Interviews on James Strecker Reviews the Arts……almost complete list

KIRAN AHLUWALIA: THE INDIAN SINGER & SONGWRITER EXPLAINS “MANY CRITICS IN NORTH AMERICA DON’T REALLY KNOW INDIAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. I HAVE BEEN MISLABELED MANY TIMES AS DOING INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC AND I AM NOT. “

RENEE SAGEBEAR ALBRECHT: THE FEMINIST, ACTIVIST, WRITER, PUBLISHER, PAINTER, HOMEOPATHIST, AND PHOTOGRAPHER DECLARES: “I SEE PEOPLE READY FOR PROGRESS, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CHANGE. ART-MAKING CALLS ATTENTION TO SOCIAL OPPRESSION. CREATIVE ACTIVITY IS VITAL FOR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL RENEWAL”

…SAUDI AUTHOR RAJA ALEM: AN INTERVIEW & A REVIEW May 2, 2013

…NURHAN ARMAN: CONDUCTOR OF SINFONIA TORONTO AND MAESTRO ON FOUR CONTINENTS: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS August 21, 2016

…CHRISTEL BARTELSE: AN INTERVIEW WITH WRITER, PRODUCER, CLOWN, TEACHER, COMEDIAN – AND CREATOR OF “ONEYMOON” NOW ON ITS WAY TO EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE July 27, 2015

…“IT’S A DIVINE FEMININE ENERGY THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED”: CANADIAN MIDDLE EASTERN DANCER BADIA STAR, WHO ONCE INDEED WAS A STAR IN CAIRO -AND ALWAYS A SPIRITUAL BRENDA BELL- IS NOW DIRECTOR OF THE INNOVATIVE “BRENDA BELL WELLNESS” December 17, 2014

…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 February 26, 2015

…AN INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT EDWARD BOND ABOUT HIS LONG AND “CONTROVERSIAL” CAREER IN BRITISH THEATRE AND HIS PLAY “THE SEA” NOW AT THE 2014 SHAW FESTIVAL June 17, 2014

…WILLARD BOUDREAU, GARY SMITH AND THEATRE ARE ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN HAMILTON! June 23, 2013

…THE BILLY BRAGG INTERVIEW PARTS I & II April 16, 2013

…AMBUR BRAID, SOPRANO: DALINDA IN HANDEL’S ARIODANTE FROM OCTOBER 16 AND QUEEN OF THE NIGHT IN MOZART’S THE MAGIC FLUTE FROM JANUARY 19, BOTH AT THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS September 26, 2016

…CHRISTY BRUCE: STAR OF SPONTANEOUS THEATRE AND THE INTERNATIONALLY POPULAR PRODUCTION “BLIND DATE”: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS October 20, 2016

…LAURA CONDLLN (NOT CONDLIN): AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ACTRESS (NOT ACTOR) PLAYING DOCTOR THOMAS STOCKMANN IN IBSEN’S CLASSIC AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE ….AT TORONTO’S TARRAGON THEATRE FROM OCTOBER 7 TO NOVEMBER 1 October 6, 2015

JANE COOP: MAJOR CANADIAN PIANIST PRESENTS MASTERCLASS (JULY 30), CONCERT (AUGUST 2), AND HEADLINES TRIBUTE TO LEGEND ANTON KUERTI (AUGUST 3) AT THE TORONTO SUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

HELENA K COSENTINO WHOSE ONE-WOMAN SHOW “GILDA: A TRIBUTE TO THE BELOVED COMEDIENNE GILDA RADNER” COMES TO HAMILTON FRINGE FROM JULY 20 TO JULY 30, 2017, DECLARES, “EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH GILDA.”

JONATHAN CROW: “MUSIC IS A VERY DIFFICULT MIX BETWEEN STRIVING FOR PERFECTION AND ACCEPTING HUMAN WEAKNESS” STATES THE CONCERTMASTER OF THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL (JULY 13-AUGUST 5, 2017)

CHRISTOPHER DARTON: A FILMMAKER AND WRITER WHO IS “PASSING ON STORIES SO THAT GENERATIONS TO COME CAN STILL LEARN FROM THE PAST”

…BRETT DEAN: THREE MAJOR WORKS BY THE CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN COMPOSER, VIOLIST AND CONDUCTOR ARE FEATURED AT THE TORONTO SYMPHONY’S 2016 NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL. HERE HE DISCUSSES EACH WORK AND HIS CREATIVE LIFE.
March 3, 2016

