Beethoven walks into a bar...
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Music Director Michael Stern joins Michael Gordon and concertmaster Jun Iwasaki to talk about his upcoming final season with the Kansas City Symphony. We also talk about his recently announced successor, Matthias Pintscher, and how he feels proud to hand over the keys to the hot-rod orchestra he’s helped to build for the last twenty years.
In this episode we talk with Vietnam veteran, voice artist, actor, musician, and longtime host for the Kansas City Symphony’s Memorial Day Celebration at the Station, Jim Birdsall. From his humble beginnings in North Dakota, to the jungles of Vietnam, to the quiet peacefulness of his home recording studio in Kansas City where he records his voice for the likes of CNBC, and NFL Films, Jim is a man who uses his voice like a musical instrument to draw listeners into any story he tells. Today, he’s using that iconic voice to tell his own fascinating story.
As Memorial Day approaches and the KC Symphony prepares for another Celebration at the Station, Beethoven Walks into a Bar revisits our conversation with Tim Donley of the band The Resilient. Tim, Mike, Stephanie, and our pal Jason Seber chat about making music in quarantine, the therapeutic power of art and dirty martinis. Hear Tim and The Resilient live at Celebration at the Station on Sunday, May 28. Visit kcsymphony.org for more information.
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie are joined by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke who is town to sing Hindemith's with the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus. We talk about Sasha's work with former podcast guests Caroline Shaw, Gabe Kahane, Nico Muhly and Joel Thompson on her Grammy award winning album "How do I Find you?" and discuss exploring "new music" vs. "new to you" music. Sasha also shares how finding a good coffee shop can make her feel at home no matter where she is in the world. We also reveal our Top 5 works for solo voice and orchestra. Listen now for all of this and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. Episode 705 Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ZI1wEaEb7YB1xa7XObrmI?si=93da1c89634a458b ALBUM: Sasha Cooke: "How Do I Find You?" https://open.spotify.com/album/5jFUZTq0vfuJREmOgMtyTm?si=IQ7Y9VXQRymTJ9m3Y4ACcg
Teddy Abrams makes his second appearance on Beethoven Walks into a Bar this week, joining Mike and guest hosts Joe LeFevre (tuba) and Jessica Nance (viola). Teddy recently led the orchestra in a program including former podcast guest Caroline Shaw's , Holst's , and Missy Mazzoli's Violin Concerto featuring the dazzling Jenny Koh. Hear how it went, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar!
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie chat with maestro, educator and all-around inspiring human Thomas Wilkins. The King of acronyms, he is currently artistic advisor for education and community engagement and the Germeshausen Youth and Family Concerts Conductor of the Boston Symphony (AAECEGYFCCBSO) and a winner of the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society (LBLAAFTEOMS). Thomas is in town conducting the Kansas City Symphony in Gershwin's , Coleridge-Taylor's Suite from and Neielsen's "Inextinguishable" Symphony March 31-April 2 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Episode 703 Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/41HUz6UdVbStT6lcHzr6sf?si=ac343782614646fe
This week's episode features an off the podium chat with conductor and composer Matthias Pintscher. Stephanie, Gonzalo and return-guest John Klinghammer grill he maestro on this weekend's program, featuring works by Ravel, Scriabin and LIGETI. Matthias describes the French-inspired program as a lush, colorful garden that we can't wait to hear in Helzberg Hall! He also discusses his time studying with legendary composer Pierre Boulez, and of course has a question for Beethoven while drinking a dirty filthy martini. All this and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar.
