Music in Words

Feb 08 2024 10
Music in Words Podcast artwork

This is a series of podcasts captured from live/video chats with HKU MUSE Artists at the University of Hong Kong, hosted by professors in the Music Department. Find out what music resonates in the artists’ minds in challenging times, how their musical journeys unfold, and their thoughts on the works that they present in the HKU MUSE Concert Series. Many of the episodes have an accompanying Spotify playlist with the music discussed during the conversation.

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EP 12 | CATEEN! Hayato Sumino

Feb 08 2024 57 mins  
Japanese YouTuber-scientist-composer-pianist Hayato Sumino is a rising musical sensation traversing the classical and digital inspirations. He shared his unique musical journey and inspirations with Prof. Daniel Chua during the HKU student-exclusive 'Music In Words' dialogue. Hayato showcased his improvisational skills on the spot with a theme by the audience, and answered

EP 11 | Paul Lewis: Performing Schubert

Jan 26 2024 56 mins  
Two decades ago, the esteemed pianist Paul Lewis embarked on a musical journey of Schubert's complete piano sonatas. Now after an illustrious career spanning twenty years, he revisits this mellifluous cycle in a new light. In the 2022/23 Rayson Huang Lecture, Lewis discussed with Prof. Daniel Chua his new reading of Schubert's sonatas in relation to the composer's life

EP 10 | Gavriel Lipkind: Performing the Bach Suites

Nov 01 2023 58 mins  
Distinguished Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind, with a lineage from Pablo Casals, has a conversation with Prof. Daniel Chua, head of HKU Music Department. Lipkind shared his insights on interpreting, performing, and recording Bach's Cello Suites, as well as his intriguing experiences as Rostropovich's student and as a contester preparing for the Leonard Rose competition. An

EP 9 | Bruce Liu in the Time of COVID-19

Aug 03 2022 27 mins  
Winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Bruce Liu has become a real sensation of the pianistic world and has been on an extensive tour across the world’s most prestigious stages. The recording of his title-winning performance was praised by Gramophone as "one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years, full of maturity, character and pu

EP 8 | Ian Bostridge: Schubert’s Song Cycles

Jan 19 2022 51 mins  
Widely recognized as one of today’s finest interpreters of Franz Schubert, celebrated tenor Ian Bostridge talks about Schubert’s song cycles, Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, and his own journey as a scholar-turned-vocalist. To accompany this episode, tune in to the recordings of these song cycles in the Spotify playlist.  Playlist: 'Ian Bostridge: Schubert’s Song

EP 7 | Konstantin Lifschitz: The Art of Fugue

Mar 21 2021 60 mins  
"Hope you love the endless, abstract, and powerful message of this work..." Recorded during his visit in 2015 at HKU, pianist Konstantin Lifschitz discussed with Prof. Daniel Chua the art of playing J.S. Bach's The Art of Fugue. An accompanying playlist featuring Mr. Lifschitz's own recording of the masterpiece is also available on Spotify. Playlist: 'Konstantin Lifschitz: The Art

EP 6｜Angela Hewitt: The Well-Tempered Clavier

Feb 22 2021 58 mins  
Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' has laid the backbone of classical chromaticism, revealing the full-colour spectrum of all the 24 keys. Highly acclaimed as a Bach interpreter, pianist Angela Hewitt discusses the work's architecture, musicality, and spiritual elements, and shares with us what this music means to her. Video: 'Music in Words: Angela Hewitt' on YouTube Speaker: Ang

EP 5｜Paul Lewis in the Time of COVID-19

Jan 10 2021 34 mins  
Pianist Paul Lewis shares with us how he makes use of the lockdown to revisit old repertoire and discover new works, his experience with live streaming, and his reflection on the meaning of live concerts. A heralded interpreter of Beethoven and Schubert, Paul also tells us how he finds their works deeply consoling at this time. Playlist: 'Paul Lewis in the Time of COVID-19 Playlis

EP 4｜Belcea Quartet in the Time of COVID-19

Jan 10 2021 33 mins  
Krzysztof Chorzelski of the Belcea Quartet shares how the ensemble copes with the unprecedented challenges and what the Beethoven Cycle means to them, and reflects fondly on their time with their mentors, the great Alban Berg and Amadeus Quartets. Playlist: 'Belcea Quartet in the Time of COVID-19 Playlist' Video: 'Belcea Quartet in the Time of COVID-19' on YouTube Speaker: Krzyszt

EP 3｜Jaap van Zweden in the Time of COVID-19

Jan 08 2021 38 mins  
Maestro Jaap van Zweden shares his leadership philosophy, his interpretation of Beethoven symphonies, his work with the Papageno Foundation, as well as the inspiration from other great conductors, including an episode on picking up the baton for the first time under Bernstein’s encouragement. Playlist: 'Jaap van Zweden in the Time of COVID-19' Video: 'Maestro van Zweden in the T