Cover of CT Arts Talk

CT Arts Talk

CT Arts Talk

By: William Boughton
Listen for free

Season's Savings | 0.99 €/month for 3 months

5.99 €/month thereafter - terms apply. Cancel monthly.
CT Arts Talk is a new podcast that will highlight the fine art scene happening throughout Connecticut.© DirectLine Media LLC Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • CT Arts Talk: Ep 4 - From Leipzig to Hartford

    CT Arts Talk: Ep 4 - From Leipzig to Hartford
    11 Oct 2026
    In this special episode, hosts Tom Duffy and William Boughton devote the show to two major upcoming events. First, they catch up remotely with conductor Yaniv Dinur, one of four finalists for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's next music director, who shares his path from piano student in Jerusalem to assistant conductor in Milwaukee and current posts in New Bedford and Tallahassee. The second half is devoted to Bach's monumental St. Matthew Passion, receiving a rare live performance at Yale's Woolsey Hall on November 1st, with Yale musicologist and Bach authority Marcus Rathey unpacking the work's theology, structure, and groundbreaking double-choir architecture. Rathey walks through the piece's hidden love-song imagery, its use of oboe d'amore and viola da gamba for emotional color, and the dramatic moment Bach removes Jesus's instrumental "halo." The episode closes with statewide arts news for October 12–25, spanning orchestral concerts, a Halloween-themed program, and theater openings across Connecticut.https://bagleystrategic.com/https://www.ctartstalk.com/directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production00:00 — Intro: a special two-topic episode 00:26 — Introducing conductor Yaniv Dinur, Hartford Symphony music director finalist 00:50 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC 02:11 — Interview begins (via Zoom, while Dinur was on tour) 02:39 — Dinur's early life: born in Jerusalem, piano at age six, conducting lessons at 16 05:55 — His role model: Daniel Barenboim, and a transformative month observing him at La Scala 08:12 — Does being a pianist help a conductor? Score study and training in Jerusalem 10:49 — What draws him to the Hartford Symphony 13:26 — A pivotal lesson with teacher Ken Kiesler: "let them play without you" 15:21 — How he approaches a first rehearsal 17:02 — Preparing orchestral parts in advance 17:58 — How this week's program (Tchaikovsky's Fourth + Gabriela Ortiz) was chosen 20:42 — The advantages of regional orchestras — risk-taking and community connection 23:38 — Feeling part of the New Bedford community 24:26 — Ideas for audience engagement: the "Symphony on Tap" concept 26:06 — Thanking Yaniv; reflections on the interview and a plug for hartfordsymphony.org 27:19 — Transition to the second topic: Bach's St. Matthew Passion 28:01 — Introducing Yale musicologist Marcus Rathey 29:02 — Why this performance marks the piece's 300th anniversary 30:54 — Bach's collaboration with poet Picander 34:06 — How Leipzig's church architecture shaped the piece's double-choir structure 36:03 — The work's recurring pattern of narration, aria, and chorus 37:09 — Uncovering the Passion's hidden theme as a love story 40:17 — The theology of divine love in Baroque devotion 42:27 — Why Bach chose oboe da caccia and oboe d'amore 44:18 — The arias linked to Mary Magdalene 46:33 — The "string halo" around Jesus — and the moment Bach removes it 48:23 — The Passion's two-part structure, built around a live sermon 49:40 — Why Jesus is sung by a bass voice 51:23 — Did the congregation sing along? 53:34 — Experiencing the piece after 40 days of Lenten "musical fasting" 55:59 — The rare sound of the viola da gamba 57:44 — The Passion's three structural "pillars" and final chorus 59:56 — Thanking Marcus Rathey; final reminder about the November 1st performance 1:00:50 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC 1:01:23 — Statewide arts news, October 12–25 1:01:49 — Yale School of Music lunchtime concert series 1:02:11 — James O'Donnell's annual organ recital at Woolsey Hall 1:02:36 — Yale Philharmonia performs Bartók and more 1:03:21 — Eastern CT Symphony's Halloween program, "Shadows and Spirits" 1:04:41 — Hartford Symphony Orchestra concerts, October 23–25 1:05:34 — Norwalk Symphony's Tchaikovsky Festival 1:05:59 — Orchestra Lumos performs in Stamford 1:06:26 — Farmington Valley Symphony's French program 1:07:00 — New Haven Symphony performs Verdi's Requiem 1:07:40 — Goodspeed Opera House's 50th-anniversary production of Annie 1:08:04 — Westport Country Playhouse presents Pride and Prejudice Part Two 1:08:29 — Closing: website and Facebook page 1:09:01 — Preview of the next episode from Pilobolus in Washington Depot
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 10 min
  • CT Arts Talk: Ep 3 - American Patchwork: Florence Griswold's 250th Tribute

    CT Arts Talk: Ep 3 - American Patchwork: Florence Griswold's 250th Tribute
    27 Sep 2026

    In this episode William Boughton and Tom Duffy broadcast from the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, birthplace of American Impressionism. They open with a listener favorite: candid advice for young musicians weighing a professional path, covering the benefits of learning an instrument and the cognitive, social, and emotional case for starting kids young. The heart of the episode is a conversation with Executive Director Peter Steer and Senior Curator Jenny Parsons about Patchwork, a juried exhibition of 86 Connecticut artists created for America's 250th anniversary, touching on how the show was curated, why wall labels were left off, and the museum's upcoming expansion. The episode closes with statewide arts news for September 28–October 11, a "What the Critics Say" segment of infamous musical reviews, and a Connecticut history note on Alice Cogswell and the founding of the American School for the Deaf. New episode topics and events are previewed for October 11th's discussion of Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

    Dani Howard and Peter Moore in conversation www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSM9sg3pLSE

    https://bagleystrategic.com/
    https://www.ctartstalk.com/
    directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

    00:00 — Intro from the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
    00:26 — Preview: the Patchwork exhibition with Peter Steer and Jenny Parsons
    00:30 — Listener topic: should I pursue music professionally?
    01:17 — The benefits of learning an instrument, starting with fourth-grade instrument selection
    01:35 — Boughton and Duffy share their own musical origin stories
    04:06 — Why kids should play music: it's fun, and good for the brain and social life
    05:58 — Music as self-expression
    06:42 — The social dimension of making music together
    07:42 — How music builds confidence and performance resilience
    09:21 — Music as the only art engaging hearing, sight, and touch at once
    09:52 — Closing thought: music as a bridge between the senses
    11:08 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC
    11:39 — History of the Griswold family and the Lyme Art Colony
    12:54 — Welcoming Peter Steer and Jenny Parsons
    13:13 — Jenny Parsons' path to the museum
    13:34 — Peter Steer's path from Yale to museum director
    14:19 — What a senior curator does
    14:58 — Broadening the collection to include artists of color
    16:48 — Introducing Patchwork: 86 CT artists, four America 250 themes
    17:17 — How the jury and submission process worked
    19:37 — Nearly 300 submissions received
    21:03 — What made a piece selected or not
    23:46 — The choice to skip wall labels — and the companion book
    27:14 — Will Patchwork become a recurring show?
    27:52 — What happens to the art afterward — artists keep it
    28:07 — Sustaining interest over a multi-month run
    30:27 — Built-in word-of-mouth from 86 artists; Meet the Artist Day
    31:00 — The show spans summer into fall through November
    31:39 — On museum benches, pacing, and "museum fatigue"
    35:49 — Tips for introducing kids to art
    36:24 — The "Can You Find Me" gallery game
    37:06 — How the museum trains its docents
    41:07 — Upcoming expansion: new galleries and archive space starting in November
    42:44 — Thanking Peter and Jenny
    42:51 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC
    43:20 — Statewide arts news, Sept 28–Oct 11
    43:27 — Horowitz Piano Series continues
    43:44 — Scott Hartman trombone recital; Acropolis Wind Quintet
    44:01 — Weekend of orchestral concerts statewide (Oct 2–4)
    44:18 — Bridgeport Symphony: Still's Afro-American Symphony
    45:14 — Hartford Symphony: Brian Deal premieres a new trombone concerto
    46:11 — Yale Symphony Orchestra premieres "The Sky Between," plus Hindemith
    46:34 — Greenwich Symphony: "An American Port of Call"
    47:09 — Theater: Dracula opens at Hartford Stage
    47:23 — TheatreWorks: Little Bear Ridge Road
    48:06 — The Great Gatsby musical at The Bushnell
    48:46 — "What the Critics Say": favorite scathing reviews from music history
    50:12 — Connecticut history: Alice Cogswell and the American School for the Deaf
    51:30 — Closing and preview of October 11th's episode on Bach's St. Matthew Passion

