Harmonically Speaking

My guest today is Head of Keyboard and piano professor at Cagliari Conservatoire, Giulio Biddau.Born in Cagliari, Sardinia, he studied there, in Paris, Rome, and Berlin and is a prize winner at numerous international competitions, including Aix-en-Provence, Valencia, Terni, and Tbilisi and performs all over the world.Most recently he has been pursuing a doctorate in musicology in Zurich and Graz, focusing on Domenico Scarlatti, and the historically informed performance of his works. This research has led to a recent cd entitled “Scarlatti to Scarlatti” where he recorded the same sonatas from two different editions - comparing and contrasting the Hans von Bulow edition of 1864 and the later, critical 1978 version of Emilio Fadini. Always curious to delve into the world of music research and historically informed practice, and wishing to learn more about Domenico Scarlatti, in July 2025 whilst at the Klaipeda Piano Masters academy in Lithuania, I sat down with Giulio, where I began by asking how he started playing piano….

My guest today is opera director Caroline Staunton.Growing up in Dublin, her path to the Staatsoper in Berlin was an unusual one, first studying English and Philosophy in UCD, followed by a masters there in Drama studies.Whilst teaching English in Gonzaga College, and directing theatre productions, the allure of opera became ever stronger, leading her to take a year out and intern in Berlin and Salzburg, before landing a job in Theater Freiburg, and then at the Staatsoper in BerlinEager to know more about her journey, what the day to day life of an opera director is like, and the important role opera and the arts play in challenging outdated attitudes, I sat down with Caroline where I began by asking what first drew her to classical music and opera....

My guest today is composer and former Professor of Composition and Theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Frank Corcoran.Hailing from Borrisokane in County Tipperary, he was always drawn to music, and as a young child wanting to record traditional Irish music created his own method of notation, before going on to study in Maynooth, Rome, and finally in Berlin with Boris Blacher. In the subsequent years, he found his voice, developed his technique of macro counterpoint, premiered his first symphony in Vienna, and took up a number of teaching posts, in Berlin, Stuttgart, and ultimately in Hamburg in 1983. Despite being based in Germany and Italy for the last 5 decades, his deep connection to Ireland and its language, history, and heritage, has remained and influences and informs many of his works. Keen to know more about his story and creative process, the challenges of being a composer in the Ireland of 50 years ago and how things have changed I sat down with Frank, where I began by asking about his first experience of music…

My guest today is Professor of Viola at the Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Neasa Ní Bhriain. Hailing from Dublin, she started out playing violin and in 2008 moved to Rostock in Germany to study it. However she had always been drawn to the viola, the critical middle voice of the string quartet, and during her studies there switched to it, before completing further studies in Leipzig and Weimar and then winning the position of solo viola in the Staatskapelle Weimar in 2018.A passionate exponent of contemporary music and its creative soundscapes, she combines her work as a performer and teacher with a zeal for composition and improvisation, and has written and performed numerous works for viola and pedals.Curious to know more about her journey, the challenges of switching instruments, and her approach to guiding the next generation of musician, I sat down with Neasa where I began by asking how she starting playing music….

My guest today is director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and current President of the European Association of Conservatoires, Deborah KelleherA native of Dublin, she studied music in Trinity College Dublin, later becoming a teaching fellow in UCD, whilst also teaching in the then DIT College of Music, and working in FM3, the precursor to RTE Lyric FM.However, her sights were always set on leadership, which compelled her to study an MBA and in 2010, in the midst of the Great Recession she became director of the RIAM. Under her stewardship, the Academy has became an associate college of Trinity College Dublin, curricula has been reformed, and most noticeably, the city centre campus has been redeveloped, doubling its teaching and practice studios, and adding new rehearsal and performances spaces, including the Whyte Recital Hall.Curious to know more about her journey, the unseen reality of leading an artistic institution, and the challenges facing conservatoires and artists in the future,, I sat down with Deborah where I began by asking how she started playing music…

My guest today is superstar jazz clarinettist, Giacomo Smith.Born in Italy, Giacomo grew up in upstate New York and initially wanted to learn saxophone, but was persuaded to start with clarinet, and went on to study clarinet classically in Boston University and McGill in Montreal. However, the lure of jazz was always there, inspired by both his mothers affinity for Dave Brubeck, and a roommate who loaned him a cd of Hubert Rostaing playing with Django Reinhardt.This sparked an interest in the early days of jazz, and its unique soundworld, and later let to him founding a band called Kansas Smittys, playing music inspired by that era.Famed for his elegant playing and effortless vituosity, he frequently performs worldwide and is in high demand as a soloist, collaborator, and record producer, and in early 2025, when Giacomo was in Ireland, performing with Guy Barker and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, we sat down to talk, where I began by asking him when he started playing clarinet…

Bringing Season 1 of Harmonically Speaking to a close is Irish pianist, Fiachra Garvey.Growing up in the countryside in Wicklow, his two passions are music and animals, and on leaving school he faced a dilemma regarding choice of career, studying both music and veterinary for a year before deciding on former at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.Upon completing his masters with first class honours and distinction, at the Royal Academy of Music in London,, he faced that all too familiar challenge of transitioning from student to professional.Already a laureate of numerous international competitions, he mastered this, building on a successful career as a solo pianist and chamber musician, by founding two highly regarded festivals - the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival and Classical Vauxhall.Wishing to gain an insight into his career path, the challenges it entails, and how he thinks musicians need to evolve in an ever more competitive environment, I sat down to talk with Fiachra, where I began by asking how he came to pick piano….

My guest today is the CEO of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Gerard KeenanA native of Dublin, he learned trumpet through the VEC at the College of Music in Dublin, later joining the Army No. 1 band before transitioning into management.During his time at the Irish Chamber Orchestra, they have built incredible partnerships, most notably with Jorg Widmann, and toured the globe, performing in many of the worlds greatest concert halls and festivals.However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, and his time at the helm has also involved navigating many challenges, including the severe fallout from the Great Recession which saw funding and staff numbers cut, and more recently the Global Pandemic which saw tours and engagements cancelled.Curious to find out more about these partnerships and challenges, what running a highly successful ensemble entails, and his thoughts on the future of classical music, I sat down with Gerry where I began by asking about his position as CEO, and how he ended up there….