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:

Jacob Cooper: Terrain

Composer Jacob Cooper joins us to preview his new album from Amsterdam Records, called Terrain. In this three-part song collection (which features vocalists Theo Bleckmann and Jodie Landau, as well a…

Wed 08 Jul 2020

Michael Shapiro: Archangel

Composer, pianist, and conductor Michael Shapiro joins us to talk about the music on his latest disc, including his John Milton-inspired piano concerto entitled Archangel. In this action-packed work,…

Tue 30 Jun 2020

Whateverandeveramen: Songs of Fatherhood

In this special edition of WGTE in Concert, we feature the vocal project Whateverandeveramen, under the direction Dr. Bradley Pierson. Composer David V. Montoya introduces us to Songs of Fatherhood, …

Thu 18 Jun 2020

UT Chamber Singers: Color Madrigals

In this special edition of WGTE in Concert, we feature the University of Toledo Chamber Singers under the direction Dr. Bradley Pierson. Composer Joshua Shank introduces us to his Color Madrigals, se…

Thu 18 Jun 2020

Shai Wosner: Schubert in the Age of Covid-19

Pianist Shai Wosner has garnered a reputation for digging beneath the surface of his musical subjects to reveal hidden treasures and insightful connections. In his latest recording of Piano Sonatas b…

Wed 10 Jun 2020

Sam Pluta: Lines on Black

Chicago-based composer, electronics performer, and sound artist Sam Pluta takes us through his new album with the Wet Ink Ensemble, Glossolalia/Lines on Black. Written as a "love letter" to the per…

Fri 05 Jun 2020

Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope

Violin virtuoso Niv Ashkenazi joins us to talk about Violins of Hope, an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. …

Wed 03 Jun 2020

William Berger: The Epic of Opera

Celebrated author, commentator, and Metropolitan Opera radio producer William Berger is presenting a two week, eight part webinar series on the wonderful wide world of Opera – from its beginnings wit…

Mon 01 Jun 2020

Michael Whalen: Sacred Spaces

Emmy® award-winning composer Michael Whalen is a veteran of more than 800 TV and film scores, thousands of commercials and numerous TV themes and video games. In his latest album, he turns his attent…

Fri 15 May 2020

The Crossing: Anonymous Man and Carthage

Conductor Donald Nally joins us to talk about two new albums from his Grammy-winning chamber choir The Crossing: composer Michael Gordon's Anonymous Man, and composer James Primosch's Carthage. Writt…

Fri 08 May 2020

Lara St. John: Key of A

WGTE's Haley Taylor checks in with violinist Lara St. John (a "high-powered soloist" according to the New York Times). Lara's new album is Key of A - a collaboration with pianist Matt Herskowitz whic…

Mon 04 May 2020

yMusic Ensemble: Ecstatic Science

Founded in Brooklyn in 2008, the yMusic Ensemble has collaborated with the likes of Paul Simon, Bon Iver, and Ben Folds. They've also commissioned numerous works for their unique combination of trump…

Wed 15 Apr 2020

Ola Gjeilo: Night

Norwegian-born, New York-based composer Ola Gjeilo is well-known for his many beautiful choral works. In his new album Night, Ola turns his attention to the piano, with a series of musical vignettes …

Mon 09 Mar 2020

Nadia Shpachenko: The Poetry of Places

Fresh off her Grammy Award win for Best Classical Compendium, pianist Nadia Shpachenko joins us to showcase the winning album, called The Poetry of Places. Featuring several world premieres, the disc…

Mon 03 Feb 2020

Miró Quartet: Beethoven Cycle

The internationally-acclaimed Miró Quartet have finally released their entire cycle of Beethoven String Quartets (all 8 1/2 hours!) on the Pentatone record label. Fifteen years in the making, the new…

Fri 31 Jan 2020

String Orchestra of Brooklyn: Afterimage

The String Orchestra of Brooklyn has released their debut album, called afterimage. It features two exquisitely soulful works written for the orchestra by Christopher Cerrone and Jacob Cooper, both o…

Tue 28 Jan 2020

Paul Merkelo: The Enlightened Trumpet

Trumpet virtuoso (and principal of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) Paul Merkelo has a new recording out on Sony Classical, which features stand-out performances of four popular concertos – all compo…

Thu 23 Jan 2020

Carr-Petrova Duo: Novel Voices

The Carr-Petrova Duo (violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova) discuss their debut album from Melos Records, Novel Voices. Inspired by their Novel Voices Refugee Aid Project, the disc includes a …

Tue 07 Jan 2020

Rachel Barton Pine: Dvorak and Khachaturian Violin Concertos

Star violinist Rachel Barton Pine joins Haley Taylor for a conversation about her Music by Black Composers project, and her new album from Avie Records, which contains the folk music-infused violin c…

Fri 03 Jan 2020

Black Oak Ensemble: Silenced Voices

Two members of the Chicago-based Black Oak Ensemble, cellist David Cunliffe and violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, joins us for a conversation about their debut album from Cedille Records, Silenced Voi…