a mic on the podium: Recent Episodes
Michael Seal
Conductors - who are they, what do they do and how did they get there?
British conductor, Michael Seal, conducts conversations with a distinguished list of conductors and asks them all about their lives and careers while finding out what really makes them tick!
Photo by Eric Richmond, Music by Ben Dawson
Andrew Constantine and I have known each other for over 30 years, and catching up with him was brilliant. It was a lovely warm chat with someone who really thinks long and hard about what we do as conductors.
We talk very frankly about the cultural differences between the US and the UK, I discover which competition he thought he should have won, and he uses a wonderful metaphor to describe the difference between Valery Gergiev and Yuri Temirkanov!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 27th February 2024 via Zoom.
Karen Ní Bhroin and I have one thing in common - we both have our own podcast about conducting. It means that she really does think a lot about what we do and it was just nice chatting with her throughout!
I discovered that the COVID pandemic actually increased her workload in the United States, we had a very geeky discussion about metronome marks, and we also learned that if we were ever to dine out together it might cost a small fortune?!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 23rd February 2024 via Zoom.
I have fond memories of the first time I met Neil Thomson and knew this would be a good interview - a charming man who has spent a lot of time thinking about what we do as conductors.
We discussed the pros and cons of conducting from memory, we also chatted about the role of a conductor at a conservatoire and the role of being an orchestra trainer, and I heard about his experiences with a legendary British conductor who was once described as "a benign despot"!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 2nd March 2024 via Zoom.
I could have chatted with Ryan McAdams for many hours - it turned out to be one of the longest episodes yet! We had such an open and honest discussion sprinkled with a lot of humour.
We had a fascinating discussion about the importance of eye contact between players and the conductor, he told me a wonderful quote from Wynton Marsalis that sums up how conductors should view their lives, and I discovered which famous conductor he thought had a "Hannibal Lecter quality"!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 16th February 2024 via Zoom.
Part 2 of my chat with Jacobus de Jager, Oliver Cope, Peggy Wu, Kentaro Machida & Riley Court-Wood is here. They are all studying conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and they were brilliant fun to interview.
In Part 2, they all answered ten questions and we discussed the price of scores and competitions, I discovered what works they are desperate to conduct and never have, and I asked them what is the best piece of advice they've received and discovered that one of them came from the wall of a gym!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 24th January 2024 via Zoom.
In this special episode, I chat with Jacobus de Jager, Oliver Cope, Peggy Wu, Kentaro Machida & Riley Court-Wood. They are all studying conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and they were brilliant fun to interview.
In Part 1, I discovered what a "typical" week is like as a conducting student at RCS, we discussed the best way to approach conducting classes with two pianos, and a chat about competitions led us to discuss two recent movie releases that feature conductors!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 24th January 2024 via Zoom.
Boian Videnoff and I last met 17 years ago yet this felt like we just carried on from where we left off - a lovely chat with a very open and honest conductor.
We discussed the worldview of The Arts and how over time, it has changed so dramatically, we talked about the difficulties involved with starting your own orchestra, and I discovered a potential pitfall when switching between conducting off an iPad versus an old-fashioned paper score!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 2nd January 2024 via Zoom.
With our similar career paths and backgrounds, Catherine Larsen-Maguire and I had much in common and hit it off immediately. She was frank and open and a joy to chat with.
I heard how the passing of a close friend changed her whole attitude toward her life and career, we both agreed that conducting offstage is a frightening experience, and I discovered how a chance meeting in a Berlin pub, and one beer mat in particular, changed her career path!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 3rd December 2023 via Zoom.
Johannes Schlaefli is one of the foremost conducting teachers today and as a consequence, has spent a lot of time thinking about what we do. A fascinating conversation with a very warm and honest gentleman.
We discuss the merits of being a wind player or a string player when we first start conducting, we discovered that when we teach conducting, we both use the very same metaphor, and I get very jealous about where he lives!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 10th October 2023 via Zoom.
Jan Latham-Koenig has had a long and distinguished career all across the globe and as a consequence, has many stories to tell. He was charming and honest, always a great combination.
I discovered how a change of conducting teacher at the Royal College of Music helped his career to start, I found out how close he came to becoming a politician, and I discovered how he managed to stage three different opera productions in Chile all whilst his orchestra was on strike!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 5th December 2022 via Zoom.
I really enjoyed this interview! Baldur Brönnimann and I got along instantly and we seem to have very similar views about what we do and how we do it. There was also a lot of laughter as well...
We had a serious discussion about the need for orchestras in the cultural life of any country, we discussed why conducting is subjective and that we should be talking about this when we teach, and a chat about conducting with or without a baton breaks down in fits of laughter!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 25th May 2023 via Zoom.
In a world where conductors regularly jet across the globe conducting orchestras, Marios Papadopoulos is one of those rare exceptions who is far happier staying at home conducting his own orchestra he founded in Oxford. He was a joy to chat with, very honest and self-effacing!
I heard about his early struggles trying to promote his concerts in Oxford, he told me how and why he chooses the musicians who play in his orchestra, and how a childhood encounter with a razor led to a very interesting answer to Question 1!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 6th July 2023 via Zoom.
Thomas Søndergård and I had a few things in common, mainly being ex-orchestral players. I enjoyed chatting with him very much - he is definitely someone who thinks a lot about what we do as conductors!
I found out how his relationships with two UK orchestras started within thirty minutes of each other, we discussed how to cope with conducting your own orchestral colleagues for the first time, and one of his choices in answering Question 6 prompted me to relive a frightening concert memory!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 15th September 2023 via Zoom.
Toby Purser and I had a wonderful chat, as I knew it would be. We had a particularly "deep dive" into teaching and every aspect of what that entails.
I discovered that his love of opera started after a stint conducting in prison, I also learned how a chance meeting with an elderly gentleman changed his musical life, and Toby used an English phrase in this interview that frankly I was surprised nobody else had used in the previous 136 episodes!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 9th June 2023 via Zoom.
