by Kenneth Woods | Apr 30, 2014 | Explore the Score
‘This traumatic experience…was linked to his First Symphony… This symphony thus spans the years of his ripening, the summer of his life… At that time he developed a stoicism, an ability to suppress his feelings and to tame the chaos within him, just as he mastered the...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 16, 2014 | A future for music
This week I will be conducting some of the incidental music composed by Edvard Grieg to accompany Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. I haven’t conducted any of Grieg’s Peer Gynt music in over ten years, and I’m very, very excited to be doing it again. There was a time when I didn’t...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 14, 2014 | A view from the podium
A review from the popular “Classical Candor” blog of volume four in the Orchestra of the Swan’s survey of the complete symphonies of Robert Schumann and Hans Gál. Read the original here. “Gal’s First Symphony is relatively brief, about...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 14, 2014 | Bobby and Hans, Headlines, News and Reviews
Critic Rick Jones (longtime critic for the London Evening Standard) compares the new Orchestra of the Swan recording of Schumann 1 with that of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Yannick Nezet-Seguin on Deutsche Grammophon. Read the original here. It’s Bobby...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 9, 2014 | A view from the podium, Mahler, Mahler- Performer's Perspective
A few years ago, Julian Johnson’s excellent book “Mahler’s Voices” had been languishing on various bookshelves here in an embarrassingly half-read state. Eventually, with a performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony on the horizon, I began skimming through...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 19, 2014 | A view from the podium, Piano, pianists and pianism
This weekend, I’ll be playing the marvelous transcription of the Goldberg Variations made for string trio by Dmitri Sitkovetsky at the Harborough Music Collective with violinist David Le Page and violist Carmen Flores. Coffee Concerts take place...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 11, 2014 | A view from the podium
Dear Sir As you were the 19-year-old 2nd trumpet player who last year (or the year before? Was it 2007? Let’s keep it vague, shall we?) who offered me his candid advice (“Ken? Can you, um, speed it up a little”) on one of the key tempi in a piece a...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 3, 2014 | A view from the podium
Hi everyone Today is the BIG day. After a nearly-five-year journey, volume four in our series of the complete symphonies of Robert Schumann and Hans Gál hits the stores today. The CD is now available to order, stream and download from fine retailers in most...
by Kenneth Woods | Feb 21, 2014 | A view from the podium
Re-blogged from ensemble-epomeo.net On Sunday, the 23rd of February, Ensemble Epomeo and shakuhachi virtuoso James Schlefer will give the world premiere of composer Victoria Bond‘s new work for shakuhachi and string trio, “Rashomon.” We asked Maestra Bond a few...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 10, 2014 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts, Study with Ken
Several months ago I was sipping a flat white in a café with a friend and former student who was describing the teaching methods of one of America’s more eminent conducting pedagogues- a gentleman I’ve never met nor observed. Apparently one of his favorite aphorisms...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 1, 2014 | Repertoire Reports
The first of our guest Repertoire Reports, submitted on behalf of the CBSO Youth Orchestra by their manager, Richard Bratby: Dear Ken, Hope you’re well! Since you’re just doing your repertoire reports, I thought I’d let you know what the CBSO Youth...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 29, 2013 | Repertoire Reports
Well, once I broke the seal yesterday and put together my 2013 Repertoire Report, I couldn’t really resist filling in my missing report from last year. So, herewith, my 2012 Repertoire Report. Interesting points of comparison with 2013: No Shostakovich in 2012...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 27, 2013 | Repertoire Reports
It’s that time of year again here at Vftp Int’l Headquarters… Repertoire Report Season- that exciting time when we look back at the year that just ended and take stock of who has been conducting and playing what. I really can’t believe it’s already been a year since I...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 19, 2013 | Nuts and bolts, Performing Life
It’s that time of year again, when musicians all around the world are taking another stab at Handel’s Messiah. For me, it means coming back to a piece I’ve done many times after a long-ish break. I didn’t always love Messiah. In fact, when I first encountered...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 10, 2013 | A view from the podium
Marvin Rabin, founder of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, Greater Boston Youth Orchestras and Kentucky Youth Symphony has passed away at the age of 97. Marvin was one of the most universally admired and loved people I have ever encountered in the music world-...
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