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Café Conversations

This unique series of informal discussion events, led by Music@Menlo’s artists and distinguished guests, offers audiences a chance to absorb new insights into a variety of topics relating to music and culture. Since their inception at Music@Menlo’s 2004 season, Café Conversations have delved into a fascinating array of music- and arts-related issues from a multitude of perspectives. Previous Café Conversations have included discussions on issues ranging from the state of contemporary music to “Classical Music and Print Media in the Internet Age,” as well as interviews with eminent musicians and visual artists, seminars for young musicians, and an annual poetry reading workshop, led by Encounter leader Michael Steinberg.

2008 Café Conversations

Monday, July 21, 2008
Café Conversation: “Fame is the Spur” with Michael Steinberg
12:00 p.m., TBD

Thursday, July 24, 2008
Café Conversation: “Origins of Modern String Playing: Great Artists of the Early Twentieth Century” with cellist Laurence Lesser
12:00 p.m., TBD

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Café Conversation with
2008 Visual Artist Doug Glovaski
12:00 p.m., Stent Family Hall

Monday, July 28, 2008
Café Conversation: “The Singing Line” with violinist Jorja Fleezanis
12:00 p.m., TBD

Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Café Conversation: “The Conservatory Culture” moderated by pianist Wu Han, with cellist Andrés Díaz, pianist Gary Graffman, violinist Ian Swensen, violinist Erin Keefe, violinist
12:00 p.m., TBD

Thursday, July 31, 2008
Café Conversation: Poetry reading with Michael Steinberg
12:00 p.m., TBD

Saturday, August 2, 2008
Café Conversation: “Exercises to Improve the Musical Imagination” with Bruce Adolphe
12:00 p.m., TBD

Past years’ Café Conversations have included discussions as diverse as “The Link Between Speech and Music” and “Creating a New Music World for Kids and Families,” as well as poetry-reading workshops, interviews with eminent musicians and visual artists, and seminars for young musicians on topics ranging from practice methods to assembling a press kit. This season’s Café Conversations will address a wide variety of topics and provide opportunities for audiences to expand their interaction with festival artists beyond the concert stage.

Each day of the festival (excluding Sundays) features either a master class with the Chamber Music Institute’s young artists or a Café Conversation. Master classes and Café Conversations are offered at noon on the campus of Menlo School. These events are free and open to the public. During the festival season, please consult your festival program book, stop by the Welcome Center at Menlo School, or visit our calendar for a detailed schedule.