by Kenneth Woods | Aug 3, 2014 | News and Reviews
“Few, though, will have heard this nonet version of the Serenade, reconstructed by Alan Boustead in the 1980s, for strings, flute, two clarinets, bassoon and horn. In this live recording a slightly chubby ugly duckling in its orchestral format suddenly achieves...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 31, 2014 | A future for music
The music world has seen many well-deserved tributes over the last several weeks for the author, musicologist, composer and critic Malcolm MacDonald, who passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. I never had the good fortune to meet Malcolm (although we...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 18, 2014 | A view from the podium
In part 2 of my look back at the work of the still-controversial Herbert von Karajan, who died 25 years ago this week, I share an essay from Warner Classic’s new box set of music by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, J and R Strauss and Wagner recorded for EMI. A...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 16, 2014 | A view from the podium
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Herbert von Karajan- one of the most influential, accomplished, controversial and contradictory musicians who ever lived. Not too long ago, I was asked to provide introductory essays for two volumes the Warner’s...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 16, 2014 | A view from the podium, Headlines, News and Reviews
A new review of the recent Somm CD of Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht and Brahms’s Serenade in D major from critic Gavin Dixon at Classical CD Reviews “. But this group, the string trio Ensemble Epomeo with three extra players, instead strives for, and...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 9, 2014 | Explore the Score
Schoenberg- Verklärte Nacht, Brahms Serenade no. 1- Original Chamber Versions £12.00 [Click here to Explore the Score of the companion work on this CD- Brahms’s Serenade No. 1 in D major, Original Version for Nonet) The Brahms-Wagner rivalry was...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 7, 2014 | A view from the podium, Piano, pianists and pianism
For the last few weeks, I’ve been meaning to write a blog post titled “If you buy only one recording this year, make it this one.” The recording in question is a new six-disc collection of live performances by the American pianist Howard Karp, released...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 17, 2014 | Bobby and Hans, News and Reviews
A four-star review in the June issue of BBC Music Magazine from critic Erica Jeal. “…weaves together beautifully played solos culminating in a transcendent coda in which this orchestra seems to breathe...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 12, 2014 | A view from the podium, Bobby and Hans, Headlines, News and Reviews
A new, five-star review from editor-in-chief Andrew Achenbach for Bobby and Hans vol. 4 from the really wonderful classical app “Classical Ear.” Well worth subscribing too! Gál: Symphony No 1 in D major, Op 30; Schumann: Symphony No 1 in B flat major, Op...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 11, 2014 | A future for music, A view from the podium, Favorite posts
Sometimes I think the classical industry is a bit like a chap standing on deck of the Titanic, moaning loudly about how his feet are getting cold because they’re a little wet. Sure we have problems, but look at the world around us- when the ship is already sinking,...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 1, 2014 | A view from the podium, Bobby and Hans, Explore the Score, Nuts and bolts
‘When his time to reach for the stars had arrived, Schumann’s personal language was fully formed, and just as the subtlety of his piano style had been an immense asset for the songwriter, so the expressiveness of his vocal melody was a bridge to the ‘voices of men and...
by Kenneth Woods | May 30, 2014 | Bobby and Hans, Headlines, News and Reviews
A review from Colin Anderson, editor of Classical Source, for Bobby and Hans vol. 3 Read the whole thing here. A short excerpt follows Buy your copy from Amazon here: Buy your copy from Amazon here: Gál’s Second Symphony (1943) opens solemnly with a chorale-like idea...
by Kenneth Woods | May 27, 2014 | A view from the podium
As the father of a four-year-old and a six-year-old, birthday parties are suddenly a big part of my life. Scarcely a week goes by without a summons for one or both of the kids to attend two hours of fun, sugar and silliness in celebration of someone’s birthday....
by Kenneth Woods | May 26, 2014 | Bobby and Hans, Headlines, News and Reviews
A review from critic Rainer Aschemaier for Bobby and Hans volume 4. Read the whole thing here. “Woods’ Schumann is a revelation: transparent, graceful, melancholy, romantic At the beginning of this month we were blessed to hear an almost vexingly...
by Kenneth Woods | May 19, 2014 | Bobby and Hans, Headlines, News and Reviews
A review from the June 2014 issue of Gramophone Magazine by Guy Rickards. “This account is a joy from start to exuberant finish, perfectly paced and superbly played…Very strongly...
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