Dead or alive

by | May 23, 2007 | A view from the podium

Alex Ross has a post today that sums up what I’ve been saying for years- all intellectually honest investigators of the health of classical music know about hundreds of these quotes, but Alex has put the case forward as simply and concisely as possible. Next...

A little something

by | May 22, 2007 | A view from the podium

People often ask me “what’s the best thing about being a conductor?”  Is it the screaming girls, the unfettered power, the great music you do on outdoor gigs, the constant praise and flattery, the almost unlimited vacation time, the glamorous air travel, the way...

Walter Weller

by | May 19, 2007 | A view from the podium

There are many reasons we don’t do reviews here at Vftp…. First and foremost, there’s the whole pot/kettle or glass houses issue. Second, I don’t want to write a glowing assessment of one conductor only to run into an old mentor or friend who then asks me why I...

Back from the dead

by | May 17, 2007 | A view from the podium, Mahler, Performing Life

I’ve had a couple of friendly nags for a report on my last trip to Pendleton to conduct Mahler 1 with the OES. What do you say about a 10 day trip with 16 rehearsals and 6 concerts with two different orchestras rehearsing or performing in 8 different venues? What do...

A new home for the OES

by | May 16, 2007 | A view from the podium

  As of last Thursday, the cat is officially out of the bag.  For those of you who don’t read the East Oregonian, I can report that big changes are on the way for the Oregon East Symphony and downtown Pendleton, Oregon.  Last week, the OES reached an agreement with...

Mellow down easy

by | May 11, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

I have about an hour and a half of quiet time today. That might be too much. It sometimes seems that when you’re really, really busy, that’s the most tiring part of the day- the little lull or those few moments when your own inner soundtrack gets a chance to be heard....

New conductor blog

by | May 8, 2007 | A view from the podium, Music and Media

I recently ran into an old friend and colleague, Edwin Outwater, who was in Cardiff for a few days to work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. We’ve known each other since the early days of our conducting lives as students and later staff conductors at the Round...

On young musicians

by | May 8, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

I wonder if the percentage of bloggers who are insomniacs is higher than the general population. It had been my goal at this hour to be having a nap between my four school concerts with the OES Preparatory Orchestra, and the formal concert this evening, but, exhausted...

Shut yer yapper

by | May 4, 2007 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts

Quote of the week from Boise— “He has decent things to say to the orchestra, but by the time he says them, you’ve stopped caring. It’s extremely difficult to pay attention. I’m trying, but failing miserably. I sat assistant principal last...