by Kenneth Woods | Oct 9, 2006 | A view from the podium, Favorite posts
Almost all composers tend to get misrepresented by history in one way or another. The great modern example is the “debate” about Shostakovich, in which many American academics continue to promote a portrait of the man at odds with descriptions of him by all his...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 7, 2006 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
I’m heading into the back country this morning. Twice every year we take the youth orchestra here on a weekend retreat. Instead of heading for a private school built around an ancient mansion (as we have in Kent), the OES Prep Orch heads into the nearby mountains,...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 6, 2006 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts, Performing Life
I’ve been thinking this week about the whole question of the conductor’s bedside manner. It’s always been my belief that a conductor should choose his or her tone and approach and not let their way of working be too influenced by their work situation. I remember...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 5, 2006 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
We’ve thought from time to time about moving to Portland, Oregon. It’s a famously nice place, and it would be very convenient for my work with the Rose City Chamber Orchestra, who are based here, and the OES which is not exactly next door, but Portland is the nearest...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 3, 2006 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
This post from Helen Radice is a nice post-script to my piece last week on the rhythms of work. I’m afraid Allan Bennett has it completely wrong. There are always maybe one or two cancers in an orchestra who will exploit every possible loophole to get out of work. I...
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