Chamber of Musical Curiosities
Musica Viva Australia
Subscribe
Hosted by Artistic Director Paul Kildea, the Chamber of Musical Curiosities is a podcast exploring the world in and around Musica Viva Australia.
This season features an eclectic range of guests in conversation with Paul Kildea, as both parties reflect upon creativity, their career, and their passion for chamber music. Australian linguist and musicologist Malcolm Gillies, violinist Wilma Smith, writer and broadcaster Jane Caro, and actor and theatre director John Bell all feature.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Mar 13, 2022
Simon Gleeson & Paul Kildea
In this episode, Paul Kildea speaks with Australian actor, writer and singer Simon Gleeson. Simon talks about his childhood and how his earliest performances were together on stage with his father in amateur theatre. He also describes meeting Paul Kildea when he was 15 years old and how Paul inspired him to seriously try and make a career in the arts.
playlist_add
Jan 30, 2022
Paul Grabowsky & Paul Kildea
For this edition of the podcast, Paul Kildea sits down with pianist, composer and jazz enthusiast Paul Grabowsky. The pair begin by talking about Paul Grabowsky's heritage and the fascinating history of his father, which includes forming a swing band in Townsville during World War II.
playlist_add
Dec 6, 2021
Celia Craig & Paul Kildea: A life in colour
Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast. In this episode, Paul Kildea speaks with oboist Celia Craig. They discuss Celia's musical background, the intricacies of playing the oboe, orchestral life, as well as her experiences as someone with chromesthesia.
playlist_add
Oct 26, 2021
Paul McDermott & Paul Kildea: Peering into a versatile mind
Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast. In this episode, Paul Kildea speaks with artist, singer, comedian, actor and author, Paul McDermott.
playlist_add
Oct 4, 2021
Jennifer Higgie & Paul Kildea: An unplanned journey from artist to author
In this instalment of the podcast, Paul Kildea speaks with author, screenwriter and art critic, Jennifer Higgie.
playlist_add
Sep 5, 2021
Daryl Buckley & Paul Kildea: Transcending borders and boundaries
In this instalment of the podcast, Paul Kildea has a chat with Artistic Director of Elision Ensemble, Daryl Buckley.
playlist_add
Aug 2, 2021
Kim Williams & Paul Kildea: A life of music, media and advocacy
In this instalment of the podcast, Paul Kildea has a reflective conversation with Kim Williams on his time as a composer, studying abroad in Italy with Luciano Berio and Richard Gill's advocacy for music education in Australia.
playlist_add
May 30, 2021
Claire Edwardes & Paul Kildea: The nature of being a percussionist
In this instalment of the podcast, Paul Kildea has a lively conversation with percussionist and curator Claire Edwardes. The dialogue starts with Claire Edwardes' kaleidoscopic background and how calling Claire just a 'percussionist' does her no justice. She talks about her love of music from a very young age and how her love of playing music with other people has led her down the path of music curation.
playlist_add
May 1, 2021
Nicolas Fleury and Paul Kildea: Iconic pieces for the French Horn
In episode 8 of the podcast, Paul Kildea sits down with the native French, French Horn player Nicolas Fleury. During the episode, Paul and Nicolas discuss some of the most iconic works written for the horn.
Nicolas describes some of the unique features of the horn, how the instrument works and explores the most interesting facts about a few of his favourite pieces, such as Mozart's Horn Concerto and the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings written by Benjamin Britten.
They touch on Nicolas' passion for the horn and explore his journey from a young music student to an internationally renowned artist. Nicolas also touches on collaboration and touring with Emily Sun and Amir Farid, missing London and the similarities between the French and Australian lifestyles.
playlist_add
Apr 6, 2021
Harry Ward and Paul Kildea: Arranging Mahler's Piano Quartet and the return to live music
In episode seven, Artistic Director Paul Kildea chats with violinist, composer, and Musica Viva FutureMaker Harry Ward. Their wide-ranging conversation begins with a discussion of Harry's exciting new arrangement of Mahler's Piano Quartet, which will be debuted by pianist Konstantin Shamray, the ANAM Orchestra, and concertmaster Sophie Rowell.
