ZAKIR HUSSAIN - In Conversation with Karishmeh

Legendary tabla virtuoso and musician Ustad Zakir Hussain, who performs in Dublin as part of Walton's World Masters Series, is featured on OFFBEAT, where he 
talks to Karishmeh about his earliest memories as son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, growing up in Mahim in Bombay, life on Grateful Dead Guitarist Mickey Harte's ranch in America, and his many musical influences, ideas, and thoughts on every aspect of being a consumate artist. Karishmeh says "I admit, that from all the interviews I have done so far, I was probably most in awe of talking to Zakirji (ji - a mark of respect in India, and I simply cannot get used to calling him just Zakir). I was 5 years old ( probably even younger) when I first heard of him, and to think that I had the chance to talk to him, is just unbelievable!! Not only is he one of the finest musicians alive, but he is so unpretentious, gracious with his time, and has a wonderful sense of humour, it hardly felt like work at all - he was just so happy to talk about everything under the sun. I have to thank Ty Burhoe( by all accounts a fine musician himself) and Kevin Kastrup for setting up the conversation!"

AIR DATE: 4 June 2009 (Repeat date TBC)

PART 1 Introduction and Recordings of Zakir Hussain

PART 2 Karishmeh in conversation with Zakir Hussain.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM AND CONVERSATION WITH ZAKIR HUSSAIN HERE.

BUY TICKETS TO THE WALTONS WORLD MASTER PERFORMANCE FEATURING ZAKIR HUSSAIN HERE.

Waltons World Masters: Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion

18 June 2009 08:00 PM - MAIN AUDITORIUM

Zakir Hussain • Tabla
Niladri Kumar • Sitar
Sabir Khan • Sarangi
Abbos Kosimov • Doyra
Navin Sharma • Dholak
Meitei Pung Cholom Performing TroupeThe Dancing Drummers of Manipur.

 

Direct download: ZAKIRHUSSAIN2.mp3
Category: radio specials -- posted at: 6:28 AM
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MARNI NIXON - A Portrait and Conversation

Legendary soprano and Hollywood singer Marni Nixon
talks to Karishmeh about her life, career and being hailed as an intelligent musician as opposed to just a singer. The woman who voiced Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, as well as Natalie Wood's Maria in West Side Story and Deborah Kerr's Anna in The King and I is featured in this hour long special about one of the most incredibly gifted talents Hollywood or the world has ever known. Karishmeh says " Marni Nixon - what a woman, and what a lovely, lovely, person! She was the one person who actually emailed me after the interview to thank me, I couldn't quite believe it - a Hollywood legend who takes the time and effort to send a follow up thank you email! She was an absolute joy to talk to, what a generous, giving and kind person. A true legend in every way!"

"AIR DATE: 21 May 2009 (to be repeated on 4 June 2009)

  1. Introduction
    The Need for Marni's voice (extracts of songs such by actresses Audrey Hepburn and Natalie Wood)
  2. Highlights of Marni Nixon's Career
    Dubbing Margaret O'Brien (in Hindi!)
    Anton Webern Cantata No 1 Op 29, No 2 (Kleiner Flugal Ahornsamen)
    I Could Have Danced All Night
    I Feel Pretty
    Getting to know you
    Anton Webern Cantata No 1, Op 29, No 1 (Zunzender Lichtblitz)
  3. Conversation with Marni Nixon
  4. Charles Ives - Farewell to Land (Marni Nixon, Soprano accompanied by John McCabe)
  5. Show Me (From My Fair Lady)

 

 DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM ON MARNI NIXON HERE

 BUY A COPY OF MARNI NIXON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY HERE

 READ MORE ABOUT MARNI NIXON ON WIKIPEDIA 

 VISIT MARNI NIXON'S WEBSITE

 

 



Direct download: MARNINIXONCOMPLETE.mp3
Category: radio specials -- posted at: 5:03 PM
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NAIDA COLE as featured on OFFBEAT

