My guest today is Head of Keyboard and piano professor at Cagliari Conservatoire, Giulio Biddau.Born in Cagliari, Sardinia, he studied there, in Paris, Rome, and Berlin and is a prize winner at numerous international competitions, including Aix-en-Provence, Valencia, Terni, and Tbilisi and performs all over the world.Most recently he has been pursuing a doctorate in musicology in Zurich and Graz, focusing on Domenico Scarlatti, and the historically informed performance of his works. This research has led to a recent cd entitled “Scarlatti to Scarlatti” where he recorded the same sonatas from two different editions - comparing and contrasting the Hans von Bulow edition of 1864 and the later, critical 1978 version of Emilio Fadini. Always curious to delve into the world of music research and historically informed practice, and wishing to learn more about Domenico Scarlatti, in July 2025 whilst at the Klaipeda Piano Masters academy in Lithuania, I sat down with Giulio, where I began by asking how he started playing piano…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Caroline Staunton
My guest today is opera director Caroline Staunton.Growing up in Dublin, her path to the Staatsoper in Berlin was an unusual one, first studying English and Philosophy in UCD, followed by a masters there in Drama studies.Whilst teaching English in Gonzaga College, and directing theatre productions, the allure of opera became ever stronger, leading her to take a year out and intern in Berlin and Salzburg, before landing a job in Theater Freiburg, and then at the Staatsoper in BerlinEager to know more about her journey, what the day to day life of an opera director is like, and the important role opera and the arts play in challenging outdated attitudes, I sat down with Caroline where I began by asking what first drew her to classical music and opera.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Frank Corcoran
My guest today is composer and former Professor of Composition and Theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Frank Corcoran.Hailing from Borrisokane in County Tipperary, he was always drawn to music, and as a young child wanting to record traditional Irish music created his own method of notation, before going on to study in Maynooth, Rome, and finally in Berlin with Boris Blacher. In the subsequent years, he found his voice, developed his technique of macro counterpoint, premiered his first symphony in Vienna, and took up a number of teaching posts, in Berlin, Stuttgart, and ultimately in Hamburg in 1983. Despite being based in Germany and Italy for the last 5 decades, his deep connection to Ireland and its language, history, and heritage, has remained and influences and informs many of his works. Keen to know more about his story and creative process, the challenges of being a composer in the Ireland of 50 years ago and how things have changed I sat down with Frank, where I began by asking about his first experience of music… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Neasa Ní Bhriain
My guest today is Professor of Viola at the Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Neasa Ní Bhriain. Hailing from Dublin, she started out playing violin and in 2008 moved to Rostock in Germany to study it. However she had always been drawn to the viola, the critical middle voice of the string quartet, and during her studies there switched to it, before completing further studies in Leipzig and Weimar and then winning the position of solo viola in the Staatskapelle Weimar in 2018.A passionate exponent of contemporary music and its creative soundscapes, she combines her work as a performer and teacher with a zeal for composition and improvisation, and has written and performed numerous works for viola and pedals.Curious to know more about her journey, the challenges of switching instruments, and her approach to guiding the next generation of musician, I sat down with Neasa where I began by asking how she starting playing music…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Daniel Sebastian Scholz
My guest this week is Professor of Musicians Health with a special focus on mental health in Lübeck, Prof. Dr. Daniel Sebastian Scholz.Hailing from Tübingen in southern Germany, he is a trained psychologist and jazz musician, and initially studied psychology in Marburg before studying jazz composition in Osnabrück whilst completing his doctorate in Hannover. In 2022 he took up his current position in Lübeck, in the process becoming the first professor of this kind in Germany. Alongside his day to day work with musicians, he frequently gives seminars on stage fright, and self esteem, and has authored and co-authored numerous studies including one exploring low self esteem and performance anxiety and how it can predict depression in musiciansCurious to know more about his journey, the issues facing musicians today, and how he helps them, I sat down with Daniel, where I began by asking when he first started playing music …. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harmonically Speaking is the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives listeners an insight into their lives.Hosted by clarinettist Macdara Ó Seireadáin each episode explores what sparked their passion, their career to date and their future plans, as well as challenges and setbacks they have faced along the way.With a wide range of guests from orchestral musicians and soloists, to conductors, administrators, instrument makers and more, this podcast aims to educate and inspire fellow musicians, aficionados and anyone who is curious about what a life in music really entails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland