December 3, 2007 (Vol. 6, No. 8)

'Conversations' Goes to Europe

Professor William Hoffman (l.) talks with Kent Nagano and Unsuk Chin while the crew sets up.

Professor William Hoffman (Journalism, Communication, and Theatre) and Jerry Barnard (manager, user and program support services, Information Technology Resources) recently returned from a trip to Munich, Germany, where they taped a special episode of "Conversations" with Kent Nagano, musical director of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, composer Unsuk Chin, and her librettist, American author David Henry Hwang. It is the first overseas trip for the Lehman-produced television interview series, now in its sixth season.

Born in Berkeley, California, Nagano succeeded Zubin Mehta at the Bavarian State Opera. Nagano began his career with the Opera Company of Boston, as assistant conductor to Sarah Caldwell, and later on became the conductor of the Berkeley Symphony, his first music directorship. Since then, he has been music director of the Opéra de Lyon, principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, principal conductor and artistic director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and principal conductor and music director of the Los Angeles Opera.

Chin, who was born in Seoul, Korea, studied piano and music theory beginning at an early age. Her compositions have been performed at festivals and concerts in Europe, the Far East, and the United States. Her most widely performed work is Akrostichon-Wortspiel for solo soprano and ensemble. For "Conversations," Chin discussed her latest work—Alice in Wonderland.

"Conversations" features interviews with major theater and musical figures of our times, such as Peter Gelb, the dynamic new head of the Metropolitan Opera, and legendary playwrights Edward Albee, Lanford Wilson, and Arthur Laurents. Guests sit on a sparse stage set with two chairs, a coffee table, and a signature bouquet of red roses—and talk about their professional experiences in a casual, free-flowing discussion.

Part I of the latest interview will air over CUNY-TV on January 23 at 10:30 a.m. and will be repeated that day at 3:30 p.m. and on January 27 at 8:30 a.m. Part II will air on January 30 at 10:30 a.m. and be repeated that day at 3:30 p.m.

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