Carlos Miguel Prieto and I had never met yet we seemed to hit it off immediately and we chatted for quite a long time about all manner of topics, always warm-hearted and honest, which I like!
We discussed how it is important to sometimes "come up through the ranks, I discover which famous billionaire he shared a university class with, and I discover which book he took with him for 2 years on conducting trips yet never managed to finish!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 1st June 2023 via Zoom.
Duncan Ward and I have met on a couple of occasions very briefly so it was nice to actually sit down and have a good chat. It proved to be very light-hearted, open and extremely honest.
We discussed our early forays into the world of guest conducting very frankly, I heard how a score of one of his compositions left open in a dressing room changed his life, and I heard how a language barrier once caused a very funny case of mistaken identity!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 13th September 2023 via Zoom.
Just a short little message telling you what will be happening on the podcast over the coming weeks - don't worry, it is nothing to be alarmed by!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
Clark Rundell's name has been familiar to me for years, both as a conductor and one-half of the infamous "Mark & Clark" teaching team at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He was lovely to chat with and someone I would love to spend more time with in the future.
I discovered that his hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota, had an incredible music education policy, he told me many great stories about his association with the composer, Louis Andriessen, and he gave a totally original, and very funny answer, to Question 2!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 12th July 2023 via Zoom.
Anna-Maria Helsing is, like me, a conductor who started late after being a violinist. We had a lot in common and we got along with each other very easily, with a lot of laughing and warmth.
I discovered why she was a "violin nerd", why she went to watch other conductors rehearse at a very specific part of their rehearsal process, and I discovered that she loves birdsong and also hates birdsong!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 13th April 2023 via Zoom.
With both Christopher Warren-Green and myself coming from an orchestral playing background, you would imagine we had a whole lot in common. We did! I found him a joy to chat with and we agreed on an awful lot of topics.
I found out why he doesn't miss playing the violin at all, he was very candid about "hiring and firing" in the US and how, initially at least, starting as a Music Director in the US was "a bit of a culture shock, and we get very political indeed after Jeremy Clarkson's name had cropped up in the conversation!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 8th June 2023 via Zoom.
I was lucky enough to meet Atso Almila in person recently and knew he would be the perfect guest to interview - a warm and charming man who speaks frankly and honestly with a touch of humour!
I heard about how he and Esa Pekka Salonen passed their final exam at the Sibelius Academy in bizarre circumstances, he was very frank about how his time conducting in Joensuu came to an end, and at one point, he scares his 15-year-old dog!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 26th May 2023 via Zoom.
Dane Lam is a conductor who has thought a lot about what we do and how we do it and was a real joy to chat with. We seem to have many common views and I enjoyed his honesty and warmth.
We talked candidly about his experiences conducting his orchestra in China, I found out who had told him that he was "a very lucky boy, and because he is a regular listener to the podcast, his answers to the ten questions at the end were very well thought-through indeed!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 27th February 2023 via Zoom.
I knew from having met Kazuki Yamada before that chatting with him would be fun. As we are both members of the "CBSO family" now, it was doubly nice to spend some time with this very warm and giving person!
I heard how the choir conductor at his school gave him his very first chances, I found out what item he always has in the pocket of his concert tails, and I discovered why he founded his own orchestra at university and why it was given its extremely strange name
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 20th April 2023 via Zoom.
Rebecca Miller and I seemed to instantly hit it off and we tended to agree on a lot of topics - a very enjoyable interview to make.
We discussed why we both enjoy conducting youth orchestras and how important playing in orchestras is for a young person, we also chatted about the positives and negatives of preparing an orchestra for another conductor, and I heard a fabulous story about Sir Georg Solti conducting the opening of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 13th December 2022 via Zoom.
Jaume Santonja and I have known each other since we were both still orchestral players and I knew he would be a very good person to interview - he is always warm and friendly.
I discovered why there is a link between Amsterdam & Spain in the "percussion world", I also discovered that he learned what "topping and tailing" was from a concert conducted by myself, and I hear how he coped with a pressure situation by using a quote from his compatriot, Rafa Nadal!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 4th April 2023 via Zoom.
Mark Stringer himself said, at the end of our chat, "Good luck editing that down to a manageable length" - well, after over a year of waiting, I have. It is the longest episode so far BUT it is full of great anecdotes, wisdom and advice for any aspiring conductor!
He talks candidly about the "Faustian bargain" he took early in his career, we have a disagreement about whether you need to play the piano to be a good conductor, and I hear why one particular oboist's scowling face was not for the reason he thought it was!
If you want to hear the bonus mini-episode about Mark's experiences teaching Daniel Harding, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 1st December 2021 via Zoom.
Sometimes you meet someone who you not only get on with immediately but you also seem to share the same beliefs with - Enrico Delamboye was one such person. A lovely chat with a very thoughtful conductor.
We had a very honest discussion about "being yourself" regardless of the outcome, we chatted about "anti-specialism" in conducting, and I discover which 90-minute opera made him age by 90 years!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 12th December 2022 via Zoom.
Over the course of making this podcast, I have encountered conductors who just want to tell you everything and my chat with Bernard Labadie was one such encounter. It is a deeply frank, honest, and candid interview!
We discuss the perils of conducting accompanied recitatives, he was brutally honest about his career as an opera conductor, and his answer to Question 8 went down a very dark path indeed!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 2nd January 2023 via Zoom.
It had been a very long time since I had spoken to a choral conductor and I think I made the perfect choice to interview. Nigel Short was a joy to chat with and what an interesting career journey he has had!
We talked about the difficulties of recording sessions, I discovered how a skiing trip changed his career path completely, and we have a good chuckle over one particular word that has a very different meaning on either side of the Atlantic!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 11th November 2022 via Zoom.
Otto Tausk and I are born a few months apart but it seems that we also had a few other things in common. A lovely chat with a very warm and open person!