    Sponsored by Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC
    ctartstalk.com
    Show more Show less
    52 min
  • CT Arts Talk: Ep 2 - New Season Kickoff from Yale School of Music

    CT Arts Talk: Ep 2 - New Season Kickoff from Yale School of Music
    13 Sep 2026
    Hosts William Boughton and Tom Duffy open the new season from the orchestra rehearsal room at Yale School of Music, sharing memories of the space and a look at the school's history, alumni, and mission.The episode features two guest conversations. Evan Yionoulis, the new Dean of the David Geffen School of Drama and artistic director of Yale Repertory Theater, discusses her path from student director to leading both institutions, and previews the Rep's upcoming season, including a new production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and the world premiere of Elektra in America.Renowned organist James O'Donnell, who directed music for the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother and the wedding of Prince William and Katherine, talks about his path from Scotland to Cambridge to Westminster Abbey, and what brought him to Yale's Institute of Sacred Music.The episode also includes a statewide arts calendar for September 14–29, a "Composer Speaks" segment with Katherine Balch on her piece Musica Pyralis, and a Connecticut history note on Hiram Bingham II's discovery of Machu Picchu.Sponsored by Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC. Recorded at Yale School of Music.https://bagleystrategic.com/https://www.ctartstalk.com/directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production00:00 — Intro: William Boughton and Tom Duffy welcome viewers to the new season00:21 — Summer catch-up and season anticipation01:00 — Setting the scene: this week's episode comes from New Haven02:05 — Recap of the season-opening episode at Hartford Stage, and introduction to this week's location03:06 — Inside the Adams Center for Musical Arts and the Yale School of Music: history, acceptance rates, notable alumni, and past masterclass guests04:39 — Sponsor message: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC05:14 — Guest introductions: Evan Yionoulis (Dean, David Geffen School of Drama; Artistic Director, Yale Repertory Theater) and James O'Donnell (organist)05:46 — Interview with Evan Yionoulis begins: her path from student director to Yale College to a career in theater08:54 — What draws her to directing, and how she works with actors and designers12:20 — On holding the dual role of dean and artistic director16:02 — Previewing the Yale Rep's upcoming season, starting with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and its connection to August Wilson's history at Yale19:05 — Elektra in America, a new Yale Rep commission20:53 — Rounding out the season: a new adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull, Cascadia on the Hudson, and Watch Me Walk21:44 — Thanking Evan and wrapping the interview22:00 — Statewide arts news for September 14–2922:17 — Emanuel Ax opens the Horowitz Piano Series22:39 — Vista Quartet's multimedia performance on climate change22:57 — Ellington Jazz Series featuring Jeff Fuller23:19 — New Haven's orchestra season kicks off: New Haven Philharmonia and New Haven Symphony Orchestra24:47 — Heads-up: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at Yale Rep and Dracula at Hartford Stage24:59 — Yale University Art Gallery's exhibition, Keeping Alive the Remembrance25:50 — Launch of "The Composer Speaks" series, featuring Katherine Balch on her piece Musica Perales28:32 — Introduction of guest James O'Donnell29:32 — James O'Donnell's early life: Scotland, Essex, and discovering the organ32:20 — His path through the Royal College of Music and Cambridge35:19 — Life as organ scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge39:47 — Career at Westminster Cathedral and the move to Westminster Abbey43:06 — Reflecting on performing at royal occasions, including state funerals and royal weddings47:36 — A typical day as Director of Music at Westminster Abbey52:57 — What brought him to Yale's Institute of Sacred Music57:41 — Preview of his October 18th organ recital51:03 — Yale Consort and its weekly choral services at Christ Church New Haven52:53 — Upcoming performance of the St. John Passion in Salt Lake City56:00 — Excerpt from James O'Donnell's 2024 organ recital performing Vidas' Sixth Symphony58:00 — Little-known Connecticut fact: Hiram Bingham II and the discovery of Machu Picchu59:27 — Sponsor message: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC59:33 — Closing and preview of the next episode from the Florence Griswold Museum
    Show more Show less
    1 hr
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet