Chat Details

National Philharmonic's Piotr Gajewski 03-17-09

This chat will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Read the transcript of the live chat with Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, who joined us on Tuesday, March 17.

Transcript

1. • The Washington Times is pleased to welcome Maestro Piotr Gajewski, music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic, for a live chat. Good morning, Maestro Gajewski. Thank you for being with us again. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Great to be back! by
2. • Maestro Gajewski, the National Philharmonic has an exciting season on tap for 2009-10. Please tell us some of the highlights. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Many, many highlights. We will probably chat in more detail over the course of the hour, so let me just mention our season opener in October: all-Beethoven program, including Symphony No. 1, Piano Concerto No. 2 with the legendary pianist Misha Dichter and Choral Fantasy, again with Dichter, a stellar cast of vocal soloists and the National Philharmonic Chorale. by
3. • Mastro, as music director, how do you go about constructing a season's worth of programs? by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: It usually starts with the soloists and often with some large idea. In the 2009-2010 season, we will be celebrating numerous important anniversaries, including 200 years since Haydn's death (May 1809) and 200 years since the birth of Mendelssohn, Chopin and Schumann. It is quite amazing that the three were born so close together in time. I mentioned soloists: The season includes such greats as pianist Leon Fleisher, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and violinist Chee-Yun. by
5. • The final concert of the 2009-10 season will feature Polish pianist Piotr Paleczny performing concertos by Frederic Chopin and Ignace Jan Paderewski. As someone who was born in Poland, please tell us about the place in the hearts of the Polish that Chopin and Paderewski hold. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Well, Chopin really represents the Polish nation like no other of its composers: the drama, the struggle, the tragedy –- it’s all there. Paderewski, on the other hand, was the hope of Poland. He was Prime Minister when Poland was reborn after more than a century of occupation. Interestingly, for years, he was buried right here at the Arlington Cemetery, before being transferred to Poland in the '90s. by
7. • Maestro, you included in your introduction to the 2009-10 season brochure a bit of musical geneology -- starting with Beethoven, who taught Carl Czerny (many will remember his book of piano exercises!), who trained the Polish pianist Teodor Leszetycki, who taught Paderewski and the great Austrian pianist Artur Schnabel, who was a teacher of Leon Fleisher's. To that family tree we can add Brian Ganz, who studied with Mr. Fleisher. How fascinating that Beethoven's legacy can directly inform the playing of modern-day musicians. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Ah, you are a student of the National Philharmonic 2009-2010 brochure! It’s available online at www.nationalphilharmonic.org (select “subscribe”). Yes, it is very interesting to be able to trace back to masters of the 20th and 19th centuries. Very awe inspiring. by
16. • The soprano Arianna Zukerman, who will sing Mahler next season with the National Philharmonic, is one of several internationally known artists, including Denyce Graves and David Daniels, who live or have lived in the Washington area. Besides growing up here, as Miss Graves did, what makes Washington a desirable place to live for a professional musician? Was it the National Philharmonic that brought you to the area? (P.S. Some of our readers may not know that Miss Zukerman is the daughter of the violinist, violist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman and the flutist and writer Eugenia Zukerman.) by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: Washington is a great music city. And the Music Center at Strathmore is arguably one of the finest concert halls on the East Coast. And yes, I am very much looking forward to Arianna singing Mahler's Fourth Symphony; it's definitely a work I really look forward to conducting next season. by
17. • Who are some of your featured performers next season? by Bethesda, Md.
    • Answer: I've already mentioned several. We are also performing many vocal works. Handel's "Messiah" will feature soprano Danielle Talamantes, mezzo Victoria Livengood, tenor Robert Bakes and baritone Leon Williams. by
18. • How can people subscribe to see your orchestra? by District of Columbia
    • Answer: The National Philharmonic is in residence at the Music Center at Strathmore. Thanks for asking about subscriptions -- the 2009-2010 season features complete flexibility so that subscribers choose exactly the concerts to attend. The best way to subscribe is to download the season brochure at the Web site (see above). by
19. • Is attendance up or down this season? by Chevy Chase, Maryland
    • Answer: Amazingly, it seems to be trending up. It is very gratifying. Last weekend, the Philharmonic presented Mozart’s "Requiem" to a complete sellout. In three weeks I will be conducting Vivaldi and Piazzolla Seasons with a fabulous young violinist, Nicolas Kendall. It should be quite an evening, and the tickets are also going very fast! by
20. • Are you cutting back on concerts during the recession? by Old Town, Va.
    • Answer: Heavens, no! People need more music, not less, when times are tough. I am sorry that we cannot increase the number of concerts. There are seventeen subscription concerts planned at the Music Center at Strathmore, and there may be a few other special concerts added as well. by
21. • What are some of the pieces you plan to conduct next year? by Bethesda
    • Answer: I can’t even keep count of all the pieces –- probably somewhere around 30 different works on the subscription concerts and maybe more including guest conducting. I am particularly looking forward to our concert presentation of "Carmen," though. It features a stellar cast, including a fabulous mezzo, Kendall Gladen, in the title role. It’s just one performance, so get tickets early! by
22. • How do you pronounce your first name? by D.C.
    • Answer: I go by "Peter." Thanks for asking :) by
23. • How far in advance must your plan a season? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: I am now planning the 2010-2011 season. Major artists book several years in advance. I also try to coordinate with my guest-conducting schedule. by
24. • What do you think is the "best" program offered next season? by MD
    • Answer: There are so many to choose from! I already mentioned "Carmen." How about Brahms' "Requiem" and Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" on one program (also include Makris' "Alleluia")? This one will be conducted by National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson and includes baritone Christopheren Nomura and soprano Audrey Elizabeth Lune. What voices! by
25. • I applaud "All Kids, All Free, All the Time," but how do you nurture a love of classical music in kids today? by Rockville
    • Answer: Bring them to concerts! I have three kids. They all come all the time (although the oldest only when she is home from college). My 14-year-old and 7-year-old LOVE going. And because of this, they now know a lot of music. The more they recognize, the more fun it is. And with free tickets, there is no excuse not to bring them! If they are interested in studying an instrument or singing, that is good, too. But most important is listening a lot and attending concerts. by
26. • I notice a lot of young faces in the new brochure. Is there a value to bringing new and/or young people to the Strathmore stage verses well-known soloists such as Fleisher? by MD
    • Answer: It's great to have a mix. There are so many fabulous young soloists today. Their music can be very exciting and inspiring. by
27. • Can you explain the theory behind the new "pick your own" subscription packages? Why no more set series? by MD
    • Answer: In today’s world, people want choice and complete control. It’s that simple. Concertgoers do not have to accept a program that they think may not be to their taste or one that does not fit into their schedule. With the National Philharmonic offering, there are discounts for purchasing more concerts, but the choice is completely open. by
28. • The National Philharmonic's program on April 11 at Strathmore featuring both Vivaldi's very popular "The Four Seasons" and Piazzolla's "Four Seasons of Buenos Aires" seems fascinating. What led you to program this work? by Rockville, MD
    • Answer: Well, of course, the connection of a different take on the four seasons is quite natural. Piazzolla even quotes Vivaldi in his piece. It takes a very special violinist to pull this off, though, and Nick Kendall is really awesome. This will be a great event, I promise! by
29. • Can you please expand more on your answers, Maestro? by MD
    • Answer: Which ones? O.K., Paderewski: Cool story – as Poland was occupied by Germany during World War II … Paderewski found himself in the U.S. He specified that should he die, he wanted to be buried in the U.S. and then have his remains returned to Poland when it was liberated. Well, in 1945 Poland was liberated from the Germans, but the U.S. government refused to release Paderewski’s remains, as it claimed that it was now occupied by the Soviets (to the great irritation of the Polish and Soviet governments). And so his remains stayed at Arlington until after the Berlin Wall fell, at which time they were indeed returned to Poland (with great pomp, I might add). by
30. • The National Philharmonic is fortunate to have the National Philharmonic Chorale (formerly the Masterworks Chorale) as its "resident" chorus. Any chance that Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and/or Verdi's "Te Deum" will be on an upcoming program? (They're two of my favorites.) by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: We just did "Elijah" two seasons ago. But Verdi's "Te Deum" is a great suggestion -- we will definitely consider it. (Incidentally, I really love getting audience repertoire suggestions, and I do program many!) by
31. • Maestro Gajewski, we're coming to the end of our chat. Thank you for being with us, and best wishes for the National Philharmonic for a most successful season. May every concert be standing room only. Have you any last words for our readers? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: Thank you, Jeff. Great chatting with you and your readers today. I urge all to check out the National Philharmonic's upcoming concerts and the newly announced 2009-2010 season on the National Philharmonic Web site at www.nationalphilharmonic.org. And enjoy! by