by Kenneth Woods | Oct 13, 2009 | Nuts and bolts, Performing Life
After a spring and early summer in which I felt every bit as much a cellist as a conductor (which was a nice feeling), my cello has been sitting in the case for an alarming number of weeks while we finished the summer run, took a vacation and I dealt with the...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 12, 2009 | A view from the podium
“The New Bärenreiter Urtext Edition is audibly different and leads to a new way of hearing and understanding the Symphonies.” From the Barenreiter website For some time now, I’ve been meaning to write a little something on the myths and misunderstandings surrounding...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 12, 2009 | A view from the podium, News and Reviews
For readers who want to know more about Orchestra of the Swan, as it happens, their latest disc is a focus of Michael Kennedy’s weekly column in the Sunday Telegraph (alongside Rattle’s Brahms cycle and an aria disc by soprano Cheryl Barker). Good company, to be...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 9, 2009 | A view from the podium
This may be the best deal in the world for Mahler fans- http://www.broekmans.com/en/product/Mahler-Symphony-Nr-7-Full-Score-Facsimile-and-Commentary-Special-Offer-normally-222-35-now-35-00/181089 This edition of the 7th Symphony in Facsimile edited by Donald Mitchel...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 8, 2009 | A view from the podium
The Stratford-Upon-Avon based Orchestra of the Swan have announced the appointment of American musician Kenneth Woods as their Principal Guest Conductor from 2010. Woods, who just completed his tenure as Music Director of the Oregon East Symphony made his debut with...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 7, 2009 | A view from the podium
I wish I could take credit for this, but it is the handiwork of a distinguished friend who is wise enough to not want his name attached to it. Perhaps this won’t be as funny to readers who haven’t reviewed dozens or hundreds of education project briefs and...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 6, 2009 | A view from the podium
It was not a perfect performance of Beethoven 7, but it left me smiling broadly for reasons it has taken me some time to articulate. I was pleased in spite of the odd audience reaction- several seconds of stunned silence, before a pleasantly long clap. This has...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 6, 2009 | A view from the podium
The leafy villiage of Altrincham is one of the posher corners of Manchester, with many a footballer and cricketer tucked away in meticulously restored mansions behind tall brick walls. However, the air was a little less rarified on Saturday, as Altrincham was hit with...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 30, 2009 | A view from the podium
Now, that’s a program…. It’s a Bloch anniversary year, but you wouldn’t know it in most of the musical world. He deserves better! Strauss 2nd Horn Concerto= Heaven. Beethoven 7- perfection…. Be there...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 30, 2009 | A view from the podium
I’ve never been able to find any decent footage of Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting. This film just appeared on YouTube on Sept 3rd, so I’m guessing I’m not the only one who hasn’t seen it before. I’ve got a lot of friends who played for a...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 29, 2009 | A view from the podium, Music and Media
There is a lot of thoughtful commentary out there this week on conducting and conductorships, orchestra health and other related topics. Ex- Chicago Symphony boss and industry guru, who always seems to have a sensible take on things, takes on the VERY thorny question...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 29, 2009 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts
I take a certain perverse pleasure in the fact that there seems to be widespread confusion on exactly what my take is on Historically Informed Performance. Of course, my skeptical opinions on some well-known HIP-ster conductors (only one, really) are well documented...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 29, 2009 | A view from the podium
For some time, I’ve been meaning to offer up a list of pieces that pose special dangers to conductors and librarians. These are works that exist in more than one version or edition, where an incompatible set of parts can mean more than just a frustrating rehearsal...
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...
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