Podcast - High Notes
High Notes Podcasts
Listen at your convenience to the week's High Notes panel discussion, moderated by AMFS President and CEO Alan Fletcher.
2023 High Notes
- Matthew Polenzani and Robert Spano
- David Robertson and John Luther Adams
- Steven Banks and Myra Huang
- Jimmy López Bellido, Steven Mackey, and Sarah Kirkland Snider
- Awadagin Pratt and Nico Muhly
- Anthony Davis and Maxim Vengerov
2022 High Notes
- Music Director Robert Spano on Berlioz's Requiem
- Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya and Composer Nico Muhly
- Conductor Jane Glover on Don Giovanni
- Former ACA Conducting Students Tomáš Netopil and George Jackson
- Arie Vardi on Mozart and Patrick Summers on Verdi's Falstaff
- Elaine Douvas and Steven Banks on their Baroque Evening Performance
- Violinist Randall Goosby and Conductor Ludovic Morlot Open the 2022 High Notes Season
2021 High Notes
- Violinist James Ehnes and Pianist Joyce Yang on Beethoven
- Alumni Golda Schultz and Ben Manis Return as Guest Artists
- Pianist Andreas Haefliger's New Movie and Hugh Wolff on Conducting a Concerto
- Conductor Gemma New and Artist-Faculty Rachelle Fleming
- Pacifica Quartet and Marina Piccinini Open the 2021 High Notes Season
2023
August 16 - Matthew Polenzani and Robert Spano
Alan Fletcher speaks with world-renowned tenor Matthew Polenzani about his role in the AMFS's production of Mozart's Idomeneo. Joining them is AMFS Music Director Robert Spano, who will lead the final concert of the season: Haydn's Creation.
August 9 - David Robertson and John Luther Adams
Alan Fletcher meets with composer John Luther Adams and conductor David Robertson to discuss their concert collaboration, a reflection of the 2023 AMFS season's theme: The Adoration of the Earth.
August 2 - Steven Banks and Myra Huang
Saxophonist Steven Banks and pianist Myra Huang join Alan Fletcher discussing pianist André Watts, teaching philosophies, and more!
July 19 - Jimmy López Bellido, Steven Mackey, and Sarah Kirkland Snider
Three brilliant composers—Jimmy López Bellido, Steven Mackey, and Sarah Kirkland Snider—join Alan Fletcher in a lively discussion.
July 12 - Awadagin Pratt and Nico Muhly
Alan Fletcher speaks with pianist Awadagin Pratt about his appearance on the Baroque Evening program. Joining them is composer Nico Muhly, whose piece for saxophone will receive its U.S. premier this summer.
July 5 - Anthony Davis and Maxim Vengerov
Alan Fletcher opens the 2023 discussion series with composers Anthony Davis and violinist Maxim Vengerov.
2022
August 17 - Music Director Robert Spano on Berlioz's Requiem
Music Director Robert Spano has a conversation with Mr. Fletcher about Berlioz's Requiem, which Mr. Spano will conduct on August 21 to close the 2022 festival season.
August 10 - Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya and Composer Nico Muhly
Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya speaks with Mr. Fletcher about his upcoming Aspen Chamber Symphony performance of Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer (with Will Liverman), Gabriel Kahane's Heirloom (with Jeffrey Kahane), and Mendelssohn's Fourth Symphony. Composer Nico Muhly joins talking about his widely regarded recent work.
August 3 - Conductor Jane Glover on Don Giovanni
Conductor and renowned Mozartian Jane Glover talks with Mr. Fletcher about the upcoming August 18 performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni.
July 27 - Former ACA Conducting Students Tomáš Netopil and George Jackson
Mr. Fletcher welcomes Tomáš Netopil and George Jackson, both alumni of the Aspen Conducting Academy, to discuss where their conducting careers have taken them since their participation in ACA.
July 20 - Arie Vardi on Mozart and Patrick Summers on Verdi's Falstaff
Artist-faculty pianist and conductor Arie Vardi reveals insights on his Mozart Evening performance before Mr. Fletcher turns to AOTVA co-artistic director Patrick Summers regarding Verdi's Falstaff, the first opera of the season for the The Aspen Opera Theatre and VocalARTS program.
July 13 - Elaine Douvas and Steven Banks on their Baroque Evening Performance
Mr. Fletcher is joined by The Metropolitan Opera principal oboist and Aspen artist-faculty Elaine Douvas and young, transformational saxophonist and composer Steven Banks before they perform Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Oboes.
July 6 - Violinist Randall Goosby and Conductor Ludovic Morlot Open the 2022 High Notes Season
Mr. Fletcher opens the 2022 discussion series with young violinist Randall Goosby and conductor Ludovic Morlot. Morlot touches on his endeavor to expand classical music audiences, and Goosby reflects upon growing his career as a professional violinist.
2021
August 11 - Violinist James Ehnes and Pianist Joyce Yang on Beethoven
Mr. Fletcher focuses on the season theme when asking violinist James Ehnes and pianist Joyce Yang their thoughts on Beethoven.
August 4 - Alumni Golda Schultz and Ben Manis Return as Guest Artists
In Week 6 of the Festival, Mr. Fletcher brings in soprano opera singer Golda Schultz and conductor Ben Manis. The two AMFS almuni remember their time at the Festival and detail their careers since.
July 28 - Pianist Andreas Haefliger's New Movie and Hugh Wolff on Conducting a Concerto
Juilliard-trained pianist Andreas Haefliger tells Mr. Fletcher about his new movie production, which highlights Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata. Conductor Hugh Wolff joins to share his experience collaborating with student soloists.
July 21 - Conductor Gemma New and Artist-Faculty Rachelle Fleming
One of the most exciting and foremost conductors of her time, ACA alumna Gemma New is now the principal guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony. She tells Mr. Fletcher about the program she is conducting for the Aspen Chamber Symphony's upcoming performance, and artist-faculty Rachelle Fleming discusses the Cabaret Evening and her experience in musical theatre.
July 7 - Pacifica Quartet and Marina Piccinini Open the 2021 High Notes Season
In the first episode of the 2021 High Notes Season, members of the Pacifica Quartet and flutist Marina Piccinini discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected them as professional musicians. The Pacifica Quartet has led the AMFS's Center for Advanced Quartet Studies since 2017.