Interviews

“Going on Stage Is Like Launching a Rocket into the Cosmos”: Maxim Vengerov on the Magic of Performance

From his first encounter with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto to his deep bond with his instrument, Maxim Vengerov reflects on music as a lifelong conversation — one of connection, emotion, and transcendence.

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 5min read

“Follow your intuition”: A Conversation with Saehyun Kim

Winner of the prestigious Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition, South Korean pianist Saehyun Kim speaks with disarming simplicity about intuition, responsibility, and the quiet joy of sharing music. Between…

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 3min read

First Times with Janai Brugger: The Wonder Never Fades

From her first encounter with opera in Chicago’s golden Lyric Opera House to her Operalia triumph and acclaimed roles worldwide, soprano Janai Brugger revisits the moments that shaped…

By Andrew Mellor

Reading time estimated : 10min read

Before the Spotlight: Finalists Remember Their First Chopin

Before they were finalists on one of the world’s most prestigious classical stages, they were just students grappling with their very first Chopin. We asked six competitors at the International…

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 4min read

Inside the Chopin Competition with John Rink: Judging with the Heart

Few people know Chopin’s music more intimately than John Rink — pianist, professor, and editor of The Complete Chopin: A New Critical Edition. As he returns to the…

By James Jolly

Reading time estimated : 9min read

First Times: You Never Forget Your First Opera

Andrew Mellor revisits the night he first fell in love with opera — a 1995 Marriage of Figaro in Bristol — and reflects on…

By Andrew Mellor

Reading time estimated : 11min read

Davóne Tines takes us to church in Recital No. 1: MASS

The American bass-baritone Davóne Tines is a true original and one of today’s most exciting performers. Get to know him and his extraordinary voice in a resolutely unconventional,…

By Colin Jackson

Reading time estimated : 14min read

“Dream Bigger”: How Gianandrea Noseda builds trust with an orchestra

From Parma’s culinary heritage to the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda reveals what makes Tsinandali special, the book that moved him most, and the timeless piece everyone should hear once…

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 3min read

Augustin Hadelich: “The violin can be a bit of a prima donna instrument.”

What keeps a violinist endlessly curious? Through five revealing questions, violinist Augustin Hadelich explores his bond with the instrument, the magic behind practicing beloved concertos, the grounding power of chamber…

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 6min read

Aristo Sham: “I suddenly felt free”

From unexpected playlists to pre-concert rituals, 2025 Cliburn Gold medallist Aristo Sham opens up about his most unforgettable competition moments—and the one mistake every pianist should make. Here are 5…

By Editorial Team

Reading time estimated : 2min read