Sunday Baroque Conversations 112: Melvin Chen

Sunday Baroque Conversations 112: Melvin Chen

Author: Suzanne Bona November 24, 2023 Duration: 36:30
As a music lover, you may be familiar with Melvin Chen for his recordings of piano music by Dmitri Shostakovich or Ludwig van Beethoven. He put his double degrees from The Juilliard School to work as Professor in the Practice of Piano at Yale School of Music and is Director of Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, which is Yale's Summer School of Music. Melvin Chen arrived at his career in music after earning degrees in chemistry and physics from Yale and Harvard. He spoke with Suzanne about how he has allowed his passion, energy, and curiosity steer his many diverse interests.

Behind every piece of music is a person with a story, and that’s where Sunday Baroque Conversations finds its rhythm. Host Suzanne Bona, familiar to listeners of her Sunday Baroque program, sits down with professional musicians who have dedicated their lives to their art. These aren’t just casual chats; they are deep, personal explorations of what it truly means to live a life in music. You’ll hear celebrated artists discuss the specific pieces that first ignited their passion, the formidable challenges of mastering centuries-old techniques, and the quiet triumphs that happen offstage. This podcast pulls back the curtain on the discipline and heart required for a performing career, offering a genuine, often surprising, look at the individuals behind the instruments. Each conversation feels like an intimate backstage pass, revealing the inspirations and vulnerabilities that fuel these exceptional performers. For anyone curious about the human dimension of classical and baroque music, Suzanne’s thoughtful interviews provide a rich and rewarding listen. You can find Sunday Baroque Conversations by searching its title in your favorite podcast app.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 138

Sunday Baroque Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Sunday Baroque Conversations 96: Randall Scotting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
Randall Scotting's 2022 debut recording THE CROWN is a tribute to famed 17th century Italian castrato singer, Senesino. Scotting collaborated with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Laurence Cummings…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 95: Rachel Barton Pine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Since her 1984 debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 10, American violinist Rachel Barton Pine has been a trailblazer. Her musical tastes are broad and inclusive – from the baroque era, through all the major classical a…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 94: Eric Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
Brooklyn native Eric Rice did not set out to become a professional musician and musicologist. He discovered early music while studying at Bowdoin College and, after four years as a schooner captain at the South Street Se…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 93: André Raphel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
North Carolina native André Raphel is an award-winning orchestral conductor with an international career. An expert in the classic orchestral repertory as well as a proponent of new music, Maestro Raphel's experience wit…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 92: Mike Fan and Sallynee Amawat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! The celebrated French violinist and composer Jean-Marie Leclair was found murdered in his Paris apartment. Despite several obvious potential suspects, no one was ever charged wit…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 91: Stephen Schultz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
In 4th grade, Stephen Schultz had a chance to learn an instrument to play in the school band. He ended up being assigned to play his third choice – the flute – which was a very good thing, because the instrument is his p…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 90: Jason Vieaux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:17
When Jason Vieaux started playing guitar he was immediately smitten with the instrument and with music, in general, practicing long and hard on his own. His tenacity paid off with some early competition wins, and he cont…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 89: Anthony Roth Costanzo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
The multi-talented performer Anthony Roth Costanzo is a young countertenor whose projects include operas, recitals, films, and Broadway. The New York Times called him "Vocally brilliant and dramatically fearless." Suzann…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 88: Music Haven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:45
There have been numerous studies over the years about the positive impact of music on people's lives. Children, especially, seem to benefit from early musical training, although not all kids have equal access to quality…
Sunday Baroque Conversations 87: JungHae Kim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:50
Baroque music expert JungHae Kim is a sought-after harpsichordist who performs as a soloist and chamber music collaborator all over the world. Her training included studies at Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam with l…