…STACIE DUNLOP: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SOPRANO OF “CUTTING EDGE CONTEMPORARY CREATIONS” IN CLASSCAL MUSIC: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS September 12, 2016

….KAFKA, KURTAG, DUNLOP AND EXISTENCE IN EVERY WORD, EVERY NOTE: AN INTERVIEW WITH SOPRANO STACIE DUNLOP April 25, 2014

…MULTI-MEDIA BAUDELAIRE: RÊVE DOUX-AMER/BITTERSWEET DREAM: AN INTERVIEW WITH SOPRANO STACIE DUNLOP January 11, 2012

…JAMES EHNES: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ACCLAIMED VIRTUOSO VIOLINIST DUE TO APPEAR WITH THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ON JUNE 9, 10, 11
June 6, 2016

LAURA ELLIS: THE ACTOR, DIRECTOR, AND EDUCATOR OBSERVES ” “…THE STATISTICS FOR FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS ARE PRETTY DEPRESSING. THE GREATEST DISPARITY IN GENDER EQUITY HAPPENS IN THE PLAYWRIGHT CATEGORY. ACCORDING TO PLAYWRIGHTS GUILD OF CANADA, OUT OF 812 PRODUCTIONS IN THE 2013/14 SEASON, 63% WERE WRITTEN BY MEN, 22% BY WOMEN, AND 15% BY MIXED GENDER PARTNERSHIPS.”

…DIANE ESTHER ON LIFE AFTER INCEST: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WRITER, CONSULTANT, ACTIVIST, LECTURER AND POET WHOSE BOOK “OUT OF INCEST” IS NOW IN ITS 10TH PRINTING……..PARTS I & II March 6, 2016

…JOANN FALLETTA: MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND AT THE FOREFRONT OF WOMEN CONDUCTORS IN THE CHANGING WORLD OF CLASSICAL MUSIC – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
September 28, 2016

…WHERE SCIENCE AND ART DANCE TOGETHER: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARCHAEOBOTANIST, TEACHER, ARTIST, AND RENAISSANCE MAN RUDY FECTEAU IN MOTION January 9, 2016

….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 December 23, 2014

…DICK GAUGHAN: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE RENOWNED SCOTTISH SINGER, GUITARIST AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST WHO APPEARS AT HUGH’S ROOM IN TORONTO WITH JASON WILSON ON SEPTEMBER 26 September 6, 2015

…KARINA GAUVIN: A SOPRANO CONSIDERED “ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICES IN THE BUSINESS” SINGS HANDEL AND VIVALDI IN TAFELMUSIK’S “THE BAROQUE DIVA” FROM MARCH 23 TO 26, 2017 AT KOERNER HALL: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS March 17, 2017

…STEWART GOODYEAR: A “MASTER PIANIST” (AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE) AND “BRILLIANT ON EVERY LEVEL” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER) PLAYS BRAHMS # 1 WITH THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ON SEPTEMBER 17: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS September 5, 2016

…DENISE GRANT: A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH THIS CONVICTION: “PHOTOGRAPHING THE ESSENCE OF A PERSON IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN TAKING A PICTURE OF A BEAUTIFUL FACE” – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS April 29, 2017

…ONE OF A KIND EN DEUX LANGUES: AN INTERVIEW WITH SINGER, SONGWRITER, BROADCASTER, PLAYWRIGHT MARIE-LYNN HAMMOND September 5, 2014

…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” February 20, 2015

…VALERIE HARMS: AN INTERVIEW WITH AN AUTHOR-CONSULTANT CALLED “A MOST REMARKABLE WOMAN” BY THE UNITED NATIONS June 4, 2015

…ANGELA HEWITT: AN INTERVIEW WITH “THE PRE-EMINENT BACH PIANIST OF OUR TIME” JOINING THE TORONTO SYMPHONY FOR THREE CONCERTS ON APRIL 13, 14, 16 IN TORONTO AND APRIL 15 IN ROCHESTER March 30, 2016

…MARGARET ILLMANN, BALLERINA WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER, INCLUDING BROADWAY, A MENTOR, A PHYSIOTHERAPIST, AND A BALLET COACH: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS January 1, 2017

ELLEN S. JAFFE: “CREATIVITY CAN OFTEN HELP US DEFINE THE NUANCES OF OUR LIVES, BOTH THE ORDINARY AND THE EXTREME” DECLARES THE POET, AUTHOR, PLAYWRIGHT, TEACHER, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, AND SHAMANIC HEALER

