by Kenneth Woods | Sep 26, 2009 | A view from the podium, Haydn, Nuts and bolts
It was a fine evening of music with the SMP- Schumann and Haydn make for a very good pair anytime they appear on the same program together. Both criminally under-rated, both great inventors and innovators, both with supreme wit… On top of this, they both seem masters...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 26, 2009 | A view from the podium
I’m coming to you live from backstage at the Electric Theatre, where in a few moments time, the Surrey Mozart Players kick off their season with a celebration of Haydn and Schumann. Our contribution to the Haydn Anniversary includes a performance of the D Major Cello...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 23, 2009 | A view from the podium
Sorry for having to re-post this. Once a typo gets in a blog title, it’s almost impossible to kill off, so better to start from scratch…. Highly recommended, for all conductors and students of conducting, an interesting interview with Gergiev from the...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 23, 2009 | A view from the podium
As I returned to Gateshead for part 2 of my recordings with Northern Sinfonia, I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead. While the first week of the project had been focused on 2 works for violin and orchestra, this week we were tacking a single, major orchestral work-...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 16, 2009 | A view from the podium
It probably won’t surprise too many readers to learn that on the relatively rare occasion I get to sit down and veg out with the television, I’m as likely to watch cooking shows as anything. Given that, I should start today by saying a sincere “rest in peace” to...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 15, 2009 | Mahler, Music and Media, News and Reviews, Performing Life
Robin Rilette, Music Director of Northwest Public Radio, has been a very busy person this summer. One by one, she’s tracked down almost every conductor of every orchestra in the region, and has been getting to know them and their bands. Her series, “A Season of...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 12, 2009 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts
One piece on my desk this month is Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 1 in D minor. I fell in love with the piece as a young teenager when my parents bought an LP of Krystian Zimerman’s recording with the Vienna Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein. The purchase of the record...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 9, 2009 | A view from the podium
Well, well, well…. Another day, another wonderful piece recorded. This afternoon we wrapped this week’s sessions with a final performance of the Gál Concertino for Violin and Strings. I’ll see the band in 2 weeks when we record the third item on the disc, the...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 8, 2009 | A view from the podium
Score marking was a popular topic at the 2009 Rose City International Conductor’s Workshop, although there were more questions than answers. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to see how the king did it. Over at the NY Phil website, you can see...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 8, 2009 | A view from the podium
Day two of the Gál recording project is done, as is our recording of the Violin Concerto. I still find it hard to believe that a work of this stature has sat almost un-played (there were no performances at all between the premiere in 1932 and 2004!!!!!) and ...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 7, 2009 | A view from the podium
Just a very few quick thoughts on today’s sessions. We focused all day on the outer movements of the Gál Violin Concerto. It was a fascinating and deeply rewarding day. It’s fascinating and inspiring to work with a great British orchestra on music they’ve never seen...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 6, 2009 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts
I’m writing tonight from the neighborhood of the Sage Gateshead, home of Northern Sinfonia, where tomorrow afternoon we begin recording sessions for the first-ever disc of the orchestral music of Hans Gál. (The Sage Gateshead- where Hans Gal is in the house for much...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 3, 2009 | A view from the podium
The sharp fall off in blog posts here at Vftp over the Summer has been one symptom of the fact I’ve been mostly on the road and away from my desk for months on end. Given that I’ve had little or no time to write for most of that time, it’s no wonder I’ve done fairly...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 2, 2009 | A view from the podium
Regular Vftp readers will know that intonation is one of my favorite topics. As I was catching up on favorite blogs, I came accross a remarkable series of posts on flute intonation by my friend, the contemporary flute virtuoso Helen Bledsoe. This one in particular hit...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 2, 2009 | A view from the podium
I was truly sad to learn of the death of my colleague and boss at the Cincinnait Pops, Erich Kunzel. He was a complete pro and an absolute master of his craft, and I learned a lot from watching him and working with him. He was someone who seemed completely...
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