EMA Artist Interview with Annalisa Pappano of the Catacoustic Consort

by Amanda Vail

This month, I was fortunate enough to speak with The Catacoustic Consort's Director, Annalisa Pappano. Catacoustic is a chamber group based out of Cincinnati, and presents a range of vocal and instrumental music from the Renaissance to the Baroque period.

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EMA: The 2010-2011 season is your 10th anniversary season--congratulations! Do you have any advice to share with other groups regarding achieving such longevity?

AP: Don't take things personally. There will be ups and downs. As long as they balance each other out, you are doing pretty well. I had to learn to not take things personally, too. Being told "no" happens much more than "yes." Hang on to the successes (audience testimonials, magical concerts, etc), and learn to let go of the negatives (grant rejections, poor attendances, etc).

EMA: What do you look forward to in the years ahead?

AP: It has been a dream to develop an early music community here in Cincinnati. It is finally happening. Michael Maniaci, Baroque opera singer, moved to Cincinnati from NYC last December. In addition to Larry Brown (lute maker) and James Campbell (harpsichord maker), there is a community of enthusiastic players here. We now have a triple harp player (soon to be performing in a Baroque opera near you!), and some of my viol students are really taking off--giving recitals and going to Conclave. I am looking forward to a new electric energy in the community about playing and hearing more early music.

EMA: Tell us a little bit about how you personally discovered the Viola da Gamba. What makes it special to you?

AP: I discovered the viol when I was a teenager at Interlochen Arts Camp with Mark Cudek and Ann Marie Morgan. It was so much fun, and I felt like I found my voice in this instrument and its music. Unfortunately, the IAC doesn't have a youth early music program anymore, but it generated a lot of today's professional early music performers.

EMA: Your Consort seems highly devoted to building your community, from musical education to involving businesses. Can you comment on your involvement in Cincinnati? And how do you bring what you do to a larger audience?

AP: Community involvement is so important; it was stressed from day one, when I began Catacoustic, mentored by the Fine Arts Fund (now ArtsWave). It is central to Catacoustic's mission as a nonprofit, and I feel that it has contributed to a sense of family, community, and ownership in our audience. I don't think in terms of bringing a product to a larger audience. I think of making what we do relevant to the people we serve. If this is successful, a natural consequence will be to reach a larger audience.

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For more information on The Catacoustic Consort, visit their website at www.catacoustic.com. For a full listing of EMA Member Concerts in honor of our 25th Anniversary, click here.