Indestructable

by | May 4, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

I never worked so hard to own another physical thing. Eleven years old, and suddenly in love with rock music, I started mowing lawns with a vengeance. A week or two after my twelfth birthday, it was mine. Even two months ago, it was a guitar that nobody else would...

Into the maelstrom

by | May 3, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

I sit in Portland Airport and I’m feeling a little anxious. In less than two hours, I’ll be back in Pendleton for the first time since the OES offices burned down. I tried hard to get over a few weeks ago, but we had an illness in the family (what is it about bad...

Trust issues

by | May 2, 2007 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts, Study with Ken

Any smart conductor knows that one thing you never want to tell an orchestra, unless you absolutely have to, is anything along the lines of “watch me,” “follow me” any other turn of phrase that can be translated as “obey my will, you scum.” On the other hand, there...

Slava and Sacher

by | Apr 30, 2007 | A view from the podium

I’ve felt rather intimidated by the prospect of writing something meaningful about the passing of Rostropovich- so many have already said so much, and his career and life are already so celebrated that there is not a need for another summary of his accomplishments....

Frantic Friday

by | Apr 23, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

Friday, WSO I’m determined to save the morning for score study. Between Friday night and Monday night, I’m conducting four different programs with four different orchestras in four different cities (none of which are home), including the epic Elgar 1, Bruckner 4,...

There goes Thursday….

by | Apr 23, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

Thursday, BBC NOW Strangely tired Thursday morning. “Strangely” tired until I realize I had conducted an Elgar 1 run-through the night before with lots of in-flight coaching and made it back to Cardiff after 1 AM. House issues pre-occupy much of the morning- never...