This is Fresh Air, I'm Terry Gross.

My guest, Yanikna Zasegain, won two Grammys this month.

He's the music and artistic director and conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra

and the music director and conductor of the Metropolitan Opera.

He also continues to lead the orchestra, Metropolitan, and Montreal where he's from.

One Grammy was for the Met's recording of the new Terrence Blanchard Opera,

Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which made history as the first opera by a black composer

to be presented by the Met.

The other Grammy was for best classical vocal performance featuring duets

with opera star Renee Fleming and Yanik at the piano.

Last year he won a Grammy with the Philadelphia Orchestra for a recording of two symphonies

by composer Florence Price.

In 1933 she became the first black woman to have her music played by a major American orchestra.

Last week, the mayor of Philadelphia presented a declaration commemorating Philly Love's Yanik Week

in celebration of him extending his contract with the Philadelphia Orchestra for four more years.

He is not only a great conductor, he has a gift for explaining what's technically happening in music

that translates into deep emotions.

So I'm happy to say he's made a playlist for us of music he loves that's inspired him.

It includes pop music as well as classical and of course, I'll be asking him to talk about each passage that he features

from that list of recordings.

Yanik, welcome back to Fresh Air, it is so great to have you back on our show.

Congratulations on the Grammys, congratulations and thank you for re-upping on that contract.

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