Classical Conversations

Browse our audio archive of conversations with local and international classical musicians. WGTE's Brad Cresswell and Mary Claire Murphy speak with some of today's greatest artists about their latest recordings and performances. Watch the Classical Conversations Video Interviews. Classical Conversations® is a registered trademark of Classical Conversations Multi Media, Inc. and is licensed by WGTE.

Music Interviews

Update frequency: every 13 days
Episodes: 269
Years Active: 2016 - 2025

Share to:

Hope and Dreams: The Lullaby Project

Opera luminary Joyce DiDonato joins us for a conversation about the star-studded album Hopes and Dreams: The Lullaby Project. An outgrowth of Carnegie Hall's Lullaby Project – which pairs pregnant wo…

Fri 22 Jun 2018

Joshua Bell: Scottish Fantasy

Violin superstar Joshua Bell joins us to preview his new album, which features his first recording ever of the virtuosic Scottish Fantasy by Max Bruch. Also on the disc, a thrilling new take on Bruch…

Fri 15 Jun 2018

Simone Dinnerstein: Circles (Bach + Glass)

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein's latest recording from the Orange Mountain Music label is called Circles, and features the Boston-based, Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry. It also features two…

Fri 08 Jun 2018

Kazem Abdullah: Daphnis & Chloe

The young and dynamic American conductor Kazem Abdullah joins us for a conversation about his new recording of Maurice Ravel's masterful ballet Daphnis & Chloe.

Fri 25 May 2018

Robert Prester: Rapsodya

Pianist Robert Prester has received wide acclaim for his jazz recordings over the years. Now he turns his attention to the classical genre with a new album called Rapsodya, which includes works by Be…

Fri 18 May 2018

Norman Krieger: Brahms

Pianist Norman Krieger talks Johannes Brahms and samples his new album, which features both Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 (with the London Symphony Orchestra) and the Piano Sonata No.1.

Fri 11 May 2018

Ariel Quartet: Bartok & Brahms

Formed in Israel nearly twenty years ago, the Ariel Quartet is currently Faculty Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. We're joined by three members of…

Fri 04 May 2018

Miró Quartet: Beethoven

Two members of the celebrated Miró Quartet talk about the group's history and the latest entry in their Beethoven cycle: the String Quartet Opus 131 in C sharp minor, one of the composer's most profo…

Wed 11 Apr 2018

As One at KCH

Stage director/vocal coach Kathy Kelly and soprano Jennifer Cresswell join us for a preview of Kerrytown Concert House's upcoming production of Laura Kaminsky's As One, an opera about the transgender…

Thu 05 Apr 2018

UT Opera Ensemble: A Midsummer Night's Dream

The University of Toledo Opera Ensemble's director Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini joins us along with coach/accompanist Wayne Anthony and four cast members to preview their production of Benjamin Britt…

Thu 22 Mar 2018

Masterworks Chorale: From Darkness Into Light

The Masterworks Chorale of Toledo's director Timothy Cloeter joins us to preview their spring classics concert, From Darkness Into Light, which pairs music of Johann Sebastian Bach with that of John …

Wed 21 Mar 2018

Samuel Adler: One Lives But Once (Part One)

Celebrated composer, conductor, teacher, and author Samuel Adler turns 90 this month. Sam joins us for an extended conversation about his life, career, and music – with a focus on the recent album On…

Wed 07 Mar 2018

Samuel Adler: One Lives But Once (Part Two)

We continue the conversation with composer, conductor, teacher, and author Samuel Adler on the occasion of his 90th birthday, featuring his recent album One Lives but Once: A 90th Birthday Celebratio…

Wed 07 Mar 2018

Lara Downes: For Lenny

Pianist Lara Downes talks about her intimate tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his American legacy in her new album from Sony Classical, entitled For Lenny. This 28-track recording features world prem…

Sat 24 Feb 2018

Hudson Shad & The Seven Deadly Sins

The vocal ensemble Hudson Shad is in town to perform the work they know best: Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht's Seven Deadly Sins, with Storm Large and the Toledo Symphony (they've performed it more than…

Thu 22 Feb 2018

Rachel Barton Pine: Elgar and Bruch

Star violinist Rachel Barton Pine introduces us to her latest album, which pairs the equally romantic violin concertos of Max Bruch and Sir Edward Elgar.

Fri 16 Feb 2018

Opera is a Story

Christina Farrell, founder of Opera Ignite, is in town to bring her Opera is a Story program to pre-schoolers throughout the area under the auspices of Toledo Opera. She joins us for a conversation a…

Mon 05 Feb 2018

Liza Stepanova: Tones and Colors

Pianist Liza Stepanova discusses her latest release, Tones & Colors - which pairs evocative pieces of music with rich examples of visual art.

Fri 26 Jan 2018

Toledo Opera: Rigoletto Roundtable

We welcome two cast members of Toledo Opera's upcoming production of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, soprano Magali Simard Galdès and baritone Anooshah Golesorkhi, along with conductor James Meena and st…

Mon 22 Jan 2018

Ola Gjeilo: Winter Songs

Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo joins us to preview his lovely holiday album Winter Songs, from Decca Classics.