We discussed how important it is to do your homework when assisting Valery Gergiev, I discovered which orchestra he likens to a Ferrari, and I also discovered which particular food item has been named after him in Vancouver!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 28th November 2022 via Zoom.
Having played for Nicholas on many occasions, I knew he would be fun to chat with given his ebullient nature. I also found out how open and honest he is and also how much he has thought about his craft!
With many anecdotes and stories, I heard his thoughts on many conductors, both past and present, we discussed how important it is as a conductor to "read the room", and I discover what he has in common with David Beckham!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this interview and discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 12th September 2022 via Zoom.
Anja Bihlmaier and I seemed to have a lot in common right from the outset and it made this an extremely enjoyable chat. Lots of warmth, honesty and humour!
I heard her describe the differences between conducting opera and symphonic work in terms of skiing, I discovered that we had a similar childhood experience whilst playing Dvorak's New World Symphony, and I found out why she took some coca-cola into the opera pit once!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 15th September 2022 via Zoom.
This was a truly fascinating chat! As one of the foremost conducting teachers of today, I hoped Mark Heron would be good to chat with and I was not disappointed - I learned a lot and I know you will as well. It was such a warm and thoughtful discussion.
We discussed strategies when faced with guest conducting an orchestra for the first time, I discovered which famous ex-pupil was "pretty rubbish" at conducting two pianos and why it didn't matter, and I discovered which sport he likes which, given his Scottish roots, might be quite surprising?!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this interview and discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 3rd November 2022 via Zoom.
As two ex-violinists, Gábor and I had quite a lot in common and we seemed to hit it off immediately. He is such a warm and thoughtful person to chat with!
I discovered how music helped him cope with living in a communist regime, we discussed in depth how conductors should talk to an orchestra, and he told me how a joke told to him by his violin teacher changed his life.
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 10th September 2022 via Zoom.
This is a deeply touching and personal episode. Grant Llewellyn was so open and candid about his experiences of having suffered a stroke in 2021 and how it has impacted his life and career.
I heard his honest opinions of four of the greatest conductors of the past who mentored him, we quickly got sidetracked talking about football (well, it is a World Cup year?!), and I allow him to "break the rules" in the ten questions at the end!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 11th October 2022 via Zoom.
My chat with Eva Ollikainen started with us noticing our studies have the same coloured walls and it carried on being a very relaxed and fun interview to make!
We discuss fixing problems in rehearsals and whether we should, we got very geeky about metronome markings, and I discover which very famous conductor she once had to ask to be quiet in her rehearsal!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 24th October 2022 via Zoom.
Having heard Nicholas Buc's podcast, it was great to put a face to the voice. We also had a lot in common and it made this a really enjoyable interview!
I discovered how his podcast came into being and why the chemistry between his co-presenters and himself works, we discuss the similarities between "footballs" and "eggs", and you will discover which avid listener to this podcast will be rather pleased with his answer to Question 5!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
Here is the link to Nicholas's excellent podcast about film music, 'The Art of the Score' - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/art-of-the-score/id1207181678
This interview was recorded on 27th September 2022 via Zoom.
Some interviews feel good from the very start and my chat with Leslie Suganandarajah felt like that immediately - such a thoughtful and humble person to chat with!
We agree that conducting opera when you cannot actually see the singers is extremely difficult, he told me which specific rehearsal always gives him "goosebumps", and I hear how, at an early age, a dentist changed his life!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 30th August 2022 via Zoom.
Having worked with Stéphane Denève on a project together in the summer of 2022, I knew he would be a brilliant guest and a very interesting person to chat with. It helped that we had become friends very quickly indeed!
I discovered who his "Yoda" was, he gave a really brilliant answer to Question 7 that I just did not see coming, and I heard how an experience in the "night bar" of the Ritz Hotel, Paris, changed his life!
Here is a link to Stéphane's website to see the video we discuss of him assisting Sir Georg Solti in London -https://www.stephanedeneve.com/video/
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 15th August 2022 via Zoom.
I have probably known Jamie Phillips for more of his life than any other conductor I have interviewed! I knew, therefore, that he would be perfect to chat with and interview.
We discussed when and why you should stop entering conducting competitions, I discover what the "golden rule" was when he attended CBSO rehearsals as a child, and I find out what sporting event he has been training for!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 5th July 2022 via Zoom.
I had been told that I would enjoy chatting with Eduardo Strausser and that proved to be correct - he was both fascinating and fun in equal measure!
Eduardo explained to me how Brazilian musical life changed after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he explained how he feels that score learning has to be like archeology, and we both discuss being caught in a tropical rainstorm!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode and the fascinating chat about Eduardo's tattoos, then why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 2nd June 2022 via Zoom.
On July 12th, 2022, the music world lost the much-loved conductor, pianist, and composer Bramwell Tovey.
I had the great pleasure to chat with him back on 15th May 2020, when the world was in lockdown and in the full grip of the Covid pandemic. Much to my regret, it was the only time we chatted and I loved every second of our time together.
There have been countless heartfelt tributes to him since the sad news was announced that his cancer had returned and that he had lost his battle with it. I have decided that the best way to pay tribute to him is to re-release our chat and add on the six-minute chat we had after we had finished recording the episode.
I found him to be a lovely man - ready to tell his story, not afraid to voice his opinions, and, as so many have also said, a great raconteur. Our chat has been one of my personal favourite episodes ever since I released it and honestly, I have probably listened to it again at least five times since!
Farewell Bram - I know that wherever you are, you will be making friends, making music, and making everyone laugh.
Marta Gardolińska is the first Polish conductor interviewed for the podcast and was a joy to chat with - very open and honest about her life and career and had a warm and chatty nature.
I discovered what was the "best school" she encountered on her way through her studies, we get rather geeky about espresso coffee, and I discovered which work, composed in her homeland, gets her rather emotional when she has to conduct it!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 7th June 2022 via Zoom.
Pietari Inkinen is the epitome of a busy conductor and it was fascinating chatting with him about his life, career, and much more. You couldn't wish to meet a more charming person!
