by Kenneth Woods | Aug 15, 2013 | A view from the podium
Hi everyone Sorry to bother you again! By now, I’ve been in touch with most, if not all of you about the Orchestra of the Swan’s campaign on Indiegogo to fund the fourth and final volume in our series of the symphonies of Hans Gal and Robert Schumann. Hans...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 12, 2013 | A view from the podium
I finished writing the slow mvt of my new quartet today. Very excited and relieved to reach the double bar. The restorative power of reconnecting with one’s creativity, however massive or meagre it may be, always astonishes me. It’s sad that too often, we...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 11, 2013 | A view from the podium
In preparing for this vlog, it’s been really interesting to see just how selective coverage of Amanda Palmer’s “not paying the musicians” coverage has been. First, agree with her or not, she does seem to have a philosophical basis for her...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 10, 2013 | A view from the podium
A lovely article from critic, broadcaster and essayist Jon Jacob has been published on his popular blog,Thoroughly Good. Jon shares some recollections of his own time as and ESO managerial assistant in the 1990′s then moves on to an extended interview with Ken. A...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 10, 2013 | A view from the podium, Lists
Whether it was folklore or fact, I’m not in a position to say, but in the latter years of his career, it was reputed that Rostropovich’s fee for a performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto hovered around $80,000. For any of the 60 or so works written for him, however,...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 7, 2013 | A view from the podium, Not quite the news, Satire
A composite case study, presented here for your edification. Subject: Sinfonia Suburbia Dear Maestro Woods- I do hope it is okay that I am writing to you directly, rather than to your agent. My name is Elizabeth Herzschmertz (please call me Lib), and I am the new...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 1, 2013 | A view from the podium
KENNETH WOODS UPS TO PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR OF ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Photo-Benjamin Ealovega Kenneth Woods, who was appointed Artistic Director of the English Symphony Orchestra‘s new Malvern-based subscription series in December 2012, has been promoted by...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 17, 2013 | A view from the podium
A new review from the August 2013 edition of Gramophone Magazine of the Orchestra of the Swan recording of Gal’s 2nd Symphony and Schumann’s D minor Symphony. Buy your copy from Amazon here:...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 10, 2013 | A view from the podium
A review from critic Michael Jameson in the July/August 2013 issue of International Record Review. “It is, I dare to assert, the most important Adagio since Bruckner:”: such was the verdict of musicologist and biographer Wilhelm Waldstein on...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 29, 2013 | A view from the podium, Not quite the news, Satire
A tale of two upbeats, a tale of two orchestras A lot can be communicated non-verbally in rehearsal. Once upon a time, at the first rehearsal for a concerto….. Subject: Request for tempo Dear Maestro Woods Thank you for your upbeat. It has been brought to our...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 24, 2013 | A view from the podium
A somewhat belated notification of a lovely review from last July of Bobby and Hans vol 2, which was a featured new release at WCLV at the time . Read the original here. Hans Gál Symphony No. 4 & Robert Schumann Symphony No. 2— Orchestra of the...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 24, 2013 | News and Reviews
A review from Stephen Pedersen of the opening concert of the 2013 Scotia Festival, featuring Ensemble Epomeo. Read the original here. CONCERT REVIEW: Gifted chamber players echo spring’s diversity May 28, 2013 – 5:48pm BY STEPHEN PEDERSEN Philippe Djokic...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 21, 2013 | A view from the podium
When I was young and discovered a new piece of music that really blew me away, the urge to tell a friend about it was sometimes overpowering. It wasn’t a feeling unique to classical music, and in my formative years, these moments came with thrilling regularity. Of...
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