Jason took a roundabout but awe-inspiring route to his seat as the Principal Timpanist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Not only is he a thoughtful musician, but a multi-patented nanotechnologist to boot. We talk science, timpani, auditions, and more in this episode.
Topics: The Met, Elliot Carter pieces for timpani, James Levine, Star Trek
Topics: The Met, Elliot Carter pieces for timpani, James Levine, Star Trek
0:00 Intro and hello
1:02 Current operas at the Met
3:20 Nanotechnology
6:28 Strass’ “Elektra”
8:41 Lucas Garner: Following the news of Maestro Levine’s retirement from the orchestra due to health issues, can you speak on what it was like to work with him?
14:23 Jade Hails: What’s the difference between playing timpani in a symphony versus playing timpani in an opera?
22:30 Elliott Carter’s “Eight Pieces for Four Timpani”
35:14 Jason’s unorthodox path to a career in the Met
39:55 Solo timpani repertoire … or not
46:22 Deliberate practice
53:14 Recording as a method of deliberate practice
1:02:33 Hobbies
1:05:27 Nanolithography
1:07:38 Wrap
