Brad Opland

Exploring Chamber Music 3: Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D Major

Welcome to Exploring Chamber Music with Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians. This Contrabass Conversations special series highlights chamber music that includes the double bass. Learn more about the Chicago Chamber Musicians by visiting www.chicagochambermusic.org.

We’d like to extend special thanks to both Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians for making this series possible. Listen to all Exploring Chamber Music episodes here, and hear Brad Opland in a Contrabass Conversations interview here.

We will be featuring the Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D Major on today’s program. This work was recorded on March 26, 2006 at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. A performer roster and biographical information about the musicians is available here.

Exploring Chamber Music 2: Dvorak Serenade and Schubert String Quintet

We will be featuring two pieces on the program today. The first is the Wind Serenade in D minor by Antonin Dvorak. This piece is scored for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 3 horns, cello, and bass. It was recorded live on April 23rd, 2007 by the Chicago Chamber Musicians for their 20th Anniversary Season Finale and features:

Michael Henoch and Alex Klein – oboe
Larry Combs and Julie DeRoche – clarinet
Dennis Michael and Lewis Kirk – bassoon
Gail Williams, Jeremiah Frederick, Gabrielle Webster – horn
Katinka Kleijn, cello
Brad Opland, bass

The second piece on our program today is the String Quintet in C Major by Franz Schubert. This piece was recorded live in 2004.

Exploring Chamber Music 1: Music of Haydn and Rossini

This Contrabass Conversations special series is made possible by the Chicago Chamber Musicians and Brad Opland. Learn more about this fine ensemble at www.chicagochambermusic.org. This episode features music for cello and bass by Haydn and Rossini performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians Brad Opland and Gary Stucka. They perform the Haydn Divertimento in D Major and the Rossini Duetto on this installment. This performance was recorded live in 2004.

Exploring Chamber Music is a multi-part series highlighting world-class performances of chamber music featuring the double bass.

CBC 48: Brad Opland interview 2 and Tyler Abbott music

This week’s Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist Brad Opland. Last time we heard from Brad (on episode 37), we talked about his experiences in the Minnesota Orchestra and Chicago Symphony, plus some of the most memorable highlights from Brad’s performing career. This episode we discuss Brad’s experiences performing with the Berlin Philharmonic plus performing with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and some general advice for bassists.

We also hear from University of Oregon double bass instructor Tyler Abbott and the Toby Koenigsberg Trio.

Enjoy!

CBC 37: Brad Opland interview

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with Chicago Symphony bassist Brad Opland. In addition to the interview, you’ll get a chance to hear Brad perform on the double bass in his own arrangement of Ibert’s Quatre Chansons de Don Quichotte for bassoon and bass and hear Brad perform on the electric bass in his south side Chicago church. Enjoy!