Arts Conversations

Raymond Jones speaks with a trio of innovative string players ahead of their Virginia Arts Festival performance. Legendary bassist Edgar Meyer is known for his adventurous collaborations with artists of all genres. His newest adventure includes the extraordinary classical violinist and Kentucky fiddler Tessa Lark and cellist/composer Joshua Roman.

Raymond Jones speaks with musicologist and pianist Dr. Samantha Ege about her new album Maestra, which features the first commercial recording of the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in Two Uninterrupted Speeds by Julia Perry, plus the Concerto for Piano and Strings by pioneering film composer Doreen Carwithen.

Jana Lee Ross speaks with Dr. Tina Breckwoldt, historian and dramaturge for the famed Vienna Boys' Choir, as we anticipate their upcoming holiday performances here in Hampton Roads.

Jana Lee Ross speaks with Virginia Symphony Music Director Eric Jacobsen and mandolinist/composer Chris Thile about musical storytelling, and their upcoming Virginia Arts Festival performances of Thile's new work ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra.

Raymond Jones speaks with Todd Stoll, who directs the Attucks Jazz Orchestra in Virginia Arts Festival's celebration of the 125th anniversary of Duke Ellington's birth, with a program that goes well beyond the greatest hits.

Raymond Jones speaks with Music Director Jorge Parodi about Opera in Williamsburg's upcoming production of Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman.

Raymond Jones speaks with pianist Lara Downes about her upcoming performances with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, which will feature a new piano concerto by local composer Adolphus Hailstork.

Composer Gregory Spears speaks with Raymond Jones about his new work The Neighboring Village (inspired by a Kafka story), which was commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Chorale.

Raymond Jones talks with pianist Olga Kern about her upcoming performances of the complete cycle of Rachmaninoff concertos with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Dwight Davis talks with Virginia Symphony Orchestra Music Director Eric Jacobsen about the upcoming Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto Festival with Olga Kern.

Wayla talks with classical singer Julia Bullock about her upcoming Virginia Arts Festival performance of Jessie Montgomery's Five Freedom Songs.

Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Elizabeth Blackney, Executive Director of the Cook Foundation, about the 2023 Gloucester Arts Festival.

Dwight Davis talks with violists Lawrence Dutton

Dwight Davis talks with pianist Olga Kern about her VAF recital

Rebecca Weinstein talks with Broadway music director Rob Fisher about Virginia Arts Festival's upcoming performance of Chicago the Musical - in Concert, with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Raymond Jones speaks with Randall Goosby about his upcoming Virginia Arts Festival performance at the Attucks Theatre, recent recording projects, and the original dedicatee of Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata.

The Virginia Chorale will perform a concert called “Lift Every Voice: Music of Black Women Composers" on February 4 and 5. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Artistic Director Chuck Woodward about the program and what inspired him to put it together.

Virginia Arts Festival presents the Swiss ensemble Mummenschanz on Saturday, October 29 at Chrysler Hall. Rebecca spoke with Artistic Director and Founding Member Floriana Frassetto.

Dwight Davis talks with Eric Jacobsen about the "Celebration of Water" concert

Renowned Broadway conductor Rob Fisher, who's a longtime collaborator with the Virginia Arts Festival, was recently appointed its Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Broadway and American Songbook. For the Festival's 25th Anniversary Season, he's conducting the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for The Sound of Music, and serving as Music Director for a concert with Renee Fleming and Kristin Chenoweth. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Rob recently about these upcoming performances and the relevance of classic Broadway musicals.

Raymond Jones speaks with Scott Jackson, Director of the Virginia International Tattoo, about the Tattoo's upcoming 25th anniversary performances, which feature a triumphant return to Scope Arena, an all-new international cast, a musical tribute to “March King” John Philip Sousa, and an emotional celebration of the resilience of the human spirit.

Raymond Jones speaks with Virginia Arts Festival's Director of Chamber Music, Olga Kern, about this season's upcoming concerts

On Sunday, April 10 at 4 PM, the Virginia Chorale presents "A Decade of Song," celebrating Chuck Woodward's 10th anniversary as Artistic Director. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with him about what to expect.

Wayla speaks with Ormsby Wilkins, Music Director for American Ballet Theatre, about the company's upcoming performances at the Virginia Arts Festival, the relationship between music and dance, and how it felt to come back to performing after the hiatus caused by the pandemic.

On Saturday, December 4, Virginia Arts Festival presents a holiday spectacular featuring sisters Nadia and Christine DiGiallonardo with the Festival Five led by Rob Fisher. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Nadia and Christine about their musical upbringing and longtime collaboration with Fisher.

Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Norman Elton, who runs the Open Door Concert Series in Williamsburg, about what their journey has been like so far and what their plans are for the future.

As the arts remerge in person this fall, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach offers a chance to peek inside the minds of talented young women through an exhibition called “Emergence,” running through November 28. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Virginia MOCA's Curator of Education, Truly Matthews, about the project.

Opera in Williamsburg presents Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) September 10 and 12. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with conductor Jorge Parodi and stage director Benjamin Spierman.

Last month, Christopher Newport University announced an initiative called the New Musicals Lab. The New Musicals Lab brings together writers, directors, composers, designers, and performers from all over the country to create and workshop musical theatre in the safe haven of Hampton Roads. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Artistic Producer Colin Ruffer, as well as one of the creative teams going through the lab: Ilana Ransom Toeplitz and Shoshana Shattenkirk, who are creating a musical about composer and pianist Clara Schumann.

Dwight Davis speaks with noted American conductor and cellist, Eric Jacobsen, who will step into the role of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra's new Music Director beginning July 1.

Raymond Jones speaks with Scott Jackson, Producer of the Virginia International Tattoo, about the 2021 Tattoo taking place this week at Old Dominion University’s S. B. Ballard stadium.

Dwight Davis speaks with Olga Kern

Raymond Jones speaks with conductor Gerard Schwarz about his upcoming concerts with the Virginia Symphony and more.

Olga Kern discusses upcoming VAF chamber music concerts.

Olga Kern discusses upcoming VAF chamber music concerts.

Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera present Leonard Bernstein's one-act opera "Trouble in Tahiti" the weekend of May 7. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with the leads, mezzo-soprano Marissa Simmons, and bass-baritone Eric McConnell, about the show.

Wayla Chambo talks with bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green about his upcoming Virginia Arts Festival performance, how he fell in love with opera, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in classical music.

Raymond Jones speaks with Catalyst Quartet violinist Karla Donehew Perez about the group's upcoming Virginia Arts Festival performance and their Uncovered project, which celebrates works by artists who have been overlooked and sidelined in classical music.

Cellist Rebecca Gilmore and pianist Daniel Lau are featured in the final performance of this winter's WHRO virtual chamber music concert series. Wayla spoke with them about what makes playing chamber music so special, and the challenges and opportunities the pandemic has presented.

We're in the midst of WHRO's virtual chamber music concert series, featuring exclusive performances from local musicians. The next concert features soprano Anna Feucht and pianist Steve Kolb. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with Anna about the music on the program, how life has been during the pandemic, and her love of mad scenes.

We're in the midst of WHRO's virtual chamber music concert series, featuring exclusive performances from local musicians. The next concert features pianist Lee Jordan-Anders. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with her about how life has been lately, the music she’s sharing with us, and how she wants us to walk away from her performance feeling.

Wayla speaks with flutist Debra Wendells Cross and harpist Barbara Chapman, both longtime members of the Virginia Symphony and this week's featured artists in WHRO's Virtual Chamber Music Concert Series.