My interview series Classical Conversations celebrates its second anniversary today. I’ve interviewed thirty-nine eminent pianists and pedagogues on camera to date. It has been such an interesting project. To mark the occasion, The Music Teacher Magazine, published by Rhinegold, featured my series in their November edition. This edition is a celebration of the piano (see the photo above). The article focuses on just three pianists from the series. They are all Leeds Piano Competition prize winners: Noriko Ogawa, Artur Pizarro, and Federico Colli. The article highlights sections of their interview transcripts, where they mention their musical training, teachers and education.
I always ask fairly similar questions throughout the series, but the answers have been fascinating, completely diverse and eclectic. I’m grateful to my first guest, Ukrainian pianist Valentina Lisitsa. She freely gave her time to chat on a cold, rainy day in Cardiff. This was just prior to going on stage for a performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Concerto in C minor Op. 18 at the Millennium Centre. You can watch this interview by clicking on the link below. Since then, the series has become increasingly popular. I’ve had the good fortune to interview many of the world’s greatest concert pianists and teachers.
I hope my interviews establish the connection between the sometimes rather isolated figure on stage and the human being behind the musical mask. Speaking to each pianist in person on film is crucial. It’s the best way of capturing their individual personalities and immediate responses to the questions. I always send my proposed questions before the interview. This series also appears to be a fairly unique concept. Few other collections of filmed interviews focus purely on concert pianists. I have learned so much from speaking to every pianist. It has been a great privilege and pleasure to meet them all.
Most of the interviews have been filmed at establishments. Steinway Hall and Jaques Samuel Pianos have been popular locations. I want to thank them for always granting permission to film. I also travel to artist’s homes. I visited the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Wigmore Hall. Constantly changing the venue provides much-needed variety.