Air Date 21 May 2009

CHABRIER- Bouree Fantasque, Naida Cole, Piano
Aloysius Bertrand- Ondine (from Gaspard de la nuit) English translation of the text.
RAVEL - Ondine (from Gaspard de la Nuit) Naida Cole, Piano

CONVERSATION WITH NAIDA COLE

CHABRIER - Pièces pittoresques (No, 10 - Scherzo-valse) Naida Cole, Piano

DOWNLOAD ENTIRE PROFILE AND CONVERSATION WITH NAIDA COLE

Listen to Naida Cole perform Ravel's Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit and conversation on Offbeat here.

Cross posted from the Ceoil Blog - by Karishmeh Felfeli-Crawford

Articulate. Intelligent. Incredibly gifted. Humble. Genuine. Honest. These are just some of the words that come to mind when I try and describe the impression Naida Cole made on me first as a pianist (both as a live performer and through her stunning recordings), and now more recently in conversation for OFFBEAT.

For those of you who are not familiar with her work, Naida Cole was one of the few young artists on the concert circuit in the late 1990s and early 2000s, who was acclaimed and widely popular as a live concert pianist and a recording artist. Canadian-American Cole was the second youngest pianist to receive the ARCT of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto (the youngest being Glenn Gould), and she went on to study with the legendary Leon Fleisher, who she cites as one of her greatest influences and mentors. However, about two years ago, despite having an incredibly successful career as a concert pianist and both her records making it to Editor's Choice lists for all major publications, she decided to give up the career, so to speak, and go back to college and study medicine. Part of the change of direction in Naida's life has also involved having a more balanced life, getting married, starting a family. I cannot imagine what incredible determination and strength of character this must take, especially as she was such a dazzlingly polished pianist, and one with so much musicality and intellect in equal measure. Listen to her debut disc, or indeed her follow up album. Whether it is Ravel or Bartok, in fact anything she performs has the most indescribable sound, and she displays such a stunning palette of colours without the slightest hint of any over the top vulgarity.
When I spoke to her, she was so gracious (despite the fact that thanks to time zones and the like, I ended up calling her an hour earlier than she expected), and so open and sincere. I wanted her to realize that while I was interested in talking about her, and talking to her for the radio program, I was also someone who admired her at so many different levels (not to mention her phenomenal piano playing), and at the very least I was also a gushing fan (best not to admit to these things, but then again, I'm no dour music critic!). I found her thoughts, comments and insights particularly revealing and fascinating, as I often find myself thinking about similar things, particularly when faced with life choices.
I cannot thank Naida enough for giving up her time, from a very demanding schedule at Brown University's Med School to talk to me. You can listen to the entire profile, including some of her best playing (Chabrier, Ravel, Bartok) on the changingtherecord.com website or just click here. I could not resist reading a translation of the text to Ondine, so I do hope Naida forgives my poetry reading impulses!!

DOWNLOAD ENTIRE PROFILE AND CONVERSATION WITH NAIDA COLE

Listen to Naida Cole perform Ravel's Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit and conversation on Offbeat here.

Direct download: NAIDACOLEFINALFINAL.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 5:01 PM
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MAX LEVINSON IN CONVERSATION ON OFFBEAT
(final program devoted to the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition)

TRACK 1 - Extract from " In a Landscape" performed by 2006 Brennan Prize Winner Michael McHale from the Louth Contemporary Music Society's album " A place between"

Conversation with Max Levinson

"The pianist's quietly eloquent conceptions, formidable technique and lovely touch left little else to be desired.”  - THE NEW YORK TIMES

"The questioning, conviction and feeling in his playing invariably reminds us of the deep reasons why music is important to us, why we listen to it, why we care so much about it.”  - THE BOSTON GLOBE

 American Pianist Max Levinson came to recognition here in Ireland after winning the 1997 Dublin International Piano Competition. He then received overwhelming critical acclaim for his two solo recordings on N2K Encoded Music, and was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in March 1999. Max Levinson is a graduate of Harvard and the New England Conservatory, receiving an Artist Diploma and the Gunther Schuller Medal.  His teachers include Patricia Zander, Aube Tzerko and Bruce Sutherland. He is Artistic Director of the San Juan Chamber Music Festival in Ouray, Colorado, and is on the faculty at Boston Conservatory and Brown University.  Max Levinson lives in the Boston area with his wife, cellist Allison Eldredge, and their daughters Natalie and Jessica. 

