Category Archives: Interviews from Music

Insightful and informative interviews with music people

ADRIANNE PIECZONKA: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED CANADIAN SOPRANO DUE TO SING RICHARD STRAUSS AND WAGNER WITH THE TSO MARCH 11, 12, AND 14

Posted on March 4, 2015 by strecker

Photograph by Bo Huang James Strecker: First of all, best wishes for your birthday of March 2. Since you’ll be fifty-two, I wonder how the Adrianne who will be singing with the Toronto Symphony on March 11, 12, 14 is … Continue reading →

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GEORGE BENJAMIN: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CELEBRATED COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR, PIANIST AND TEACHER -APPEARING AT THE TORONTO SYMPHONY’S NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL FROM FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 7

Posted on February 26, 2015 by strecker

Photo by Matthew Lloyd James Strecker: A Mind of Winter is the first of your three featured works in the Toronto Symphony’s New Creations Festival, so I’d love to know how introspective a work it is. A number of writers … Continue reading →

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BARBARA HANNIGAN COMES TO TORONTO SYMPHONY’S NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 7: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CANADIAN SOPRANO CONSIDERED BY SIMON RATTLE AS “ONE OF THE BEST MUSICIANS OUT THERE”

Posted on February 20, 2015 by strecker

Photo by Raphael Brand James Strecker: Since you’ll be performing in three concerts of the Toronto Symphony’s New Creations Festival beginning February 28, I wonder, first, how it feels to have festivals like this that celebrate the contemporary music to … Continue reading →

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ALISON MACKAY OF TAFELMUSIK: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AWARD-WINNING CREATOR OF THE GALILEO PROJECT, HOUSE OF DREAMS (REMOUNTED FEBRUARY 11-15), AND THE UPCOMING J. S. BACH: THE CIRCLE OF CREATION MAY 6-MAY 10).

Posted on January 20, 2015 by strecker

Photo by Sian Richards Alison Mackay is the recipient of the 2013 Betty Webster Award for her contribution to orchestral life in Canada. She has played violone and double bass with Tafelmusik since 1979 and is the creator of a … Continue reading →

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AN INTERVIEW WITH JOËLLE MORTON, MUCH-TRAVELLED VIOL PLAYER, PERIOD MUSIC SPECIALIST, SCHOLAR, EDUCATOR AND FOUNDER OF SCARAMELLA IN TORONTO

Posted on December 28, 2014 by strecker

James Strecker: To begin, thank you so much for Scaramella’s recent Hamilton concert of music by William Lawes, in the series created by Hammer Baroque. It was a night of revelations and of constant musical surprises and one certainly had … Continue reading →

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SALUTE TO VIENNA: AN INTERVIEW WITH ATTILA GLATZ, CREATOR OF THIS NEW YEAR’S TRADITION NOW CELEBRATING ITS 2OTH YEAR OF INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING HAMILTON

Posted on December 23, 2014 by strecker

photo by Wilhelm Denk (c) dewi photo by Barry Roden James Strecker: First of all, congratulations on twenty years of Salute to Vienna productions. What’s most satisfying for you about this anniversary? Attila Glatz: Thanks for the congratulations! It is … Continue reading →

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AN INTERVIEW WITH METIS TELEVISION AND FILM ACTOR+SINGER+WRITER+MESSENGER ANDREA MENARD

Posted on December 2, 2014 by strecker

James Strecker: Okay, we’ll talk soon about the actor and singer and writer aspects of your creative life, but why do you declare yourself also as Messenger on your website? What does that mean? Andrea Menard: It means that I … Continue reading →

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AN INTERVIEW WITH SINGER ALEX PANGMAN, CANADA’S LONG-REIGNING SWEETHEART OF SWING AKA “LA CRÈME DU JAZZ CANADIEN” -WITH A NEW JUSTIN TIME CD RECORDED IN NEW ORLEANS

Posted on October 9, 2014 by strecker

For many years jazz singer Alex Pangman has been widely respected and praised as an exponent of jazz vocals from the twenties to the forties, a singer with insightful smarts in the idioms of this repertoire and an inherent sense … Continue reading →

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ONE OF A KIND EN DEUX LANGUES: AN INTERVIEW WITH SINGER, SONGWRITER, BROADCASTER, PLAYWRIGHT MARIE-LYNN HAMMOND

Posted on September 5, 2014 by strecker

Not long ago, singer Marie-Lynn Hammond released not one but two CDs -Creatures, reviewed previously in this blog with highest praise, and Hoofbeats- both after a devastating accident. Upcoming soon are several gigs in Southern Ontario and Quebec. This interview … Continue reading →

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INTERVIEW WITH LOUISE PITRE OF SONDHEIM’S “COMPANY” AT TORONTO’S BERKELEY STREET THEATRE FROM JUNE 21

Posted on June 7, 2014 by strecker

Actor-singer Louise Pitre has understandably been called Canada’s first lady of musical theatre. She has garnered a variety of accolades, in her ongoing and distinguished career, which include a Theatre World award for Mama Mia! on Broadway, a Tony nomination … Continue reading →

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