We discussed Wagner & Bayreuth, the Finnish attitude to young conductors, and the massive benefits of some local knowledge when you are guest conducting and want to eat well!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 26th May 2022 via Zoom.
As a recently retired conductor, Roy Goodman and I had a lot of things to talk about and I think we covered most of them! We seemed to hit it off immediately and I loved his warmth and honesty.
We talk about the beginnings of the HIP movement and how he got involved, one year in particular crops up on a regular basis, and we chatted about one rather famous recording he participated in having just finished a rugby match!
The attached photo on Podbean is taken on Striding Edge, Helvellyn, which, as you will discover, is very apt indeed!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this interview and discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 16th May 2022 via Zoom.
Having met him once before, I knew Enrique Arturo Diemcke would be a very interesting person to interview and I was proved correct!
We discussed the differences between Anglo-Saxon and Latin people and orchestras, I discovered what the most important factor is when he considers which drink to choose in Question 10, and I hear which LP he and his siblings bought when they were young and why it wasn't the sort of quartet they were expecting!
The biography I mention in the outro can be found here - 'A Biography with music by Mahler' written by Jose Angel Leyva -https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enrique-Arturo-Diemecke-Biograf%C3%ADa-Spanish-ebook/dp/B08RRVW4ZY
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 1st March 2022 via Zoom.
Jonathan Bloxham and I have known each other for 6 years now and I knew he would be perfect to interview - we get along very well and I knew he would be open, honest, and interesting as he has a real passion for what he does.
As an example of that, he was very open about his experiences as Assistant Conductor with the CBSO, I discovered how a nightmare set of circumstances meant that his debut at Glyndebourne was very memorable indeed, and we discuss accents, not musical accents either!
The festival that Jonathan is the founder of, Northern Chords, can be found here - https://northernchords.com/
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 20th April 2022 via Zoom.
I have been so lucky to have met such lovely people during the course of making this podcast and François-Xavier Roth was no exception - we had a lovely warm and open chat!
I discovered how Janos Furst's pragmatic approach to teaching conducting taught him so much, he explained his vision & ethos for his orchestra, Les Siecles, and I found out that he is a podcast fan but not necessarily this one?!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 21st February 2022 via Zoom.
Lina Gonzalez-Granados had been on my radar to interview for a long time and when we finally chatted, we seemed to hit it off immediately - such a lovely person to chat with and very honest about her experiences so far.
I discovered where she was "a guinea pig', who is the "most badass woman" she has ever met, and she was the first conductor for a very long time to mention a specific restaurant in her answer to question 10!
If you would like to access the bonus mini-episode attached to this podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 1st February 2022 via Zoom.
James Gaffigan was another conductor who I had not met previously yet we seemed to get on with each other immediately. An episode with a lot of laughter and a lot of food for thought!
I discovered who was the first person to make him cry as an adult, we debated how orchestras used to sound compared to today and why things have changed, and we laugh a lot about our experiences accompanying certain types of soloists!
If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.
If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 2nd March 2022 via Zoom.
Ben Palmer has quite a multi-faceted career and that makes him fascinating to chat with. He is also a fan of this podcast so that made it doubly joyful!
I found out how he first got to meet Sir Roger Norrington, I discover that conducting music live to film and the world of historically informed performance has more in common than you might at first think, and we agree that Sibelius' Symphony No.7 is extremely difficult to conduct!
If you would like to access the bonus mini-episode attached to this podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 11th January 2022 via Zoom.
Kwamé Ryan was a joy to chat with - easy, open, and honest, exactly how I like an interview to go!
I discovered that Bartok's Duke Bluebeard's Castle seemed to appear at major moments of his career, that conducting one work in a birthday concert changed his life, and I heard about his very interesting system for marking dynamics in his scores and how technology sometimes plays a role in score learning!
Here is the link to Kwamé Ryan's podcast, '8 Minute Idea' -https://kwameryan.com/8-minute-idea/
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 11th February 2022 via Zoom.
After reaching a century of episodes, what is next? In this short bonus episode, I let you know what the future holds for the podcast.
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 21st February 2022.
In this special feature-length episode to celebrate reaching the century of episodes, I was lucky enough to chat with one of the biggest names in conducting over the last few decades, Sir Roger Norrington. He was charming, open, honest, fascinating and a joy to spend 90 minutes in the company of.
I discovered how being sent to Africa made him decide that he wanted to try to become a professional musician, he was very honest about his system for learning a score, especially his feelings and thoughts on harmony, and it wouldn't have been a discussion with Sir Roger without us becoming very detailed about metronome markings, especially Beethoven's!
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 17th January 2022 via Zoom.
Having met Han-Na Chang in October 2021, I knew she would be perfect for the podcast and I was proved correct - what a bubbly character and a really open and honest person!
I discovered how a potential "typo" helped change her life forever, we talked about how to fix ensemble problems "in the moment" and what surprising "move" often works best, and we get very geeky about Carlos Kleiber!
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 31st January 2022 via Zoom.
Asher Fisch was a joy to chat with - open, honest, and full of opinion. The sound of this podcast is a little different from the norm as we had to use his phone to record him but you hear every word, as clear as a bell and they are well worth hearing!
I hear his views on how a conductor's attitude needs to change from country to country, we chat about a mutual friend with who we have shared a stage countless times, and I discover what two "bugs" he has tested positive for!
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 10th January 2022 via Zoom.
Alexander Shelley was a fascinating person to chat with as he really has thought long and hard about a conductor's role both on and off the podium.
I discover who told him that it only takes 6 months to learn stick technique if you are taught by the right person, we discuss learning to conduct in silence versus with two pianos, and I rather surprisingly try to change his mind about the sound he hates!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 23rd November 2021 via Zoom.
As violinists who went on to become conductors, Roberto González-Monjas and myself had an awful lot in common and, it seems, we also enjoyed discussing food as well!
