Scms: Classical Conversation Podcast

Seattle Chamber Music Society artist Jun Iwasaki, violin, first visited Seattle as a toddler when his father, cellist Ko Iwasaki, played in the early years of SCMS Summer Festivals in the 1980s. In 2021, Jun and his wife welcomed their second child just days before Jun came to Seattle to play in the SCMS 2021 Online Winter Festival. In Part 1 of our conversation with Jun, he shares more stories of his childhood---including how his bedtime lullabies were the sounds of his cellist father and pianist mother practicing together.

Amy Schwartz-Moretti of the Ehnes Quartet says “every cell in my body comes to life” when she has the honor of playing Beethoven string quartets with members of this ensemble. Ehnes Quartet members share their most personal responses to the cycle of Beethoven quartets in Part 3 of our discussion.

Part 2 of our discussion with the renowned Ehnes Quartet focuses on the unique roles that Beethoven demands of the four players who take on his string quartets. We get answers from the perspective of each instrument within the quartet.

This special edition of our podcast is a 3-part discussion with the Ehnes Quartet, made up of violinists James Ehnes and Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist Richard O'Neill, and cellist Edward Arron. In Part one, they discuss how Beethoven’s String Quartets take us from the work of a young artist flexing his compositional muscles to the stream of consciousness musings of a mature master craftsman.

This special 2020 Winter Festival Preview episode features SCMS Artistic Director James Ehnes discussing Beethoven and Bach with Classical KING FM host Dave Beck. Nine of Beethoven's string quartets and four of Bach's concerti will be performed as part of the Festival. James also speaks about the other Festival programming and his father's impact on him as a performer.

In the final part of our conversation, violinist Erin Keefe talks about how playing Brahms’ chamber music led to her appointment as concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra, and we hear that performance of Brahms. Erin also shares one of her favorite concertmaster solos, a passage from the Richard Strauss “Four Last Songs.”

Part 2 of our conversation with violinist Erin Keefe includes her shocking admission that she “detests practicing.” But Erin explains that the social aspect of music, and the friendships and collegiality of chamber music in particular, fuel her passion for perfecting her craft.

In part 1 of our discussion with violinist Erin Keefe, she shares a recording of music by Jean Sibelius and talks about how she’s come to a deeper understanding of that great Finnish composer through her travels and performances with her Finnish husband, conductor and composer Osmo Vänskä.

The final part of our chat with tenor Nicholas Phan, we learn about his founding of the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago to promote opportunities for art song performance. We hear a delightful song by Hugo Wolf and 'An Die Musik' by Franz Schubert. Nicholas also speaks warmly of his former vocal teacher Rosemary Russell.

Part 2 of our conversation with tenor Nicholas Phan, the unique and special aspects of art song and vocal chamber music, which is a particular focus for Phan. A song about witches by Felix Mendelssohn is heard and discussed, as well as the how the vocal music of Mendelssohn and other composers is under-performed.

In the first part of our conversation with tenor Nicholas Phan, he shares his musical background and training history. We also hear a lovely recordings of a song by Beethoven.

In the final part of our conversation, violist David Harding speaks about an SCMS-Commissioned work by Jeffrey Cotton as well as the powerful chamber music of composer Johannes Brahms. We also learn about his instrument - an 18th-century viola.

Part 2 of our conversation with violist David Harding focuses on his teaching career and his relationship with his own teacher: pedagogue, violist, and painter Emanuel Vardi.

The first part of our conversation with violist David Harding focuses on Trio Verlaine, his chamber ensemble with his wife, flutist Lorna McGhee, as well as harpist Heidi Krtutzen. He also talks about meeting and performing with his wife.

The final part of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark. She speaks about attending renowned fiddler Mark O'Connor and his summer music camp she attended as a young player. Tessa also speaks about the music of Eugene Ysaye, and an upcoming recording of Bach with bassist Michael Thurber.

In Part 2 of this special episode of our podcast, we interview Piano Technician Charles Ball, who talks about maintaining exceptional concert pianos. We hear an excerpt of a live performance of Brahms on the SCMS piano by Adam Neiman, and Charles discusses the SCMS piano and its characteristics.

The final part of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John who talks about the period where he took a year off from music, how he got started in his university teaching career, and his passion for public transportation.

In part 3 of our conversation with violinist Tessa Lark, she speaks about performing John Corigliano's piece "Stomp," and her interest in and performances of bluegrass and fiddle music. She expounds on the differences in technique in performing classical violin and folk violin.

Part 3 of our conversation with violinist Scott St. John touches on his new teaching position at the Colburn School, the music of composer John Adams, and the challenges of creating a career as a chamber musician.

In this special episode of our podcast, we interview Piano Technician Charles Ball, who is the Head Technician for the Butler School of Music at University of Texas-Austin. He has decades of experience caring for these complex instruments, and discusses the mechanical, tuning, and voicing aspects of piano upkeep.