliard freshman Spencer Rubin is either practicing the oboe, working on his oboe reeds, or making a TikTok video for his 1.5 million followers. The young oboist is taking the musical world by storm as he chases his dream of becoming a professional oboist, and entertains us along the way with his irreverent, honest, and hilarious viral videos.

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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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Wynton Marsalis

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:37 GMT

Wynton Marsalis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award winner, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the greatest trumpeter of his generation, but to our host, David, he’ll always be his teacher, mentor, and family friend. Wynton and David chat about the benefits of music and Wynton’s musical development, and discuss a treasured gift. This episode will make David’s mom especially proud!

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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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Evelyn Glennie

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:30:16 GMT

Scottish percussionist and Grammy Award winner Dame Evelyn Glennie became profoundly deaf at the age of twelve. Her unique journey to open up her entire body to sound led her to become the first person in history to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She explains how hearing is not only done through the ears, and has a mission to teach the world how to truly listen.

Check out Dame Evelyn Glennie on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web. Listen to the Evelyn Glennie Podcast here.

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

Special thanks to Tommy Harron at Armazi Productions for his help with the audio.

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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Denson Paul Pollard

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:30:59 GMT

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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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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Emanuel Ax

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:12:40 GMT

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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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Christian McBride

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:00:15 GMT

From the age of seventeen, Christian McBride 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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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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Isabel Leonard

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:00:01 GMT

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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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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Introducing Speaking Soundly

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 01:28:54 GMT

A new show from Artful Narratives Media featuring conversations with today’s most accomplished performing artists including Wynton Marsalis, Joyce DiDonato, Emanuel Ax, and more, hosted by MET Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss. Coming to your podcast feed on September 12th.

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