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Gonzalo and Stephanie chat with guest conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong about his upcoming visit to Kansas City. Francesco leads the Kansas City Symphony in a program of Mason Bates, Mozart and Respighi January 13-15 in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. In this episode, we talk about the importance of introducing performers and audiences to new music and Francesco dares to ask Beethoven, "Why the H*@! are there so many fermatas in the first two movements of the fifth symphony?!" Plus, we recommend listening to tunes from bossa nova to The Who. All this and more, this week on Beethoven walks into a Bar. Episode 701 Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2OP0iGCg54p8reC4MVI9CA?si=5f1ce60533db4291
Sometimes the best gifts are re-gifts. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we revisit this gem from Season Two with KCS musicians David Sullivan and Fabrice Curtis and our good friend Jason Seber. This holiday carol-filled episode is sure to ramp up your holiday spirit! Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Kansas City Symphony and Beethoven Walks into a Bar! Name that Christmas Carol Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hYfDHvkagtgRYGd7WzoHR?si=7c75968da2cc4c52
Happy Thanksgiving from Beethoven Walks into a Bar! And Happy FIRST Thanksgiving to our guest Aziz Shokhakimov! In this week's episode, we chat off the podium with Aziz who is in town to lead the Kansas City Symphony and fellow Uzbek Behzod Abduraimov in a program of Smetana, Prokofief and Dvořák. Our conversation runs the gamut from programming to jellied cranberry sauce, including a Top 5 things you were doing at age 13. Here's a hint: only one of us was making our conducting debut. All this and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar.
This week's episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar features a chat (yes, chat) with Magic Circle Mimes Doug MacIntyre and Maggie Peterson. Doug and Maggie have been introducing audiences to the arts of mime and symphonic music for over four decades. We chat about their journeys to becoming mimes and what inspires their unique and educational programs. See them in person with the Kansas City Symphony Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2pm in their performance of The Listener. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3J3jQHTG5kCHD3lsrv7Ack?si=3afe3efa612a4821 (Episode 605 Playlist)
On this week's episode of Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we welcome our first guest conductor of the season, Venezuelan Domingo Hindoyan who will conduct the orchestra and Kansas City Symphony Chorus in a program of Mendelssohn, Brahms and Berlioz. We’ll learn all about his upbringing in Venezuela’s El Sistema music schools, his short time as a conductor spy, and how his mother made her way from Aleppo to South America. We also make stomach's grumble with a chat about arepa, chimichurri, ceviche, empanadas, chupe, dulce de leche and other South American cuisines.. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar.
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, Mike and Stephanie get lost in the Bavarian Alps with two members of the KC Symphony brass section, associate principal trumpet Steven Franklin and bass trombonist Jahleel Smith. As the orchestra prepares to perform An Alipine Symphony, we marvel at Strauss' harmonious orchestration and the feat of actually fitting 106 musicians on stage in Helzberg Hall. Speaking of all these musicians, we wax poetic about the bass trumpet, discuss Wager tuba technique and learn what the heck a heckelphone is. All that and the kitchen sink, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1c7gpY4O2I9RYkni1x7Vzg?si=6e7f17869ac74731 (Episode 603 Playlist)
After years of searching, the Kansas City Symphony has a new concertmaster! After running through a veritable gauntlet of auditions, trials and recitals, Jun Iwasaki has landed the coveted role of concertmaster and now calls KC home. We chat about the audition process, the responsibilities of a concertmaster, and help Jun get to know his new KCS colleagues with a fun new game. Get to know Jun Iwasaki this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar.