We also discussed how scheduling can affect your health and lifestyle, I heard about the wonderful education project he co-founded in Columbia, and he told me what surprising full score he chose to spend 100 Euros on as a child!
If you would like to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 22nd December 2021 via Zoom.
I loved chatting with Andrew Gourlay, possibly due to discovering so many things we have in common and how many shared experiences we have?
I discovered we had a shared history in our musical youth, we had both been a rehearsal conductor for one particularly busy maestro, and that we both find conducting one particular piece of Britten's music very difficult!
If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 5th November 2021 via Zoom.
Alice Farnham and I seemed to have quite a few things in common and I really enjoyed chatting with her - we had a very warm and open conversation together.
She had so many fond memories of studying with the great Ilya Musin, we had a fascinating discussion about teaching young women conducting, and I discovered what her multi-instrumental "party trick" used to be!
This is the link I mentioned on the podcast episode of Musin conducting Strauss' Don Juan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-NDx2cOYMc
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 20th December 2021 via Zoom.
Chad Goodman and I had already chatted before we did this interview and I knew he would be a perfect addition to the podcast! Open, funny, and extremely interesting.
We discuss the differences between a Cover Conductor, Assistant Conductor, Resident Conductor, and Conducting Fellow, we chat about the future for young conductors and their career paths, and we get extremely nerdy about our shared passion for all things horological!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 21st December 2021 via Zoom.
It was a real pleasure to chat with a composer and conductor I have admired for so long - Sir George Benjamin was so open and honest and I found him to be such a warm person to chat with.
We discussed how a composer/conductor must learn to distance themselves from their own music in performance, he had so many fond memories and stories about his dear friend, the late, great, Oliver Knussen, and I hear about an awful "birthday present" he once received!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 18th October 2021 via Zoom.
Sometimes you meet someone who seems to be a kindred spirit and Harry Christophers and I just got on instantly - maybe a love of football and a good pint of English bitter helped?
We discussed the art of programming and how much we enjoyed it, I found out which famous conductor was his first inspiration after seeing him conduct on TV, and I discover what rather surprising profession he would like to do!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 1st November 2021 via Zoom.
Eímear Noone is someone who seems to love chatting about music and conducting and I loved chatting with her about all manner of subjects and was especially fascinated to find out many things I didn't know about Film, TV & Video Game sessions from her.
I discovered how a visit to her school from the Army Band changed her life, what surprising comments she sometimes receives from fans of video game music, and what item "saved her life" when she toured while in the third trimester of pregnancy!
If you would like to hear the Patreon bonus episode attached to this podcast all about conducting at The Oscars and want to find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 6th September 2021 via Zoom.
What a pleasure and a joy it was to chat with one of my favourite composers! John Adams was so nice to chat with and such a lovely warm and open person.
I discovered that his first job was a rather surprising one, what extremely unusual item he always takes with him when he travels abroad, and how a Hamburg taxi driver brought him crashing down to earth!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 9th October 2021 via Zoom.
David Afkham is obviously a serious thinker about his conducting and music-making and that made for a fascinating chat!
I found out what the difference is between a Principal Conductor and a Chief Conductor / Artistic Advisor, we discussed the important topic of whether to use a stool in rehearsals, and he tells me his memories of working with and assisting the late, great, Bernard Haitink.
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 16th August 2021 via Zoom.
Enrique Mazzola is a conductor who is now at the top of the operatic conducting world yet a humble and honest person to chat with - a lovely chat with a genuinely nice guy.
I discover how singing as a boy at La Scala changed his life, why we can thank the composer Hans Werner Henze for him having the skills to run a major opera house, and, since reading one particular newspaper review, what has now become his "trademark"?!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 6th August 2021 via Zoom.
I have known Paul Murphy for quite a while, always loved chatting with him and this was no different - such a charming man and fascinating to chat with him about conducting ballet!
I discover how playing in youth orchestras during the Northern Ireland "troubles" brought young people together, we discussed whether conductors should conduct youth orchestras and amateurs, and we both agree that we find one particular conductors technique "baffling"!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 25th August 2021 via Zoom.
Jessica Cottis is definitely a conductor who has thought long and hard about what conducting is and what conductors do - it was really enjoyable chatting with her!
We discussed the pros and cons of demonstrating when you teach conducting, she gives a unique answer to how she would like to spend her 24 hours free, and I discover what hobby she shares with my own father!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 18th August 2021 via Zoom.
David Greilsammer was so much fun to chat with! A really passionate musician who also loves to think out of the box.
I found out how and when music was taken away from him and the positive impact that followed, we discussed how important it is to trust the orchestra, and how to set up an orchestra from scratch when you want your musicians to play, improvise and dance!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 27th August 2021 via Zoom.
One of the joys of this podcast has been how honest the conductors have been and Alexander Joel is no different at all! Despite a poor connection between Nancy & Birmingham, he was fun to chat with and always ready to give an opinion.
We discuss the differences between opera and symphonic conductors, how to get an orchestra to stop playing on "auto-pilot", and I discover what huge item he once took with him on a tour of Europe!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 30th June 2021 via Zoom.
Stephanie Childress has already made great strides in her career in such a short period of time. She was a joy to chat with and I enjoyed hearing her views and thoughts on a whole range of topics.
We discussed sexism, not only in the world of conducting but across society as a whole, we also discussed the pitfalls of watching yourself conduct on video, and we found out that we had a very similar experience with Brahms' Symphony No.2!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 3rd June 2021 via Zoom.
Lionel Bringuier was such a nice guy to chat with - full of life and a really positive outlook on life and music-making!
We had a discussion about which is harder to conduct, The Rite of Spring or Petrouchka, we discussed if conductors can be likened to tennis players, and I discovered why he was not allowed to celebrate with everyone else when he was at a dinner to announce his appointment at the Los Angeles Philharmonic!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners. If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).
This interview was recorded on 14th April 2021 via Zoom.
George Jackson is a wonderful person to talk to - not only about conducting but all manner of topics. I really enjoyed chatting with him and hope to again very soon.
