Select Interviews

I had the pleasure of conducting a brief interview with Cardinal Egan in the summer of 2002, while covering the 2002 International Keyboard Institute & Festival for the WFMT Fine Arts Network.  Then-Music Director Johannes Somary led a concert at St. Patrick's cathedral and this clip reflects the departed Cardinal's view of music as a sacred experience.

Edward Cardinal Egan On Music

In 2006, I had the privilege of interviewing the singular John Williams, who was conducting the New York Philharmonic in a program of his own music, along with that of his friend and mentor Bernard Herrmann for a gala evening.  We talked about his relationship with Herrmann as well as his workflow and the notion of multimedia concerts.  With all of the excitement about Star Wars right now, this seemed like  perfect time to revisit this material.  Enjoy!

Mark Travis interviews John Williams

It was announced on 1/27/2016 that Mr. van Zweden would succeed Alan Gilbert as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic.  

On April 12, 2012, I met with Jaap van Zweden, who was in town to make his New York Philharmonic debut.  He was joined by Yuja Wang for a performance of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto and he also conducted a very memorable Symphony No. 1 by Mahler.  During the course of our conversation, we spoke about the difference between life as a concertmaster and life as a Music Director.  He also shared some experiences from his early life, the thoughts behind his programming and he also talked a lot about his conducting philosophy.

Jaap van Zweden with Mark Travis

This was my final interview with Maestro Lorin Maazel (1930-2014), while he was still Music Director of the New York Philharmonic.  We talked a great deal about his early years in music as well as his philosophy of life, music, and art.  Much of this conversation formed the basis for my award-winning tribute to him, which can be heard here:
https://soundcloud.com/newyorkphilharmonic/a-new-york-philharmonic-tribute-to-lorin-maazel?in=markstephantravis/sets/tributes-to-former-nyp-music

Interview with Lorin Maazel from June, 2009

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Mo. Robertson several times over the years and it is always a joy.  He is intensely curious and conversant about so very many things, from science and literature to gadgets, pop-culture, and good coffee.  Here, we spoke about two weeks of programs he was leading at the New York Philharmonic in May, 2008.  The repertoire we discuss includes Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, the Schubert-Berio piece, Rendering, Sibelius's Symphony No. 1, the Korngold Violin Concerto and an orchestration of Debussy's Etudes.  The piece was recorded via ISDN on 5/27/2008. 

Interview with Conductor David Robertson, 2008

I've have the privilege of speaking with Ms. Voigt several times and she has seemingly always rewarded those who do their homework with terrific insights and very complete and thoughtful answers.   This is a short conversation we had in between rehearsals for a program of Strauss Lieder she was singing with the New York Philharmonic during the 2006/07 season.

Interview with Soprano Deborah Voigt, 2007

This is a brief discussion I had with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes in 2007 about the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major.  The piece represented his first performance with conductor Riccardo Muti--a topic we also discussed.

Leif Ove Andsnes discusses the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg is one of the most today's most important living composers.  From 2009-2012 he served as the Mary & James G. Wallach Composer-in-Residence for the New York Philharmonic.  We recorded this conversation at the end of his tenure there in preparation for an upcoming CD release and national broadcast.

Interview with composer Magnus Lindberg, 2012

This is an interview I had with the American violinist Joshua Bell in December of 2011.  He was getting ready to play the Tchaikovksy Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic and his good friend, Daniel Harding.  We spoke about the concerto plus Mr. Bell's practice habits, his relationship with the Philharmonic and how his interpretation of the piece has evolved over the years.  (Off-mic, we also bonded over both being products of the Midwest.)

Interview Cd - Ask Me, Ask Me, Ask Me...

Violinist Joshua Bell with Mark Travis, 12/06/2011

On January 3, 2012, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of Britain's most important living composers, Thomas Adès.  The New York Philharmonic and Alan Gilbert were getting ready to perform his work, Polaris at the time.  We discuss that piece and how it relates to some of his other works as well as well as his work habits and more.  For those interested in hearing Polaris, it  is available here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/thomas-ades-mahler/id503961023

Composer Thomas Adès with Mark Travis

This is an old-school phone interview with me and conductor Bernard Labadie--one of the most original and accomplished voices in "period-informed" performance.  The conversation was recorded prior to his participation in "The Bach Variations: A Philharmonic Festival" in 2012.  We discuss his first encounter with Bach's music and why Bach is such an important part of a serious musician's musical "diet."

Interview with Conductor Bernard Labadie

This interview with pianist André Watts was recorded in December, 2012 in the "media room" of what was then Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall.)  During the course of our conversation, Mr. Watts shares recollections of his storied Philharmonic debut, when he was a last-minute replacement for Glenn Gould in a concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein.  He also goes on to talk about piano literature (notably the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto, which he performed that week)and how the music business has changed and evolved since the early days of his career.

Mark Travis interviews pianist André Watts

I've been privileged to interview the great violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter several times, but I think this particular conversation stands as my favorite.  We enjoyed an afternoon together in Chicago and discussed her appointment as the New York Philharmonic's second-ever Artist-in-Residence for the 2010-2011 season.  She discussed her approach to the music of Mozart (and the underestimated virtuosity of his concerti), her working relationships with contemporary composers, such as Wolfgang Rihm, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Sebastian Currier and how her artistry has evolved with works that were signatures of her early career, such as the Beethoven Romances.

Mark Travis Interviews Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter

On September 9, 2015, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to interview the legendary tenor and educator, George Shirley at his hotel room.  The very next day, President Obama awarded Dr. Shirley the Medal of Arts for his remarkable life in music and his trailblazing efforts for African-American singers.  

Later, in October of that year, Mr. Shirley was one of four honorees recognized by Bass-Baritone Eric Owens and the New York Philharmonic for a concert called, In Their Footsteps, which celebrated great African-American singers and their legacy.  During the course of our conversation, Dr. Shirley speaks about his experiences with the other honorees--Marian Anderson, Betty Allen and William Warfield as well as his early life in music.  We also spoke of his heroes growing up, the experience of being the first African-American tenor to sing at the Met and the state of vocal music today.  

This is, unfortunately, camera audio due to some difficulties in the field, but George Shirley's singular warmth and kind spirit transcend the "tape."

George Shirley with Mark Travis 2015

This is a conversation I recorded with Spinto Soprano Martina Arroyo at her apartment in New York in October, 2015.  We met to discuss her relationships with four other legendary African-American singers: Maria Anderson, Betty Allen, George Shirley, and William Warfield, but we also spoke about her career, the Martina Arroyo Foundation and her heroes.  While I'd only intended to capture a few minutes for a video piece I was producing for the New York Philharmonic, the conversation was so lively and easy, I have decided to share some of it now, so that others may enjoy the light of this exceptional and extraordinary human being.

Mark Travis interviews Martina Arroyo

I just learned of the passing of the extraordinary pianist and conductor, Zoltan Kocsis, who just passed away at age 64.  

Mr. Kocsis was the soloist in Bartok's 3rd piano concerto with the New York Philharmonic in 2003.  His performance of Thursday, October 9 was broadcast live.  It was just my second time in the producer's chair for a Philharmonic presentation and his authentic and passionate interpretation made a lasting impression on me.  

As I join my Philharmonic colleagues and the rest of the musical world in offering condolences to his friends and family, I thought it would be appropriate to honor the memory of Mr. Kocsis by sharing this conversation he recorded with then-host Nancy Shear for the intermission of that aforementioned broadcast.

An Interview with Pianist Zoltan Kocsis from 2003

On March 2, 2016, I sat down with composer Julia Adolphe, a rising star on the contemporary classical music scene.  We discussed her early years, growing up in Chelsea, as well as her student years with the late Steven Stucky and her experience with EarShot.  We also touched on her work habits and the New York Philharmonic's upcoming performance of her new viola concerto this November with Cynthia Phelps as soloist and Jaap van Zweden conducting.

Mark Travis Interviews Composer Julia Adolphe

Mark Travis has been a leader in the music industry as a writer, producer, broadcaster, lecturer, and audio engineer for more than two decades.  He currently serves as the Director of Media Production for the New York Philharmonic and has produced the orchestra's broadcasts since 2003.  You can learn more about the award-winning producer here: https://www.marktravisproducer.com/about

Select Interviews

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