Welcome to SEASON SIX of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! This week, we meet the Kansas City Symphony’s new Associate Conductor Gonzalo Farias. Learn about Gonzalo’s journey from Chile to KC, the audition process of a conductor, and his love of vintage wine. We also chat about the Symphony’s upcoming season, opening weekend with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and pay special tribute to a friend mentor we sadly lost this summer. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iNnanpkH4WVrweb0C3onq?si=ccaab30c61b74d1c (Episode 601 Playlist) https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ac088369-fb2d-41ba-863c-ded239249819 (Probing Questions with Larry Rachleff, Beethoven Walks into a Bar: Season 3, Episode 4)
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, New Zealander Gemma New reflects on her week with the Kansas City Symphony conducting Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, a new violin concerto by Chris Rogerson and Saint-Saëns' epic "Organ" Symphony. We chat about her journey from playing violin to conducting orchestras all over the world, including a stint here in Missouri as the resident conductor of the St. Louis Symphony. She also shares her passion for experimenting with concert formats and experiences. Enjoy that and more this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1trRFGF7CfWWhLwvZNvYGM?si=1ec52d444f534569 (Episode 508 Playlist) https://sounz.org.nz/ (https://sounz.org.nz)
This week on your favorite podcast, we throw out the playbook, tackle important topics and try not to utter any offensive lines when we're joined by Kansas City's favorite head coach, Andy Reid! Fresh off attending two KC Symphony performances, Coach Reid joins the show to talk about his concert experiences, our incredible Kansas City community and two of its favorite "teams," the Chiefs and the Symphony. Hear about players' superstitions and pre-game/concert rituals along with what Coach Reid would ask the legendary Vince Lombardi. Plus...we play a riveting game of Reed or Reid. All this and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar!
In addition to conducting around the world, maestro Paolo Bortolameolli has somehow found the time to create an insightful video series, author a book and join us for a chat on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. We have a great time discussing growing up in Chile, exploring new music, reaching new audiences, and of course, Chilean wine. Paolo joins the Kansas City Symphony for a weekend of music in Helzberg Hall April 21-23, 2022. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1nN5V95jnpMtFkxLx93msK?si=00d7b507e921441f (Episode 506 Playlist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScPTBeOhA6U (Ponle Pausa)
This week we chat off the podium with German-born conductor Christian Reif. Christian joins the Kansas City Symphony April 1-3, 2022 conducting works by Joan Tower, W.A. Mozart and Stravinsky. We chat about his upcoming trip to KC, the illustrious world of summer music festivals, and an unfortunate slip-of-the-tongue incident in Miami BEACH. Plus, our Top 5 ballet scores. All that and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zviGW1NfWD7ObjdUz8nYn?si=b6f3fb19b8334e03 (Episode 505 Playlist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyJsiO6SbAY&t=557s (Tiny Desk Concert - Julia Bullock and Christian Reif) https://vimeo.com/433198271 (Brown Baby - Julia Bullock and Christian Reif)
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we have a delightful chat with British conductor-turned-Floridian Michael Francis. Michael's upcoming program with the Kansas City Symphony includes music by Purcell, Mozart and Elgar. Speaking of Mozart, Michael currently leads the Mainly Mozart Festival, which obviously begs the question, "Why not Totally Tchaikovsky or Blatantly Beethoven?" All will be revealed, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fJ7717OJK5QFrGy0dyQvD?si=d474251425154572 (Episode 504 Playlist)
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar we chat off the podium with Maestro Eduardo Strausser who joins us from Berlin in advance of his week here with the orchestra. And who knows, maybe we change things up and do the interview in one or more of the 8 languages he’s fluent in (Spoiler alert – we stick with English). This week's Top 5 features the Top 5 Fifth Symphonies. Who makes the cut? Tchaikovsky? Mahler? Haydn? Mozart? Prokofiev? Tune in this week to find out! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1n0zZTQYIio6UMdBTazarM?si=21af2e5fa85a4071 (Episode 503 Playlist)
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we chat with rising American composer Joel Thompson. Joel is currently best known for his piece for men’s voices, piano and strings Seven Last words of the Unarmed, and is quickly making a name for himself across the country. We chat about the role the arts play in healing, music serving as a vehicle for social change, and Joel’s upcoming visit to Kansas City as the orchestra performs his newest work To Awaken the Sleeper. Next time on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rYyRWRlrZo79Bp5FvjrTU?si=3ffce89bdd114cec (Episode 502 Playlist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od6DMd3sP4s (Seven Last Words of the Unarmed) https://sevenlastwords.org/ (sevenlastwords.org)
