by Kenneth Woods | Feb 23, 2013 | A view from the podium, Not quite the news, Satire
It was music to the ears of classical aficionados worldwide when President Barack Obama became the first American president to officially call for a national commitment to take exposition repeats in last week’s State of the Union speech . Obama brought repeat...
by Kenneth Woods | Feb 17, 2013 | A view from the podium
I just conducted Bruckner’s Second Symphony for the first time a few days ago- even many of the most pro-Bruckner opinion makers seem to think that only his symphonies from the Fourth onward are worth doing, and the often over-zealous defences of the early symphonies...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 29, 2013 | News and Reviews
From the December 2012 issue of The Strad A disc of String trios where time and place play an inescapable role Buy here from MDT UK Buy here from Arkiv USA Buy here from Amazon UK Buy here from Amazon USA Here is music for string trio by two composers of...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 26, 2013 | A view from the podium
I don’t play trombone, but If I were to play trombone in a Bruckner symphony, I would… Bathe in yak’s blood for a month Shave with an axe Tattoo a picture of Thor’s hammer on my forehead If I were to play trombone in a Bruckner symphony, I would… Practice...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 19, 2013 | A view from the podium, Explore the Score
It’s time for the third instalment in our Explore the Score series on the Schumann symphonies. Our new recording of Gal’s 2nd Symphony and Schumann’s Fourth has just been released on Avie Records. Ordering via these links helps support these...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 17, 2012 | A view from the podium
Good morning everyone. There’s big news today of a new project starting in 2013. Here’s the press release from my colleagues at MusicCo. We’re all very excited here- the ESO is a great band with a great tradition, and I’m excited to get to work...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 11, 2012 | Bobby and Hans, Nuts and bolts
Monday, 3 December, 2012 Session 1- 10:00 AM Scheduled: Schumann- Symphony no. 4, mvts 1 and 2 Recording is like nothing else- getting great material on disc requires a rather unforgiving balance of precision and passion. To get the kind of passion and energy that...
by Kenneth Woods | Dec 11, 2012 | A view from the podium, Explore the Score
Schumann’s fate as an opera composer seemed to mirror that of his hero Beethoven, and not always in positive ways. Both men sought to reform the genre, stripping it of frivolity and artifice, eradicate virtuoso display and create an idiomatic, German approach to music...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 28, 2012 | Music and Media, Not quite the news, Satire
Have you ever wondered whether scientific scientists actually influence their science experiments? They seem important. After all, they’re standing in the middle of the lab wearing white coats and goggles, doing stuff, giving instructions, waving their...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 28, 2012 | A view from the podium
We’re only days away from next week’s Orchestra of the Swan concert and recording sessions, and everyone involved is getting excited about meeting up again with our old friends, Bobby and Hans. Our previous encounters have been most memorable. This time...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 27, 2012 | A view from the podium
Last spring, I was commissioned to write an essay on the work of Eugen Jochum for EMI’s new 20 CD box set of his late recordings in the Icon series. The disc is now out, and I thought Vftp readers might find the essay of interest. I’m confident that...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 27, 2012 | A view from the podium
From the December, 2012 Issue of Gramophone Magazine Critic’s Choice “Ensemble Epomeo provide ravishing accounts of both Gal works, fully in sympathy with the idiom… A splendid disc I cannot get enough of.” Buy here from MDT UK Buy here from Arkiv USA...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 6, 2012 | News and Reviews
A new review from MusicWeb International for Spring Sounds, Spring Seas. Read the whole thing here. A short sample follows. An earlier, five-star version of this same review appears at Art Music Reviews. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE These are world premiere recordings, and...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 6, 2012 | A view from the podium
Re-blogged from Broken Thirds, the Epomeo Blog A new review from critic and musicologist Calum MacDonald in the November 2012 issue of International Record Review for Ensemble Epomeo’s recording of the complete trios of Hans Gal and Hans Krasa. On newsstands now, but...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 30, 2012 | A view from the podium
Today (October 30th), Performance Today, produced by American Public Media, broadcast two recent live performances from the Orchestra of the Swan and yours truly. The first hour of the program opened with a movement from our live recording of Mahler’s Das Lied...
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