Harry also reflects on his disrupted 2020, which was to see him study at Berlin's prestigious Karajan Academy. Though disappointed, the disruption means he's able to join Musica Viva on tour and perform his own arrangement. Looking forward to a time when he's able to take up his placement in Berlin, Harry tells Paul about the city's rich musical traditions and culture, which he hopes to bring back to Australia and apply to his own practice.
playlist_add
Mar 1, 2021
Alice Humphries and Paul Kildea: Creativity and pushing boundaries
In this episode, Paul Kildea is joined by contemporary classical, jazz and experimental composer, Alice Humphries. This insightful conversation touches on Alice's early years and her love for a wide range of musical genres and instruments, they discuss creativity and pushing boundaries within arranging music and composing during a pandemic.
Alice Humphries' new work for viola and piano was commissioned by Geoff Stearn and will be premiered by Christopher Moore and Caroline Almonte in November 2021.
playlist_add
Jan 11, 2021
Jane Caro and Paul Kildea: A not so linear path
Paul and Jane discuss the not so linear path of her career and beginnings in advertising, identifying as an out, loud and proud feminist, miming the flute and dealing with age discrimination. With music creeping its way into her life as a teenager, during the era of rock and roll Jane relives the experience of attending Led Zeppelin's infamous concert in Sydney and talks about the chemical reactions of music and being a passionate audience member.
playlist_add
Dec 7, 2020
Genevieve Lacey and Paul Kildea: The Anatomy of a Duet
In this episode of the Chamber of Musical Curiosities, Artistic Director Paul Kildea talks with the Australian artist Genevieve Lacey. As he eloquently notes in the introduction, to simply refer to Genevieve as 'a recorder player, is missing the point', as she has forged a rich career, with credits as a performer, composer, and curator. In this conversation, Genevieve reflects upon the emergence of her artistic practise, talks about how 'a life in art is one of constant evolution', and reflects on the genesis, and importance of Musica Viva's Future Makers program. She doesn't leave without revealing tantalising information about the new collaboration she's developed with her friend and colleague, the harpist Marshall McGuire, which they'll be touring for Musica Viva in 2021.
playlist_add
Nov 30, 2020
John Bell and Paul Kildea: Shakespeare and influences on Australian theatre
In the third episode of the Chamber of Musical Curiosities podcast, Paul Kildea is joined by actor, producer, director and author John Bell, known for his influence on the development of Australian theatre through the 20th century. Together they reminisce on Paul's first encounter with John's work in 1984, his fond memories of University years, and leaving Australia to join the Royal Shakespeare Company; the moment in his life where he "really learned what acting was about".
John touches on his time running Nimrod Theatre Company, before a period of freelancing which would inevitably lead to founding the Bell Shakespeare company in 1990, and the motivations behind this pivotal moment in his life. John and Paul then lead the conversation in a musical direction, discussing the use of music in Shakespearean productions.
playlist_add
Nov 2, 2020
Wilma Smith and Paul Kildea: Musical journeys, founding ensembles & Strike A Chord
In the second episode, Artistic Director Paul Kildea is in conversation with Musica Viva's own Artistic Director of Competitions, Wilma Smith. Together they discuss Wilma's musical journey from New Zealand to the United States, her subsequent studies with the legendary Dorothy DeLay, and the founding of the New Zealand String Quartet. Wilma shares the fascinating and fortunate story of how her 1761 Guadagnini violin came into her life, and reflects upon the importance of chamber playing in a musician's career, and the extraordinary talent uncovered by Musica Viva's latest venture, Strike A Chord.
playlist_add
Oct 6, 2020
Malcolm Gillies and Paul Kildea: Creativity, careers and chamber music
Welcome to the Chamber of Musical Curiosities! In this episode, Musica Viva's Artistic Director, Paul Kildea and Australian linguist and musicologist Malcolm Gillies, reflect upon creativity, their career, and their passion for chamber music.
playlist_add