…LEILA JOSEFOWICZ: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CELEBRATED VIOLINIST AND PROMOTER OF NEW MUSIC, DUE TO PERFORM A CANADIAN PREMIERE WITH THE TORONTO SYMPHONY IN TORONTO, OTTAWA, AND MONTREAL IN MAY April 21, 2016

…HARRISON KENNEDY: A CHAT WITH A BLUESMAN WHOSE PAST INCLUDES FOUR YEARS WITH CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD AND WHOSE PRESENT INCLUDES A 2016 JUNO NOMINATION February 12, 2016

…FRANK KOREN: AFTER 25 YEARS OF GUITAR WORK BACKING OTHERS, A LEAP INTO THE “UNKNOWN WORLD OF SONGWRITING” AND A CD TITLED RED CHAIR – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS November 15, 2016

…DAVID LEE: BASS PLAYER, PUBLISHER, AUTHOR, JAZZ WRITER, RECORDING ARTIST, AND MUCH MORE: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS May 4, 2017

…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). January 20, 2015

…AN INTERVIEW WITH POLITICAL COLUMNIST & AUTHOR LINDA MCQUAIG June 12, 2013

…AN INTERVIEW WITH METIS TELEVISION AND FILM ACTOR+SINGER+WRITER+MESSENGER ANDREA MENARD December 2, 2014

…RACHEL MERCER: A CELLIST’S LIFE IN MUSIC WITH THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ORCHESTRA, AVIV STRING QUARTET, ENSEMBLE MADE IN CANADA, MERCER-PARK DUO AND MUCH MORE TOURING, RECORDING AND TEACHING TO COME – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
November 15, 2016

GIULIA MILLANTA: FLORENCE, ITALY-BORN, AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER STATES “I HAVE ALWAYS DONE MY BEST TO BE HONEST AND TO KEEP MY ART SINCERE AND PERSONAL, ORIGINAL…MINE ONLY……WHAT I FIND DEPRESSING IS THE LACK OF CURIOSITY, DEPTH, AND CULTURE IN OUR SOCIETY”

CLAUDIA MOORE: AN INFLUENTIAL PILLAR OF MODERN DANCE DECLARES “I TRY NOT TO EXPRESS, BUT RATHER TO EXPOSE THE MYSTERY OF MY LIFE ON EARTH THAT LIVES IN MY BONES, MUSCLES AND SKIN” .

….AN INTERVIEW WITH JOËLLE MORTON, MUCH-TRAVELLED VIOL PLAYER, PERIOD MUSIC SPECIALIST, SCHOLAR, EDUCATOR AND FOUNDER OF SCARAMELLA IN TORONTO December 28, 2014

…GEMMA NEW: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC, ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE LUNAR ENSEMBLE, PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR OF CAMERATA NOTTURNA, AND GUEST CONDUCTOR EVERYWHERE December 23, 2015

…AUTHOR & PETA FOUNDER INGRID NEWKIRK: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
August 8, 2016

…INTERVIEW WITH INGRID NEWKIRK, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF PETA June 3, 2013

…MOYA O’CONNELL: ACTRESS AND SHAW FESTIVAL MAINSTAY DISCUSSES THEATRE AND HER CREATIVE LIFE – “I ONLY ASK THAT THE AUDIENCE ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE OPEN. I WANT THEM TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO ME. I WANT THEM TO BE MY PARTNER IN ADVENTURE.” — A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS November 9, 2016

…PETER OLESKEVICH CONDUCTS OPERA HAMILTON’S LES PECHEURS DE PERLES -MARCH 9, 12, 14, 16 March 1, 2013

…PETER OUNDJIAN: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHO OPENS THE TSO SEASON WITH SOPRANO RENEE FLEMING ON SEPTEMBER 21: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS September 18, 2016

…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

…DIANA PANTON: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CANADIAN JAZZ SINGER ON HER JUNO-WINNING CD “RED, HER LATEST CD “I BELIEVE IN LITTLE THINGS” AND ITS 2016 NATIONAL PARENTING PRODUCT AWARD March 21, 2016 October 9, 2014

…TOM PARKER OF COLONEL TOM & THE AMERICAN POUR DECLARES “SO MUCH OF CONTEMPORARY POP CULTURE IS MEDIOCRE AND BASED ON MARKET RESEARCH RATHER THAN ART. DOESN’T SEEM LIKE IT HAS A VERY DEEP SOUL TO ME – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS May 10, 2017

