More Miah (Interview from 2011) Plus Sarah and John Mark

I was actually doing a search on tenor John Mark Ainsley, which led me to a 2008 interview with mezzo Sarah Connolly, which (obviously?) led me to this Miah Persson interview from 2011. As we know MP became an amazing Donna Elvira and Governess (in Turn of the Screw); and she turned out a rather charming Adina in L'Elisir. So, meanwhile, here she is in (for me) some unexpected repertoire. Can you imagine her Violetta? Sigh!

OK since I mentioned JMA and SC, here are some clips from them, too 

(in more expected repertoire):

Joyce DiDonato "Debriefs" her Carnegie Hall Residency

Is this becoming a Master Class blog? Maybe. But that's not important right now. What's important is this interview with Joyce DiDonato, in which she reflects on her residency at Carnegie Hall as it draws to a close. From the WNYC.org website: 

Celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato discusses her Carnegie Hall "Perspectives" series, ranging from the Baroque and bel canto eras to new works by Jake Heggie. She completes the series on Wednesday, March 18 with The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Maurizio Benini, singing the rarely heard bel canto arias and ensembles with soprano Nicole Cabell and tenor Lawrence Brownlee.

It's interesting to hear the interviewer. He does a good job, but from his questions, he doesn't seem too tuned into music in general or opera in particular. 

Listen to the interview here. The Carnegie Hall concert airs tonight, on WQXR.

P.S. If you haven't watched the Master Classes yet, do so. Now. Or soon.

Luca, Lenny, and Tristan – The audiophil Interview

audiphil is a Berlin-based culture magazine that covers all kinds kind of music from pop, to jazz, to opera. They are in print and online, audio and visual, but the best thing about them is they did this great interview with our man Luca—auf Englisch!

Refreshingly, the interviewer is no opera expert, (she sort of stands in for viewers who may have less opera/music knowledge) but she asks good questions that get Luca talking, and that's a good thing. 

Among those questions is the one we've all been wanting to ask: will Lenny and Tristan ever appear onstage with Luca? Set aside a mere 27 minutes to watch, listen, and enjoy!