by Kenneth Woods | Nov 23, 2006 | A view from the podium, Explore the Score
Dvorak 8 was the first score I ever went out and bought and subsequently tried to analyze. We had played the work in my youth orchestra under the guidance of James Smith, a truly great musician and orchestral trainer. I’d always been interested in conducting,...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 21, 2006 | A view from the podium
This Saturday, the Surrey Mozart Players and I had the privilege of being one of the first orchestras to perform in the nearly brand-new Menuhin Hall, a beautiful 300-seat concert hall that just opened its doors in January. It’s always nice to test drive a car you...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 20, 2006 | A view from the podium
From “Essential Reading,” November 19, 2006 The Concert with Kenneth Woods And Bobby Chen Piano The American conductor Kenneth Woods offers a mature and thoughtful reading of another giant in music, namely Mozart. Working without baton, Kenneth Woods...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 19, 2006 | A view from the podium
At a late hour, post concert, a few last minute thoughts on Haydn (again!). With 104 symphonies to choose from, it would be easy to think that there is such a thing as a “Haydn Symphony.” That is, it musicians and audiences seem to think that there is a general...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 16, 2006 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
If the world was a reasonable place, and our society was one that had a well-rounded sense of values, then all orchestras could rehearse Haydn to their heart’s content. Haydn’s music is so spectacularly good, so amazingly fresh, so outrageously original, so endlessly...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 14, 2006 | A view from the podium
Some random pontifications taken from recent podium chats…. On Scott Joplin- The history of 20th Century popular culture is really the history of American popular music, and the history of American popular music is really the history of black music. The musics that...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 13, 2006 | A view from the podium, News and Reviews
UPCOMING CONCERT Surrey Mozart Players Saturday, November 18, 2006 Menuhin Concert Hall, Menuhin School of Music Stoke d’Abernon, UK 7:30 PM Mozart (arr. Triebensee)- Harmonie Suite from Don Giovanni Mozart- Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major Bobby Chen,...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 10, 2006 | A view from the podium
Endurance sessions of comparative listening are not for everyone’s taste, but, aided by sufficient quantities of libations and good company, it can be great fun, and certainly illuminating. It’s easy to fall into the trap of taste-testing, listening to a few cool bits...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 5, 2006 | A view from the podium, Music and Media
I had a moment yesterday that reminded me of why I used to volunteer to staff public radio fund drives when I was 15. A moment when you just happen to be in your car at exactly the right moment and catch a bit of music or a snippet of discussion that changes your...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 4, 2006 | A view from the podium, News and Reviews
Upcoming Concert Lancashire Chamber Orchestra Saturday November 11, 2006 7:30 PM St John’s Church, Altrincham Program- Mozart- Overture to “Cosi fan tutte” Britten- Les Illuminations Nicola-Jane Kemp, soprano Haydn- Symphony no. 103 in E Flat Major “Drum...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 2, 2006 | A view from the podium
In part two of my halftime show, I want to have a quick look at some of the repertoire I’ve been working on since the season got started. Popular as a few of his works...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 2, 2006 | A view from the podium
Eugene Ormandy talks about Sibelius Meeting Sibelius for the first time, I had the impression of being in the presence of someone almost superhuman. Here was a being I had admired and looked up to all my life — and suddenly I was in his presence. He was a...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 1, 2006 | A view from the podium
Funny that Roger Bourland at Red Black Window would write about Crumb’s graphic scores at more or less the same time I was talking about score marking, including re-baring some experimentally notated 20th c. works to facilitate performance I’ve done a...
by Kenneth Woods | Nov 1, 2006 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
Normally half-time means you get a break, but the looming renewal of my work visa in the UK (fun, fun) completely killed off my modest three free days last week, and now I am back in the maelstrom after a slightly-more-tiring-than-usual flight over to the US....
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 31, 2006 | A view from the podium, Music and Media
An interesting follow-up, one of what I assume will be hundreds, as the Philadelphia Orchestra begin looking to the future. I don’t know Eschenbach’s work there at all, and wouldn’t comment on it anyway, but I do think music director search issue is...
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