Proust Questionnaires

Ara Gregorian

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Definitely Beethoven! There are certainly other great ones (Bach, Mozart, Schumann…), but every time I hear a piece by Beethoven I am brought back to the same conclusion.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? I’m going to cheat – The 16 Beethoven Quartets!  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? It’s baseball season, so as many MLB games as I can, and Divorce Attorney Shin which is a wonderfully quirky and poignant Korean drama.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Fantasy baseball and great pizza.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’m going to cheat here again – I can’t pick one, but I love going on YouTube and listening to recordings of historical violinists – Heifetz, Milstein, Elman, Thibaud, Ferras, young Menuhin, and the list goes on…   WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Watching my son, Teo, learn and be happy, and spending time with both Teo and Hye-Jin!  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Listening to a lifeless musical performance.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A Utahraptor – It would be fun to go back in time too.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? A baseball general manager.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? In front of the computer working on Four Seasons. 🙂  WHAT PIECE ON THE SEASON OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? The Beethoven piano quartet. I have not played this in many years and think it is so fresh, charming, and beautiful. 

Rieko Aizawa & Jesse Mills

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? JESSE: We have to be chameleons, doing what we do…and so I genuinely feel like a number of different composers could take the top prize on a given day.  One day I might answer Bach, another it could be Schoenberg! After practicing this piano quartet today that we’re about to play together, I’d say for me it’s Faure. What a genius. RIEKO: Mozart has always been a great inspiration to me!  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? JESSE: Again, it’s hard to say one piece that could satisfy me completely on a desert island. But some top contenders could be Bach Goldberg Variations or Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time. RIEKO: There are many possible works that could fall into the “favorite” category:  Schubert cello quintet and Bach Brandenburg Concerto #6.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? JESSE: Locked Up Abroad on National Geographic. RIEKO: All seasons of Sex and the City.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? JESSE & RIEKO: Chablis.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? JESSE: John Coltrane, A Love Supreme. RIEKO: Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? JESSE: I am happy playing this music for a living. RIEKO: Agree.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? RIEKO: A beagle. What an incredible sense of smell!  Jesse is not answering, but I think he resembles a golden retriever.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? JESSE: I’m not saying I’m necessarily accomplished at this, but I enjoy fixing things around the house…super? RIEKO: Employee at Ladurée in Paris.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? JESSE: In the kitchen. RIEKO: Citarella market in our neighborhood…both shopping and window shopping.  WHAT PIECE ON THE SEASON OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? JESSE: Faure Quartet in G Minor! What incredible harmonies… RIEKO: I’ll second that!

Colin Carr

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Whichever one I happen to be playing at the moment.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? Same.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? I binge on alcohol and sugar.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? That is my guilty secret.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Beatles, Help!  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Family and friends.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? No music.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Elephant, I would never forget.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Soccer player.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? Outdoors.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Seeing my friends David and Sydney Womack.  WHAT PIECE ON THE MUSES & INSPIRATIONS PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? Brahms Clarinet Trio.  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? Playing with great musicians.

Michael Kannen

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? These days I seem to be getting hooked on K-dramas a lot. Currently, I’m watching Little Women, about three sisters who come into a large sum of money that may or may not be rightfully theirs. In general, the stories and the acting are amazing in these Korean shows. Highly entertaining, but still smart and totally absorbing.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? There can only be one answer to this question: ice cream. It is the greatest pleasure. You’re supposed to feel guilty eating it. But I don’t. So maybe it’s not actually a guilty pleasure. Maybe it’s just a pleasure, pure and simple. Can this still count as my answer? If not, then I would say my guilty pleasure is not feeling guilty about eating ice cream. I feel kind of guilty about not feeling guilty, but none of it keeps me from eating ice cream whenever possible. IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Since we’re looking for an album here, and not a “piece of music,” I’m going to have to go non-classical. Stevie Wonder, Innervisions. Hands down the best ever.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? For six months of the year, the answer, unequivocally, is watching baseball. Baltimore Orioles baseball, in particular. I follow every single one of their 162 games (and this year, probably more!!!). On the Orioles’ days off, I will watch other teams play. The best day of the year: opening day. The saddest day of the year: the day after the World Series is over. Give me baseball, or give me death.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Watching the Orioles while listening to Stevie Wonder and eating ice cream.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? The six months of the baseball offseason with an ice cream supply chain problem.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’m already an animal.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? I would love to try being a billionaire venture capitalist. Do I need to explain this one?

Alan Kay

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Still Beethoven, I think. His late quartets especially get me.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? I can’t pick just one!  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? I’ve been watching the Netflix Roman Empire series, having been to Italy recently and had my interest in ancient Rome reignited. It’s great! My wife and I are watching Suits together—sort of fun.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Gray’s Papaya in New York City—hot dogs with everything! But only once a year, I’m afraid…  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I love the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane record, and I love Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. In the classical arena, I’d settle for the Cleveland Quartet’s late Beethoven quartet recording.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? How nice it would be to eat what I want whenever I want it, without worrying about how it would affect me . . .  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Sitting in traffic; waiting in lines. HATE!  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? I miss math and have a little fantasy of teaching middle school or high school math.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? In front of my computer, trying to keep up with everything else—or playing backgammon on my phone.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Four Seasons, of course.  WHAT PIECE ON THE CONTRASTS PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? It’ll be fun to play the Freylakh movement from the Schoenfield Trio, but everything on the program is going to be fun with these guys.  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? What’s not to love?

