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Cedille’s Take 5: Rachel Barton Pine
For this edition of “Take 5” we interview virtuoso violinist and longtime Cedille artist, Rachel Barton Pine. In September, she released her new album with Chicago-based period ensemble Ars Antigua, Vivaldi: the Complete Viola d’Amore Concertos. You can hear excerpts of the album here or watch her live performance on the viola d’amore at this year’s Soiree Cedille here.
1.What is your most recent project and what sparked your interest in it?
RBP: I just released an album of Vivaldi’s complete concertos for viola d’amore, a gorgeous 12-string kind of violin. I’ve been fascinated by this instrument ever since I was a student when I first learned of its existence and that great violinists of the past played it. Getting to know the viola d’amore and playing some of its best repertoire is definitely a dream come true!
2. If you weren’t a composer or a musician, what would you be?
Playing the violin isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. And I can’t possibly say who I’d be if I wasn’t me!
3. Was there a formative moment for you as an artist?
Besides the inspiration of my lessons, playing in church during my earliest years with the violin really helped shape who I am. Regularly playing for worship services as well as in concert halls taught me that the purpose of music and the role of a musician is to share music with others to uplift their spirits. Whether I’m playing on stage, in a school, or in a pub, this is always my goal. It’s why I do what I do.
4. What are you listening to right now?
I’m typing this as my daughter drifts off to sleep. She often requests “the sleepy violin songs” at bedtime, so I’m listening to my own Violin Lullabies album!
5. What makes the Chicago classical music scene unique?
Chicago has as rich and varied a classical music scene as you could possibly want from any great city in the world, deep in tradition, and exciting with new innovations. One thing that I’ve always felt sets us apart is our friendliness – we’re sophisticated yet unpretentious, which I definitely appreciate!
Recommended
Commissioned by Cedille Records specially for our 2025 Emerging Artist Competition winner, oboist Oliver Talukder, as a companion for his Briefly Gorgeous album, Powder is a two-track single of Two Songs for voice, oboe/English horn, and piano by Delfin Demiray, who was Talukder’s classmate at the Curtis Institute of Music. The first song features Chicago mezzo, Sophia Maekawa, while Talukder performs the second song’s special effect and extended technique-infused vocal line himself (as an “overdub”), demonstrating yet another facet of his artistry.
Winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Chicago-born oboist Oliver Talukder makes his solo recording debut with Briefly Gorgeous. Joined by pianist Moriah Trenk, Talukder presents an album inspired by themes of identity, love, family, and belonging. Drawing on his Mexican and Bengali heritage and his Chicago upbringing, the program explores where classical music intersects with Latino and South Asian traditions, creating a musical portrait shaped by Talukder’s unique story.
With the new month comes a new featured playlist on Spotify — or, in this case, a refresh of our Artist Debuts on Cedille playlist, originally created in 2022 to celebrate the inaugural album by the first Emerging Artist Competition winner, saxophonist Julian Velasco.
The update is to celebrate oboist Oliver Talukder, winner of Cedille’s second competition, as well as other artists who have made their Cedille debus since 2022. (Oliver’s track will be added on Friday when his album, Briefly Gorgeous, is released.)
Enjoy Cedille’s Weekly Featured Release.