In One Take: The Art of Christina Petrowska Quilico

I was honoured to have this opportunity to talk to the pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico about her extraordinary life in music and the arts. She shared wonderful and moving stories about Ann Southam, Louis Quilico, Pierre Boulez, Jacques Isrealievitch, and her legendary teacher Rosina Lhévinne.

I was really struck by Christina’s open-minded attitude throughout her long career to learning new music, culminating in almost 70 brilliant and powerful albums so far; it’s amazing to learn that most of her recordings are recorded live, in one take. Christina also shared how meaningful it is to her to be a mother and grandmother, as well as respected academic; she’s Professor Emerita and Senior Scholar at York University in Toronto. Among many honours, she has been appointed to the Order of Canada, and the Royal Society of Canada.

Her curiosity and creative energy seem limitless; she’s a poet and visual artist, she’s studied Ancient Egyptian culture, and she lives her life spiked with humour and a down-to-earth attitude. We are also including excerpts from several of Christina’s albums and performances including music by Mozart, Art Tatum, Ann Southam, Meredith Monk and David Jaeger, all detailed in the timestamps, with links in the show notes.

The show notes will also bring you to: Christina's website, linked episodes you'll enjoy, my podcast newsletter for exclusive information about upcoming guests, podcast merch, the YouTube video, and all the albums featured on this podcast!

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) Ann Southam

(07:29) clip fo Ann Southam’s Glass Houses Revisited #5 from concert; video linked in show notes

(09:09) Ann Southam

(11:29) mindset for recording

(17:11) Jacques Israelievitch Mozart project with

(22:07) clip of Mozart Sonata no. 32 in B flat major, K. 454, 3rd movement Allegretto, album linked in show notes

(23:20) Louis Quilico, opera

(30:38) visual art, synesthesia

(35:32) Other linked episodes

(36:31) learning so much new music, Pierre Boulez stories

(45:55) first husband Michel-Georges Brégent, David Jaeger

(49:07) clip of Takemitsu Les Yeux Clos from Games of the Night Wind, album linked in show notes

(50:12) upcoming projects, career path, Rosina Lhévinne

(56:30) impact of sexism on her career

(0:01:13) audio clip Paris by Meredith Monk from Retro Americana, album linked in show notes

(01:02:24) Retro Americana album, with clip of I’ll Never Be the Same by Art Tatum

(01:05:22) Rzewski, clip of Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues from Retro Americana

(01:06:28) David Jaeger, arts funding, CBC

(01:12:21) piano repertoire and technique, Jeaneane Dowis

(01:16:39) learning music, funny story, Vintage Americana album

(01:20:44) clip of Fantasy Pieces - Allegro Minacciando by David Del Tredici from Vintage Americana)

(01:21:36) living a creative life, mindset, studying Ancient Egypt