Critical Mass

Ludwig Van presents — Critical Mass. A podcast where critics brainstorm current affairs surrounding the performing arts. We also bring in special guests to join in.

#12 — Harry Stafylakis: A Symphony of Prog-Metal and Musical Innovations 04/04/2023

#12 — Harry Stafylakis: A Symphony of Prog-Metal and Musical Innovations Episode 11: Michael Vincent, Paula Citron, and Holly Harris talk to composer, educator and curator Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis about his career, prog-metal, New Amsterdam Records, re-connecting with his Greek roots, and more. To learn more about Harry Stafylakis' amazing work, visit his . /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/26442204

#11 — Joel Ivany and the future of opera 11/25/2022

#11 — Joel Ivany and the future of opera Canadian stage director Joel Ivany joins the podcast this week to chat about producing opera experiences that resonate with our current lives. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/25130934

#10 — A new season begins with a challenge + how a recession might affect the arts 10/25/2022

#10 — A new season begins with a challenge + how a recession might affect the arts Paula, Holly and Michael return after a long summer off to catch up and chat about the new concert season now underway. We ponder why the crowds look a little different this year, plus a new threat of recession on the horizon. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/24801318

#9 —The Arts And Politics Conundrum With Daniel Raiskin 05/30/2022

#9 —The Arts And Politics Conundrum With Daniel Raiskin This month on the podcast Paula, Holly and Michael talk with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra music director Daniel Raiskin about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Big questions are considered, such as whether it is appropriate to ask artists to clarify their politics. Daniel also shares his complex emotions about his home country and the importance of standing up for those who would have their voices eliminated. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/23271863

#8 — RIP Boris Brott With Arthur Kaptainis 04/11/2022

#8 — RIP Boris Brott With Arthur Kaptainis Today we have a bit of a different podcast than we normally do. Guest Arthur Kaptainis joins Paula, Holly and Michael to talk about the tragic passing of renowned Canadian conductor Boris Brott, whose life was taken away in a hit-and-run. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/22760276

#7 — Life As A Composer With Ana Sokolović 03/29/2022

#7 — Life As A Composer With Ana Sokolović Composer Ana Sokolović joins Paula, Holly and Michael to talk about her move to Canada, the importance of play in music-making, life as a composer, and much more. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/22610558

#6 — The Incredible Story Behind Stephen Sondheim’s Canadian Pen Pal 03/08/2022

#6 — The Incredible Story Behind Stephen Sondheim’s Canadian Pen Pal Holly Harris recovers a series of personal letters shared between her father, Neil Harris, and Stephen Sondheim over two decades ago. Paula, Holly and Micheal go through the letters, and try and make sense of what’s written on these pages. We find out where they came from, what’s in them, and why they are so important. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/22372196

#5 — When Artists Go Bad: #MeToo, Cancel Culture, And When To Forgive 12/02/2021

#5 — When Artists Go Bad: #MeToo, Cancel Culture, And When To Forgive Paula, Holly, and Michael have a heated discussion about artists that have had their careers ruined after accusations of wrongdoing. Citing examples by artists Liam Scarlett, Charles Dutoit, James Levine, Placido Domingo, and even Wagner, they soon discover how fraught the path to redemption is. It all ends with them feeling grateful for a return to in-person concerts, lamenting printed concert programs, and doing what Canadians do best – complaining about the weather. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/21356117

#4 with Gustavo Gimeno — The Accidental Conductor 10/22/2021

#4 with Gustavo Gimeno — The Accidental Conductor In this episode, Paula, Holly, and Michael meet the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s conductor Gustavo Gimeno. We chat about his background, his life’s journey moving from a percussionist to a conductor, the road to the TSO, the rise of the international conductor. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/20905847

#3 — What’s In Store For A Second Pandemic Arts Season 09/22/2021

#3 — What’s In Store For A Second Pandemic Arts Season In this episode, Paula, Holly, and Michael dive into a few scenarios for the launch of a second pandemic arts season. They start off talking about programming, hybrid shows, and the trend towards smaller productions. Paula pulls out some stats on what the big arts presenters are doing this year. They then transition into how audiences have been changed by COVID-19, and cite some interesting facts about coughing at concerts. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/20556974

#2 with Richard Ouzounian — The Man Who Does Just About Everything 08/21/2021

#2 with Richard Ouzounian — The Man Who Does Just About Everything In today's episode, Paula, Holly, and Michael are joined by critic and theatre artist Richard Ouzounian. They talk about Richard's background, the state of theatre — past, present and future, diversity in the arts, and the sometimes problematic relationship between critics and publicists. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/20214809

Promo: Critical Mass 07/29/2021

Promo: Critical Mass Paula Citron, Holly Harris and Michael Vincent do their best to explain what this podcast is all about. After a rough start, they finally get it. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/19974101

#1 — Re-opening the Arts, How the Pandemic Shook Arts Journalism & Vaccine Passports 07/20/2021

#1 — Re-opening the Arts, How the Pandemic Shook Arts Journalism & Vaccine Passports In this episode Paula, Holly and Michael talk about the re-opening of the arts and the folly of planning. They also talk about how the pandemic has changed arts journalism and how it continues to respond to the changing times. The idea of vaccine passports is problematic, but also offers a way forward. /episode/index/show/criticalmass/id/19873613

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