This summer has given me a little time to catch up on some of my favorite podcasts and radio shows. One I particularly enjoy is BBC Radio 3's 'The Early Music Show'. This hour-long program is broadcast every Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. (CST) and contains many interesting interviews and articles as well as much fine music. For those who wish to have a listen go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tn49
Searching around the BBC a little more I came across another series of interviews given by the music writer and critic, Norman Lebrecht. Mr. Lebrecht's views are often controversial so I was interested to hear what he had to say especially as the first interview was to be with the American-born conductor, William Christie. Having worked for Mr. Christie in the 1990's this was a most enlightening interview which I'm sure will have raised a few eyebrows (if anyone can correctly give me the name of the cigarette smoking musician he refers to I'll give you a complimentary ticket to our next Baroque Band performance. Here's a clue: he also had a famous musician father). This week (today, July 27 in fact) Mr. Lebrecht interviews Hilary Hahn and further interviews in this 8 week series also include another of my former mentors and teachers, Michael Kaiser, President of the J.F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in washington D.C.
Unlike 'The Early Music Show' broadcasts for which you get only six days to listen to after the first broadcast, all the Lebrecht interviews are available as podcasts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tbt3
Happy listening!