Hye-Jin Kim

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? It’s never only one composer consistently but at different times, it is always one of Bach, Mozart and Schubert.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? This is impossible for me to answer….  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? I am looking for one, currently. Any suggestions? A recent favorite is a Korean show called The Light In Your Eyes.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Binge watching!  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would make a very lengthy compilation recording of my favorite recordings, which would include lots of Mozart, Schubert, Schumann lieder, violinist David Nadien, Ella Fitzgerald, the Bach C Major Solo Violin Sonata among others.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Being in the moment with family, music and food.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Not being in the moment with family, music and food.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I think that would be a baby koala.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? I would love to create and be a curator for children’s library and art gallery.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? In the kitchen.  WHAT PIECE ON THE BRILLIANCE OF FIVE PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? I’m excited about the Brahms Viola quintet in F Major as it is the work I haven’t performed in a while.

Maria Lambros

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER?Tough question, but I guess I’d have to say Beethoven because of the 16 extraordinary string quartets – a violist’s bread and butter!  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? Another tough question, but I’ll say Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro – everything about life and being human is encapsulated in that work.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? “The Bear,” but am eagerly waiting for Season 2 of “Severance.”  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Binging on Domino’s pizza late at night with my family after a Baltimore Orioles victory.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I think the St. Matthew Passion with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic would do the trick.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Sitting in Camden Yards watching baseball with my husband and son – it’s our “happy place.”  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Families being separated from each other at a border/war, etc. Unimaginable.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A snail – I’d like to know how it feels to move really slowly for a change!  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? I’d love to be a philanthropist with tons of money to give away to arts organizations and small nonprofits.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? Running my own nonprofit called Our Joyful Noise Baltimore, which brings live music to underserved communities and people facing challenging situations in Baltimore.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Seeing all of the wonderful friends we’ve made over the years through Four Seasons. And the NC springtime is always so beautiful and refreshing.  WHAT PIECE ON THE BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MOZART & MENDELSSOHN PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? I can’t possibly choose because every piece on the program is magical!  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? It is always a joy playing with the Cooperstown Quartet and the other fabulous musicians. Ara Gregorian is a huge inspiration to me and I always learn so much from him. I also love how engaged Four Seasons is with the community and how the community “loves on” Four Seasons right back!

Adam Neiman

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? I don’t have a single favorite, as there are just so many wonderful composers whose works inspire me!  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? Like with “favorite composer,” I could not possibly select one favorite musical work.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? None – I’m too busy with work and fitness!  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? With good humor and in all honesty, I say here that I feel no guilt about any of the pleasures I take in life, which include music, films, books, fitness, and cats.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? The music playing in my head.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Fulfilling my function and potential.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Not fulfilling my function or potential.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Domestic (and highly pampered) cat.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Exercise scientist.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? At the computer or in the gym.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? The incredible colleagues that Ara brings to Four Seasons!  WHAT PIECE ON THE CONTRASTS PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? The Bartok Contrasts.  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? Ara and the musicians who grace the Four Seasons stages.

Raman Ramakrishnan

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Tie between Bach and Beethoven.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? Beethoven String Quartet Op. 130/133.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? Curb Your Enthusiasm.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Doughnuts.  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Abbey Road.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Being with my son on a mountain top on a beautiful clear day.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Being unprepared for a rehearsal and feeling the ire of my colleagues.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Elephant.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Writer of short stories and novels.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? Out for a run.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Running along the Tar River Greenway.  WHAT PIECE ON THE BRILLIANCE OF FIVE PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? Four Seasons always puts the music first and takes wonderful care of its musicians; we feel welcomed into the community at ECU and in Greenville and are able to rehearse, spend time with each other, and interact with students in a relaxed yet purposeful way. It’s always a ton of fun, it’s always intense, and it always feels artistically and personally fulfilling.

Marcy Rosen

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Close between Beethoven and Bach, but Schumann and Brahms are right up there.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? Any of the Beethoven String Quartets and the slow movement of the Chopin Cello Sonata.  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? The Diplomat.  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Cookies…..crunchy.   IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Hard to say, but it would likely have to be Bach.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Playing music with amazing colleagues.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Not playing music with amazing colleagues!!!!  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A cat. I adore cats and can’t live without them.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Being a writer, not that you could tell that from this questionnaire!  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? In front of my computer working on my festival.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Playing with amazing colleagues and visiting with the people with whom I have become close to over the years of performing here.  WHAT PIECE ON THE SEASON OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? Hard to say! I love the Fauré and I’ve never played the Beethoven—so very excited to play both pieces!  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? Ara Gregorian and his dedication to the Festival, his loyalty to the artists he invites, and the incredible warmth and hospitality of the hosts and audience that welcomes us to Greenville.

Thomas Sauer

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSER? Tied between Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL WORK? That’s like asking who is my favorite child – impossible to answer!  WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU BINGING CURRENTLY? None (but my wife wants this to change).  WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? Ice cream (only became guilty after age 50 or so).  IF YOU COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE ALBUM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would try to construct an album in my head, so as to be able to change it upon repeated listening.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS? Extra time on my hands.  WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF MISERY? Insufficient time on my hands.  IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A bird.  WHAT PROFESSION OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ATTEMPT? Writer.  WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WHEN YOU AREN’T PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT? Sitting in a chair near my piano, reading or talking to one of my family members.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VISITING NORTH CAROLINA? Seeing the people I have become so fond of over the years.  WHAT PIECE ON THE MUSES & INSPIRATIONS PROGRAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO PERFORM? The Brahms trio, in no small part owing to the memories I have playing the same piece with Colin in France in 2008 (there’s a story there).  WHAT ABOUT FOUR SEASONS HAS KEPT YOU COMING BACK SEASON AFTER SEASON? Ara’s dedication to excellence and all the great people who support and work for Four Seasons.