…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 March 4, 2015

…INTERVIEW WITH LOUISE PITRE OF SONDHEIM’S “COMPANY” AT TORONTO’S BERKELEY STREET THEATRE FROM JUNE 21 June 7, 2014

…RICHARD PRYOR: OMIT THE LOGIC: An Interview with the film’s executive producer -and the comedian’s widow- Jennifer Lee Pryor May 27, 2014

MARSHALL PYNKOSKI: OPERA ATELIER’S THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO RUNS OCT. 26-NOV. 4, 2017 AND ITS CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER EXPLAINS “FIGARO IS A PERFECT OPERA – IT NEVER PALES. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET THIS POIGNANT COMIC MASTERPIECE. EVERY TIME YOU PRODUCE FIGARO IT IMPACTS YOUR LIFE IN A PROFOUND WAY”

ABIGAIL RICHARDSON-SCHULTE: AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE OF THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC DECLARES “WHAT CONCERNS ME IS POP CULTURE REPLACING THE ARTS AS CULTURE, THE DECLINE OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, AND THE AGING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AUDIENCES…A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

…BUD ROACH: AN INTERVIEW (PART I) WITH AN EARLY MUSIC DYNAMO ABOUT HIS WIDE-RANGING MUSICAL CAREER AND HIS HAMILTON CONCERT SERIES “HAMMER BAROQUE” (TAFELMUSIK COMING ON MAY 25 AND LUTENIST SYLVAIN BERGERON ON MAY 28) April 30, 2016

…LAUREN SEGAL: AN “ALLURING DARK-PLUM MEZZO” BRINGS FAVORITE ROLE CARMEN TO HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ON OCTOBER 15: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS October 4, 2016

-…HANNA SHYBAYEVA: BELARUSSIAN-BORN DUTCH PIANIST DECLARES, “I WOULD ERASE MUSIC COMPETITIONS FROM THIS PLANET, BECAUSE THEY GIVE VERY WRONG IDEAS TO YOUNG MUSICIANS ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN ART:” A REVIEWER INTERVIEWS PEOPLE IN THE ARTS April 13, 2017

….INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SOMMERVILLE: WORLD-RENOWNED HORN SOLOIST AND CONDUCTOR OF THE HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC February 16, 2012

…THE INTERVIEWER GETS INTERVIEWED: JAMES STRECKER, THE PROPRIETOR OF THIS BLOG, JAMES STRECKER REVIEWS THE ARTS, IS INTERVIEWED BY AUTHOR, EDITOR, CONSULTANT, AND DEPTH PSYCHOLOGIST VALERIE HARMS December 11, 2015

…AN INTERVIEW WITH CARLY STREET OF VENUS IN FUR AT CANADIAN STAGE February 1, 2014

…IVARS TAURINS, AKA MR. HANDEL, DISCUSSES HISTORICALLY-INFORMED PERFORMANCE, A LIFE IN MUSIC, THE TAFELMUSIK CHAMBER CHOIR ON ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY, AND THE TAFELMUSIK ANNUAL SING-ALONG MESSIAH: A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS October 23, 2016

….PETER TOGNI: COMPOSER, BROADCASTER, MUSICIAN, AND CREATOR OF THE DISCREETLY PENETRATING AND POTENT NEW CD “HYMNS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH” -A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS October 12, 2016

…KAREN TROLLOPE-KUMAR: AUTHOR, PHYSICIAN, MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, AND EDUCATOR ON HER NEW MEMOIR “CLOUD MESSENGER, LOVE AND LOSS IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAS” AND ON FINDING ONE’S “ESSENTIAL NATURE” – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS March 14, 2017

…KATE TROTTER: ACTRESS WITH OUTSTANDING STAGE CAREER AND OVER 100 CREDITS IN TELEVISION AND FILM -ALSO AN ACTING TEACHER AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION COACH- DECLARES, “I AM AN ACTRESS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON A FARM. WHAT GOT ME FROM THERE TO HERE IS A MYSTERY.” -A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS January 10, 2017

KAREN VILLANUEVA: NEW MEXICO PUBLICIST, AWARDED BY THE NEW MEXICO BOOK ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW MEXICO BOOK COOP, DECLARES “I DO SO HATE PLATITUDES AND MEANINGLESS THROW AWAY LINES PEOPLE USE INSTEAD OF PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO ACTUALLY PONDER A PROBLEM OR DILEMMA’

…LORI YATES: SINGER-SONGWRITER NOTES THAT “MUSICIANS THESE DAYS MUST BE THEIR OWN AGENT, MANAGER, RECORD COMPANY, PUBLICIST, WEB SITE DESIGNER, POSTER DESIGNER” – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
May 8, 2017