Who or what inspired you to take up the harpsichord, and make it your career?
I was curious, and inspired as a child by the sound of the harpsichord after first hearing it accompany recitatives in Mozart operas on radio broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Who or what were the most important influences on your musical life and career?
I’d say moving to Europe and studying with Gustav Leonhardt was the most important influence on my musical life.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
The necessary continuous ritual of practice.
Which performance/recordings are you most proud of?
The complete Well-Tempered Clavier.
Which particular works do you think you play best?
It’s difficult for me to judge – I hope that I can play in many styles convincingly.
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
It’s usually a mixture of personal choices and music festival criteria.
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
Right now, I enjoy the acoustic at the Abigail Adams house in New York City – it has a perfect acoustic for the harpsichord.
Favourite pieces to perform? Listen to?
I enjoy performing – and sharing- pieces with emotional and psychological depth. I listen to all types of music.
Who are your favourite musicians?
My favorite musicians are the ones that have the ability to fully embody and project the essence of the music that they are performing.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
Usually the last concert performed.
What do you consider to be the most important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?
Be yourself, keep at it and stay focused.
What are you working on at the moment?
Promotion of my new recording of ‘The Well-Tempered Clavier’.
Kenneth Weiss gives a harpsichord recital of transcriptions of Opera and Ballet by Rameauat the Institut français, South Kensington on Sunday 6 April, 11am as part of It’s all About Piano!
Kenneth Weiss was born in New York City where he attended the High School of Performing Arts. After studying with Lisa Goode Crawford at the Oberlin Conservatory he continued with Gustav Leonhardt at the Sweelinck Consertorium in Amsterdam.
From 1990-1993 he was Musical Assistant to William Christie at Les Arts Florissants for numerous opera productions and recordings. He later conducted Les Arts Florissants in ‘Doux Mensonges’ by the chreographer Jiri Kylian at the Paris Opera, and was co-director with William Christie of the first three editions of Les Arts Florissants’ ‘Jardin de Voix’ program.
Kenneth Weiss focuses on recitals, chamber music, teaching and conducting. His most recent recitals include Nuremburg, Montpellier, Barcelona, Dijon, Geneva, Antwerp, the Cite de la musique (Paris), Madrid, La Roque d’Anthéron, Santander, Lisbon, San Sebastian, Innsbruck, Santiago de Compostela, La Chaise-Dieu, La Chaud de Fonds, Bruges and New York. He performs in recital with the violinists Fabio Biondi, Daniel Hope, Monica Huggett and Lina Tur Bonet.
Who or what inspired you to take up the piano, and make it your career?
The Cross-Eyed Pianist 