Welcome to the website of Kenneth Woods: conductor, cellist, author, guitarist and composer. Ken is Principal Conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra‘s subscription concerts, Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra of the Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon and cellist of the string trio Ensemble Epomeo.
In the news
CD Review- Classical Candor on Hans Gal Symphony no. 2, Schumann Symphony no. 4
Maestro Kenneth Woods and his Orchestra of the Swan play both symphonies exceedingly well...this is probably as close as we get in the music to Gal’s private adversities, but Woods does not over dramatize or over sentimentalize it. By the time the finale draws to a close, we recognize, at least in hands of Woods, a memorable and perhaps unfairly under-appreciated work.
Concert Review- Tempo Magazine on The Trumpet Shall Sound
It was gratifying to be given a chance to experience this challenging work in a reading of such heroic panache and fierce dedication: soloist, players and conductor valiantly negotiated the score's fiendish polyrhythms and labyrinthine tempo associations, whilst building a convincing case for it to be regarded as one of Saxton's finest utterances...this event was memorable for the quality of its performances and the boldness of its scheduling in equal measureAvie Release Volume 3 of KW Schumann/Gal cycle
Just Released- Volume 3 in Avie's cycle of the complete symphonies of Hans Gal and Robert Schumann
CD Review- American Record Guide on Spring Sounds, Spring Seas
"The Orchestra of the Swan, a British chamber orchestra, plays with expressive understatement. The warm recording, at a concert, has all the qualities of a studio production. East-West fusions seem immune to the struggles of the classical music scene. This engaging album shows why." American Record Guide
Hans Gal in The Guardian Weekly
Read Anne Midgette's interview with Ken in the Guardian Weekly about using recordings to bring the music Hans Gal and other lost composers back to life
CD Review- IRR Outstanding rating for Orchestra of the Swan Das Lied von der Erde
IRR OUTSTANDING: "This is a most important issue, and all Mahlerians should make its acquisition an urgent necessity"
KW APPOINTED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SERIES
Kenneth Woods has been appointed Artistic Director of the English Symphony Orchestra’s new subscription concert series, succeeding Vernon Handley, who was appointed Principal Conductor in 2007. Woods joins an orchestra with an illustrious history which includes associations with Sir Yehudi Menuhin, notable soloists such as Stephen Isserlis and Nigel Kennedy, and renowned composers including Sir Michael Tippett and Nicholas Maw. The ESO has made dozens of acclaimed recordings, a notable discography which Woods is expected to augment.
CD Review- Audiophile Audition on Bobby and Hans vol. 2 (five stars)
"Woods proves in this recording to be a front rank conductor, capturing the feeling of sorrow and compassion of the symphony... Woods has seized on the essence of this Schumann Symphony. His reading is smooth, grand and exciting and well worth the purchase of this disc. The Gál may take a few hearings to sink in, but the Schumann is right there from the start and one of the best recordings available." FIVE STARS
Gramophone Choice for July- Orchestra of the Swan play Schumann- Symphony no. 2 and Gal- Symphony no. 4
"Woods’s finely wrought interpretation confirms his credentials – if confirmation were needed – as a symphonic conductor of stature... Strongly recommended."
CD Review- RECORDING OF THE MONTH: MusicWeb International, Steve Arloff on Gal/Krasa Complete String Trios
The disc leaves you feeling profoundly moved as well as drained and I can hardly imagine how it must feel to play such music. This is an extremely important musical document on all counts... The Ensemble Epomeo play all four compositions with huge commitment and brilliant flair revealing every nuance in four wonderful works for string trio. In every way this is a fantastic disc that listeners will want to hear again and again.
Today yesterday
Listen in as Ken and Nicholas Kenyon debate the interpretation of Mahler's Fifth Symphony on BBC Radio 4's Today ProgrammeUpcoming projects and performances:
- May 5th- Ken is playing sextets by Brahms and Richard Strauss at the Harborough Collective concert series.
- May 13-14 Ken is recording three works by composer Philip Sawyers, his Cello Concerto, Second Symphony and Concertante for Violin, Piano and Strings, for Nimbus Records with Orchestra of the Swan.
- May 14 Ken conducts Philip Sawyers’ astounding Second Symphony in concert with the Orchestra of the Swan.
- May 25-June 9 Ken is artist-in-residence as both conductor and cellist of Ensemble Epomeo at the Scotia Festival of Music in Halifax. Complete schedule and rep list here.
Latest posts from Ken’s blog, A view from the podium, one of the most popular classical blogs in the world:
- Explore the Score- Brahms Symphony no. 4 in E minor
- Bruckner- Freeing emotion from narcissism
- Spring Term Report Card- January with Ducks and Trombones
- A much-anticipated evening of music
Vintage Vftp posts- a sample of readers’ favorites from the archive of over 1200 blog posts.
Humor:
-
BREAKING- Olympic Athletes to Mime Entire 2012 Games
-
BREAKING- Coalition Government to Introduce “Mahler Licensing Scheme” from 2013
-
Obama announces support for exposition repeats in State of the Union address.
-
BREAKING- Major American Orchestra Appoints Bernstein Hologram as new Music Director
Explore the Score:
-
Explore the Score- Schumann Symphony in D minor
-
Explore the Score- Prokofiev Classical Symphony
- Explore the Score: Shostakovich- Symphony no. 5 in D minor
- Explore the score- Elgar Cello Concerto
