In One Take: The Art of Christina Petrowska Quilico

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

02/22/26

•

90m

About

Comments

Featured In

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

Previous Episode

Elvis, LBJ & the Golden Age of Broadcasting — Hank Moore Stories

February 12

•

93m

Hank Moore became a radio DJ at just ten years old, then went on to influence the broadcasting industry. You’ll hear about his experiences interviewing Elvis Presley, working as an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and earning two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From payola to the negative effects of the deregulation of broadcasting, he offers valuable perspectives on the music industry. Hank has crossed paths with legends like Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra, and Burt Bacharach, and lived through many moments that defined popular culture. We discussed his Pulitzer Prize nominated "Pop Music Legends" and some of the many highlights from his varied and fascinating career in broadcasting and business.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. t’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast and other suggested episodes. Show Notes with All the Links!

Hank Moore website

(00:00) Intro

(01:53) Hank Moore’s books, celebrities, radio, Lady Bird Johnson, Lee Iacocca, Bing Crosby

(19:16) Elvis Presley, André Previn, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

(30:31) advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, radio industry

(49:18) linked episodes, ways to support this podcast

(50:02) Ed Sullivan, Mitch Miller, popular music history

(58:54) Payola, meeting Burt Bacharach, McCarthy black list

(01:08:39) stars discovered on talent shows, music industry problems

(01:20:40) non-profit work, business and political work

(01:27:45) Carole King, creative process

Next Episode

Vienna Teng on Songwriting, Climate Action & Few of a Kind’s New Album

March 3

•

77m

It was so inspiring to have this conversation with the multi-talented singer-songwriter and pianist Vienna Teng .

In this episode we’re featuring the band Few of a Kind’s new album, a beautiful collaboration with Vienna, Brandon Ridenour, Ben Russell, Yousif Sheronick, and Andrew Gutauskas. Vienna takes us inside their creative process with excerpts from each track. She also reflects on what truly makes a great song, how her identity evolved with parenthood, and how she has connected with audiences through her climate action workshops. Vienna also shared insights into two other brilliant recent projects, her unique album We’ve Got You and “The Riversitter” after Dave Eggers’ “The Museum of Rain”.

You’ll hear the charming story of how she actually found her stage name, some highlights including opening for Joan Baez, performing on the Late Show with David Letterman and especially what it felt like to return to touring and recording after a ten-year hiatus after working in environmental sustainability.

Full Show Notes for all the links: Vienna Teng's albums, website, Songwriter podcast, linked episodes with Gabriel Kahane, Jean Rohe, Ida Gillner, Fern Lindzon and Diane Nalini and my Newsletter, Merch store and how you can buy me a coffee to support this series!

photo: Sherwin Lainez

(00:00) Intro

(02:21) Stage name story, David Letterman and early fame, working at Cisco

(07:09) Few of a Kind band, with clip track 1 “Transcontinental 1:30 AM”

(11:49) life of a singer, Ben Russel with clip of track 4 Two Steps From the Blues

(18:31) creative process Few of a Kind, Octavian studios

(20:52) environmental sustainability, decision to go back to university

(28:07) Few of a Kind, clip of track 2 Alone, Brandon Ridenour

(31:32) crafting a life in music with social impact

(34:12) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(35:02) what makes a great song, Asian American identity Alex Wong

(42:31) climate action workshops connected to concerts