Welcome to Season Five of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! We kick off the season and 2022 with Maestro Joshua Weilerstein. A podcaster in his own right, Joshua explains how his own show, Sticky Notes, came to be. He also chats about his upcoming visit to KC conducting Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F and William Grant Still's Poem. We also take on another Top 5 challenge exploring the Top 5 Most Influential Classical Music Families (excluding the Sterns and the Weilersteins, of course). All that and more this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6dw39FGW8sBlFYN66bD4bk?si=39614356b2274bf2 (Episode 501 Playlist)
Beethoven Walks into a Bar celebrates another Holiday season with music from around the world! Experience sounds of the season from Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Plus, our new favorite segment is back with a brand new jingle...Top 5 where Jason, Mike and Stephanie discuss their top 5 holiday movies. Be ready for holiday favorites, some surprise entries, and some public shaming. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CxIaJgY7FChCUODM4kNs6?si=8e16bccf779040c1 (Episode 407 Playlist) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT2CuvHMNPENHDatz4XijSm5dSEso7GfH (YouTube Playlist)
This week's episode is all about that bass. The Kansas City Symphony boasts one of the very best bass sections of any American orchestra, and we sit down with one of the members of this prestigious section, Mr. Caleb Quillen. Get ready to unlock all the mysteries of the largest, lowest, and noblest instrument of the orchestra, learn about about French bows vs. German bows, and learn all about the bass section’s knack for style and fashion. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3gacSQcLZPILJdVpMgzdjW?si=ba6e974748c04c3a (Episode 406 Playlist)
This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar, we sit down with another friend of the Symphony, conductor Johannes Debus. We learn all about his dual life and career as an opera and symphonic conductor, and hear about some of the innovative ways in which the Canadian Opera Company is reaching new audiences. We also dispel the myth that Schumann was not a great orchestrator. That and more, this week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YAxR0XOhQopJlFs31GImH?si=330048557cf44e2b (Episode 405 Playlist) https://www.coc.ca/2122 (Free Canadian Opera Company Subscription)
This week on the podcast, we present the first of several interviews with incoming guest conductors on this season's Classical Series. Maestro Peter Oundjian joins the Kansas City Symphony for an exciting performance featuring works by Florence Price, Richard Strauss and Rimsky-Korsakov. Hear all about his career both as a world class violinist and conductor, how a thoughtful encounter with a conducting icon shaped his future, and find out what he’s been up to since his last visit to KC in early 2020. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ND0Id6Cztquj9d8LcOKXN?si=47720303a18a497f (Episode 404 Playlist )
This week's episode marks a FIRST for this podcast - The first time a podcast guest returns for a second visit! Who better to start with very own head honcho, music director Michael Stern. We talk about the exciting season ahead, how the creative process of programming has been shaped by events of the past year and a half, AND we’ll have a special edition of Bar Talk that brings together two fundamental elements of the human experience; music and...bread. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4nZr44HRBbrHb9W6oIcD6T?si=cd3c84bced9841f1 (Episode 403 Playlist)
We chat this week with another fabulous member of the Kansas City Symphony family, associate principal oboe Alison Chung. She is not only talented oboist, she is a prolific cook, baker, eater, and food blogger. Learn all about Alison's journey in music, and how her hungry and adventurous online alter ego, “Lil’ Chung” came to be. This week on Beethoven Walks into a Bar. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0MgUj2VKzYCYKdiVDStMrL?si=1a24304c337a48f5 (Episode 402 Playlist)
Welcome to Season Four of Beethoven Walks into a Bar! This week, we visit with pianist Jeffrey Kahane and his son, composer Gabriel Kahane as we gear up to give the world premiere of Heriloom: Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. Jeffrey and Gabriel team up against Mike and Jason for a game of "Which pair knows each other better?" Spoiler alert: the father/son duo has a definite advantage. Keep tuning in throughout the season for exciting interviews with guest conductors, composers, artists and our amazing Kansas City Symphony musicians, this season on Beethoven Walks into a Bar! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1NSjwStLlkkkyG7ATyh6vD?si=e83797ea850a4192 (Episode 401 Playlist)