Following his 1997 success here in Dublin, he has gone on to perform as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Colorado Symphony, New World Symphony, Utah Symphony, Boston Pops, San Antonio Symphony, Louisville Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and in recital at New York's Alice Tully Hall, Washington DC"s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, Zürich’s Tonhalle, the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, Jordan Hall in Boston, and throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. 

Listen to Max in Conversation with Karishmeh, as he talks about life since winning the competition, the realities of being a virtuoso concert artist, the importance of music education and teaching, and why amateur pianists can get to a very high standard.

Final Track :  "Kirchner - There Came a Wind" - performed by Max Levinson, taken from the album " Leon Kirchner - Works for Solo Piano"

 DOWNLOAD PODCAST HERE

VISIT MAX LEVINSON'S WEBSITE

VISIT MAX LEVINSON'S BLOG

Direct download: MAXLEVINSONFINAL.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 4:58 PM
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Twenty Six year old French Pianist Emmanuel Christien talks to Karishmeh on OFFBEAT, hours before his semi-final performance as part of the AXA Dublin International Piano Competion. Described as an "inspired virtuoso" and a pianist who "summons up a wonderfully lavish sound from such a comparatively plain looking score", Christien performed the music of Schumann, Liszt, Mozart, Schubert and Ravel in the first two rounds of the Competition.

Karishmeh had a chance to catch up with the unassuming, gracious and incredibly humble young musician, in advance of the Semi Finals of the competition, who remained philosophical about music competitions and the importance of being an all round, consumate artist.

Related links - Jacques Rouvier/ Aldo Ciccolini

Le Pianiste Français de vingt-six ans Emmanuel Christien parle à Karishmeh sur OFFBEAT. Karishmeh avait une chance de rattraper le jeune musicien qui était incroyablement gracieux avant sa performance suivante à la compétition.

Download the conversation with Emmanuel Christien

Read the CEOIL Blog review of Emmanuel Christien's performances at the Dublin International Piano Competition.

Visit Emmanuel Christien's Website

REPERTOIRE

Round 1
Schumann - Fantasiestucke

Round 2
Mozart - Rondo in A Minor
Schubert/Liszt Valse Caprice
Ravel - Valses Nobles et Sentimentales

Semi Final
Beethoven - Sonata in E minor Op 90
Brahms - Ballades Op 10
Jennifer Walshe - Becher (commissioned piece)
Debussy - Two Etudes

 

Direct download: EMMANUEL.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 3:23 PM
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AXA DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION on OFFBEAT

21 year old Fiachra Garvey is now the only Irish competitor still in the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition. Listen to Fiachra in conversation with Karishmeh as he talks about his early studies, his teacher and mentor Therese Fahy, and how he nearly pursued a career in  Veterinary Science! Listen to Fiachra Garvey in conversation with Karishmeh here.

2006 Winner Romain Descharmes performs the first movement of Brahms Sonata in F minor after the interview with Fiachra Garvey.


Related Links

Listen to Rebecca Capova on OFFBEAT  

Listen to Cliodna Shanahan on OFFBEAT in conversation with Karishmeh 

Read Blog Post about Cliodna Shanahan

 

Direct download: FIACHRAGARVEY.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 2:30 PM
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ROMAIN DESCHARMES 2006 AXA DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION WINNER

Born in 1980, Romain Descharmes was awarded First Prize in the Dublin International Piano Competition in 2006, leading him to perform recitals on such prestigious stages as Wigmore Hall in London, National Concert Hall in Dublin, Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama, Hakuju Hall in Tokyo and Salle Cortot in Paris. In 2008 he will perform for the first time at Carnegie Hall in New York, before embarking on a series of concerts in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya). Listen to Romain Descharmes in conversation with Karishmeh on OFFBEAT, in advance of his performance at the NCH on 8th May 2009.

Direct download: ROMAINDESCHARMES.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 5:17 PM
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CONVERSATION WITH MAXIM GERSHUNOFF

Air Date 23 April 2009

LISTEN TO PART 1 HERE

LISTEN TO PART 2 HERE

I came across Maxim Gershunoff's memoir, entitled "Its not all Song and Dance" about four years ago, completely by accident! I read it all in one go, because it was so absorbing, unpretentious, and yet had such a wealth of stories and annecdotes about some of my musical idols, but also of so many personalities in the world of music, theatre, film and dance. Maxim Gershunof was one of the most well known impressarios/managers and first, with the legendary Sol Hurok, and later, on his own, he managed some of the incredible artists of our time, particularly those from the Soviet Union such as Gilels and Rostropovich. He was also responsible for discovering a then unknown cellist, the young Yo Yo Ma.

Just as I came across Mr Gershunoff's memoir by accident, I also got the chance to talk to him in some depth, by accident. I was planning to do a radio special on the incredible soprano Marni Nixon (more on that later), and wanted to get in contact with her directly to sort out the same. I contacted her representation, and Mr Gershunoff replied back! I straightaway made the connection (its not a difficult name to remember, after all) and asked Mr Gershunoff if he would be willing to share some of his opinions, thoughts and stories with me on the program.

The result is astonishing - he is such a wonderful story teller, but most importantly, he is passionate about the arts, and about artists he truly believes in. When you hear the interview (though its probably closer to a conversation), you will see what I mean! And the most incredible thing of all is that he sounds so young (something I joked about on the program). Probably something to do with the fact that he has devoted his entire life to something he loves and is passionate about.

To anyone who has not read "Its not all song and dance" - read it! I rarely go on and on about books as I don't like telling people what to read and what not to, but this one is terrific, and so well written that you will probably read it all in one go as I did. I love the fact that Gershunoff is not just nostalgic about the "golden era" as it were, he is optimistic but also realistic enough to know that the future lies ahead, and there is no point simply being in the past.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Not-All-Song-Dance/dp/0879103108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238935262&sr=8-1

Direct download: MAXGERSHUNOFPART1.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 8:44 AM
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OFFBEAT - Interview and Profile on Sophie Duner

Air Date - 2 April 2009

PLAYLIST
The Rain in Spain taken from the album The Rain in Spain
Ugly Beautiful taken from the album The City of My Dreams

About Sophie Dunér  - Swedish singer/composer with a past in the US and Spain. Active as a jazz, world and modern classical singer, she has recorded and toured extensively throughout the world and has collaborated with musicians such as Paul Clarvis, Martin France, Aaron Goldberg, Sten Höstfält, Agustín Gerenu, David Boato, Fernando Tarrés, Don McCaslin, Guillermo Klein ,Laura Andel, Mark Turner,Gilad Atzmon , Leif Jordansson, Francis Schwartz and Manuel Ceide.


Further Reading & Links

www.sophieduner.com
www.myspace.com/sophieduner

 

Direct download: SOPHIEDUNERINFO.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 8:58 AM
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In Part 1 of the Leon Fleisher Special (Aired LIVE on Thursday 16 April 2009), Karishmeh introduces the legendary American pianist and shares a conversation which took place a few weeks earlier.

Following the conversation with Fleisher, his brand new recording of Mozart Concerti receives its Irish radio premiere, with the first movement of Concerto in A Major K488 rouning off part one.

BACK TO KARISHMEH'S WEBSITE


Direct download: FLEISHERPART1.mp3
Category: radio specials -- posted at: 7:22 AM
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