I discovered how going to a party as a teenager helped him find orchestras, how he found a conducting mentor in the most entrepreneurial way, and we discussed one particularly momentous jump-in which started in a London pub and included a potential April Fools joke!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 11th April 2021 via Zoom.
Thomas Dausgaard is obviously a deep thinker and takes his music-making very seriously which, of course, led this to be a fascinating chat!
I discovered that his earliest musical experiences were not in the classical music world, we discussed how the long, slow romance approach to becoming a Music Director is one he prefers, and I hear how he got Norman Del Mar into trouble when he auditioned at the Royal College of Music!
If you would like to join the supporters club for this podcast and find out more about the world of conducting and conductors, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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As I promised in the interview, here is the link to Thomas' YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasMusicRoom/videos
This interview was recorded on 18th May 2021 via Zoom.
Anthony Hermus has such a bubbly character and I really enjoyed chatting with him! It is no surprise to me that he is widely in demand as a conductor.
I discovered that he went to university to study a subject that, at first, seems to have no common link to conducting, I heard how Jac van Steen (Episode 4) changed the direction of his career, and I jealously discover that he has conducted an opera which I am desperate to conduct!
If you would like to hear the Patreon exclusive bonus mini-episode that comes attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 30th April 2021 via Zoom.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that this is possibly my favourite interview so far!
Robert (or is that Bob?!) Spano was everything one could hope for - wise, open, honest, and very funny. We found out that we shared a bad habit when we were students, we discussed how an assistant conductor "should" observe a rehearsal, we get very geeky looking at the scores on my shelves and he tells a funny story about score marking involving Oliver Knussen, Reinbert de Leeuw and himself, as well as many other funny stories!
If you would like to hear the Patreon exclusive bonus mini-episode that comes attached to this episode, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 14th June 2021 via Zoom.
Yet another conductor who spoke passionately, honestly, and openly about what we do and how we do it!
Jordan de Souza and I discussed so many topics - what seemingly mundane things can "piss people off" in an orchestra, what advice to listen to and ignore, how to say No to a debut with an orchestra for the right reasons, and after hearing his answer, what item will I now not be leaving home without when I travel?!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 2nd May 2021 via Zoom.
After interviewing Juanjo Mena last week, it made sense to me to follow him with his successor at the BBC Philharmonic?
Omer Meir Wellber was fascinating to chat with - direct, open, honest, and never shy to let me know his thoughts. I discovered what very unusual instrument he started with as a child, we discussed whether it is possible to conduct music you hate, and he also had a very interesting theory about contemporary music and its relationship to sex!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 5th May 2021 via Zoom.
Juanjo Mena was such a charming person to chat with - softly spoken, open, warm, and honest.
I discovered what it is like studying with someone as intense as Sergiu Celibidache, what difficult task he sets any conductor who assists him, and he gives the most shocking answer to one of the ten questions ever - I was almost speechless when I heard it!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 23rd February 2021 via Zoom.
I am always humbled when I get the chance to chat with someone so influential in the world of classical music and find that they are so warm, honest, and fascinating.
Sir James MacMillan was a real joy to chat with - I discovered what music he likes to "champion" when he conducts abroad, we chat about the pitfalls of social media, and we discuss why it is problematic when a composer won't "let go" in the rehearsal process!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 15th March 2021 via Zoom.
This was another chat I really enjoyed having with a lot of laughter between the two of us!
Valentina Peleggi is a conductor who is really making strides in the conducting world. We discovered that we had both been to a little-known music festival in the mountains of Brazil, she was the first person to give the same answer to questions 1 & 2, and she was extremely forthright about what toppings should go on pizza!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 11th February 2021 via Zoom.
It is always a pleasure when you meet someone for the first time and you instantly have a rapport - this was one of those occasions!
Ben Glassberg and I chatted about diversity in the world of conducting, how important your relationship with the Leader or Concertmaster is, and how conducting must be "in the moment" and not a "dance routine" - and despite Ben worrying that "you will think that he is alcoholic", he did mention alcohol in five of his answers to the ten questions at the end!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 31st October 2020 via Zoom.
I love Argentina and have visited many times and it was a pleasure to chat with my first Argentinian conductor on the podcast!
Christian Baldini and I discussed cover conducting and what that entails, I discovered which composer's full score was so large that the music stand had to be rebuilt, and, of course, the subject of England vs Argentina and football didn't take too long to come up!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 13th January 2021 via Zoom.
Paul Daniel had been on my list of conductors I was desperate to chat with for a long time and what a joy it was to get to speak with him!
Despite some connection issues between the UK and France (and I do mean the internet!) I discovered how being a chorister at Coventry Cathedral really inspired him to conduct, I heard his very candid and honest reflections on the differences between Opera North and English National Opera, and I heard his wonderful impersonation of one of the conducting greats!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a one-off donation to financially support this podcast, then go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/a-mic-on-the-podium and any donation you make will be greatly appreciated and help the podcast live on into the future.
This interview was recorded on 3rd February 2021 via Zoom.
Jaime Martín is definitely a conductor who is going places! Along with his titled positions in Sweden, Spain, Eire, and the US, since we recorded this interview, he has been appointed the next Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra starting in 2022.
I discovered why he stayed as a student in The Hague for as long as possible, which conductor seemingly never gave any upbeats, and he is the first person to "politely decline" to answer one of the ten questions at the end!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 29th January 2021 via Zoom.
This was a chat I really enjoyed with a fellow conductor and podcaster! Joshua Weilerstein is a joy to interview and we had a lot to chat about.
We discussed his amazing lockdown project, how he started his podcast, 'Sticky Notes', and what he didn't even bother to pack in his suitcase when he entered the Malko Conducting Competition in 2009!
If you would like to know more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 13th July 2020 via Zoom.
I am lucky that so many of the conductors have been a joy to chat with and this week's episode is no different! Carlo Rizzi was very interesting and such a warm and genial person.
I discovered that Carlo studies his opera scores differently from symphonic scores, he tells me exactly what it takes to be a successful Music Director of an opera house, and I discover what he might start doing when he reaches his seventies?!
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 12th October 2020 via Zoom.
American conductor, Robert Trevino, is definitely making his mark on the world of conducting and classical music, having jobs in both Spain and Sweden, and since we recorded this chat, he's added another position in Italy.
Despite some poor internet connections at times, we discussed how a conductor should treat and interact with orchestral musicians, I found out who "beat the incompetence" out of him, and we had a very amusing moment sparked by the difference between US English and UK English!
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 10th August 2020 via Zoom.
This was another chat I thoroughly enjoyed - but then I have always seemed to get along well with brass players?!
Fabien Gabel was great to chat with and I found out how much of an influence Pierre Boulez was on him, we discussed how to get over being nervous when working with and assisting conductors that you admire, and I discover that Fabien, like myself, is a Berlioz fan!
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This interview was recorded on 8th October 2020 via Zoom.
Sometimes you chat with someone and very quickly realise that it is going to be a very interesting conversation!
Kerem Hasan is a conductor who is really going places and it is not hard to see why. We discussed our mental attitudes towards conducting, I found out that he was taught in a very unusual way whilst studying in Weimar, and I get to tell a story about a famous conductor conducting a motorbike!
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 17th September 2020 via Zoom.
Sometimes you get to chat with someone who has so many fascinating stories to tell and tells them so brilliantly!
It was wonderful to chat with Matthias Bamert, a most charming man and also open, honest, and candid.
I found out how two "fairytale meetings" with two of the giants of conducting changed his life forever, we discussed recording Mozart and Korngold, and I find out how filming concerts can sometimes be just like filming a game of football?!
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This interview was recorded on 25th October 2020 via Zoom.
One of the bonuses of making this podcast is meeting new people and finding out how lovely they are in person. Gemma New definitely falls into this category!
We discussed the difficulties we have both encountered when conducting Schools, Family, and Pops concerts, she gave the most creative answer yet to the question "when traveling abroad, what item could you not leave home without", and is it Hamilton, Hamilton, or Hamilton?!
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This interview was recorded on 5th November 2020 via Zoom.
It was a joy to chat with one of the true giants of the British classical scene. Sir Andrew Davis was very warm and extremely chatty, with a real willingness to be open and honest.
I discovered which very surprising work was the first orchestral piece he ever conducted, why Janáček's Glagolitic Mass was a pivotal work for him, and which other conducting knight, when he was introduced to him as an "aspiring conductor", told him that he "must be mad"!
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This interview was recorded on 4th August 2020 via Zoom.
Having met Håkan Hardenberger before, I knew this was going to fun!
Håkan told me the brilliant story about how he came to have lessons with Leif Segerstam, how a 50th birthday present really opened his eyes to another profession, and who told him he should have half of his brain removed!
A lovely chat with one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.
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This interview was recorded on 26th October 2020 via Zoom.
Sometimes when I chat with a conductor, we just get along straight away and this interview was definitely one of those!
Hugh Wolff is wonderful to chat with, intelligent, warm, and funny. I discovered what he had learned from Rostropovich and how he had benefitted from his "generosity", why he was locked in a room in Paris for eight hours, and we discover that we have very different views on the sound of a "babbling brook"!
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This interview was recorded on 7th November 2020 via Zoom.
Today is 25th April 2021 and also Anzac Day. It seems therefore appropriate to interview my first Australian conductor, probably the most prominent Australian conductor working today.
Simone Young was a joy to chat with - I discovered what pressures there may have been as a "trailblazer", we discussed conducting off-stage and how scary that can be, and I discover what criterion she uses when choosing her hairdressers!
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.
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This interview was recorded on 29th January 2021 via Zoom.
Dima Slobodeniouk was a fascinating person to chat with. We discussed how to cope with "first dates" with the world's top orchestras, I found out that the first piece he ever conducted at the Helsinki Academy was a rather surprising one, and I also discovered which symphony always "emptied him completely" and that he has decided not to conduct anymore!
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This interview was recorded on 7th September 2020 via Zoom.
What a delightful person Kevin John Edusei is and a joy to chat with! In an episode full of "firsts", I discovered how studying to be a sound engineer really helped him as a conductor, I heard everything I wanted to know about the German Kapellmeister system and found out what subject he is very happy to be "nerdy" about.
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This interview was recorded on 26th January 2021 via Zoom.
Manfred Honeck is such a lovely person to chat with - funny, serious, honest, and fascinating. I got to hear about his days playing in the Vienna Philharmonic and his thoughts on being conducted by Karajan, Bernstein, Kleiber & Harnoncourt, why fruit yoghurt was an early influence on his musical life and his choice of final meal is very apt for this Easter Sunday episode!
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This interview was recorded on 16th September 2020 via Zoom.
I have been wanting to chat with Sir Antonio Pappano since the podcast began and he was simply wonderful to interview! I discovered why passing his Grade 5 Piano exam was so important to him, we discuss his work for BBC TV and what that entails and I found out which work "finishes him" after every performance and he thinks that "Götterdämmerung is nothing in comparison"!
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This interview was recorded on 19th February 2021 via Zoom.
Chatting with Hannu Lintu turns out to be great fun and what a charming man he is. We discussed personal repertoire choices, especially "awkward" works, I found out what it is was like to be taught by the "two popes" of conducting, Jorma Panula & Ilya Musin, and I discover which job would be difficult for him to attempt due to his "temper"!
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This interview was recorded on 18th September 2020 via Zoom.
It was a real joy to sit and chat with one of the biggest names in the conducting world, Marin Alsop, for an hour. We discussed whether either of us actually liked learning the violin, why she once thought she should go into rock & roll, and I discovered she has a rather surprising choice of alternative career! A really special chat with a lovely person.
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meeting with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles and much more.
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This interview was recorded on 21st January 2021 via Zoom.
After quite a few requests from listeners as to when I might interview myself, to celebrate the podcast reaching Episode 50, I asked CBSO Chorus Director, Simon Halsey, to interview me instead.
Simon and I discussed what it means to be "part of the CBSO furniture", I am frank and honest about some of my early conducting trips away from the UK and I tell the complete story about standing in for Andris Nelsons at very short notice and how that led to an extremely memorable concert with Jonas Kaufmann in Baden Baden!
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This interview was recorded on 11th September 2020 via Zoom.
Osmo Vänskä has been at the top of the conducting world for nearly 40 years. I found out why the ensemble of an orchestra is so important for him, why his relationship with BIS has been so successful and fruitful, and we had a particularly funny Finnish moment. A lovely chat with a lovely man!
If you would like to financially support the podcast, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meeting with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles and much more.
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This interview was recorded on 4th July 2020 via Zoom.
Chatting with Chloé van Soeterstède was a real delight! I found out what it means to be the current Taki Concordia Alsop Fellow and how it all works, what language surprisingly she thinks she is "not good" at, and which composer's music might not be suitable to set a ballet to?!
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This interview was recorded on 22nd December 2020 via Zoom.
In this special "bonus" episode, I tell you how the podcast was recorded, why the episodes appear in the order they do, and what you might expect in the future from the podcast. I also discuss how you can help the podcast in the future and how long you can expect to hear new episodes.
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Chatting with Trevor Pinnock was both fascinating and fun and what a lovely person he is. I discovered some of his very interesting views on period performance and orchestral seating, what he learned by watching Leonard Bernstein teach at Tanglewood, and I found out how he got into trouble at school with Sir Mark Elder!
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Miguel Harth-Bedoya was a total joy to chat with! I discovered that he was given his job at the L.A.Philharmonic in a very surprising way, why it is so important to train the next generation of conductors in the correct way and why I should have been asking "Why?"!
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This was such a lovely chat and an interview I really enjoyed. Michael Francis and I chatted about our shared experiences as ex-professional players and what we have learned from them. I also learned about his incredible journey from the LSO to the podium, we agreed on which is the best of all sports and I found out that he used to have a rather surprising hairstyle!
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Dalia Stasevska is a young Finnish conductor who is a rising star of the conducting world who came to the world's attention in 2020. We, of course, discussed her conducting the Last Night of the Proms, we also discussed why conducting the music of Magnus Lindberg is so hard and I found out what Leif Segerstam wanted her to do on her own in a forest!!
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I have known Ben Gernon since he was a teenager and have always loved chatting to him about music and conducting. I discovered what lessons with Sir Colin Davis were like, which orchestra saw him through his "nappy years and on to being a toddler", and which famous conductor once gave him invaluable advice whilst he was eating a doner kebab!
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Ludovic Morlot and I had such a lovely time chatting and what a charming gentleman he is. I discover what rather unconventional methods he was taught in his very first conducting lessons, how the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland had an effect on his career, and which two conductors he likens to Federer and Nadal!
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Nicholas Collon is a very popular conductor across the UK, Europe, and beyond. He is also very enjoyable to chat with. I found out why he took up the viola, why the Aurora Orchestra first decided to play from memory and he has a very surprising and rather apt choice of final drink! The Patreon exclusive mini-episode can be found here (https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium) along with lots of other new content when you subscribe.
Karl-Heinz Steffens played the clarinet in two of the greatest orchestras in the world before becoming a highly successful conductor. I found out what advice Daniel Barenboim gave him, why playing for Claudio Abbado was so special and I hear possibly my favourite answer so far to the question "what item could could you not leave home without when travelling abroad?"!
A very honest and candid chat with a lovely person - Sian Edwards and I discussed so many topics from her successful conducting and teaching career. I discovered how Neeme Järvi shaped her early career, why she still has a piece of broken chair in her study and I got to hear an amazing story about Carlos Kleiber that I had never heard before!
The Venezuelan conductor, Domingo Hindoyan, is rising quickly to the top of the conducting profession. I found out what is was that made him fall in love with Liverpool, what he has had with him ever since he left Venezuela at the age of 19 and how his parent's background helped him become Assistant to Daniel Barenboim. A very pleasant chat to a fellow violinist!
I had such a lovely time chatting to the British conductor and fellow cricket fan, Rumon Gamba. He told me where his name comes from, he was very candid about his experiences as a Music Director and I found out what a "screaming party" is!
Sakari Oramo has been a friend since he became the Music Director of the CBSO in 1998. We reminisced about his 10 years in Birmingham and found out what "Bluffer's Guide" he wished had been written to prepare him for his time in the UK and I found out who called him "a terrible goose"! Two friends catching up and chatting about the past, the present and the future....
Young American conductor, Roderick Cox, is definitely making a name for himself in the conducting world. We talk about his charitable foundation and its origins, we get really technical over one passage of The Rite of Spring and I found out how American Football had an influence on his conducting career path!
Stephen Bell has been a friend for many years and always fun to chat with. I find out what we have to thank the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for, what method he uses to learn over 400 new works in a season and what his 6 year old daughter is better at than him! A really enjoyable chat with a lovely gent.
Kirill Karabits has been Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 2009 and loves them dearly. We discussed how important having the right agent at the beginning of your career is, what he learned from assisting Ivan Fischer and why conducting Beethoven Symphony No.5 is so bloody hard!
Nicholas Daniel can be described as a musical polymath - conductor, oboist, teacher, commissioner of new music and a lovely friend to have a chat with. We discussed (among many topics!) why conducting at Snape Maltings can be tough, why Shostakovich is great for youth orchestras and how Sir Simon Rattle and a gamelan are linked to performing Sibelius Symphony No.5!
What a charming person Jonathon Heyward is! We discussed the importance of the correct advice after winning a competition, what being a Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic entails and how seeing a performance of Don Giovanni changed his career path forever!
I really enjoyed this chat as Ilan Volkov was fun, friendly and fascinating. We discussed what programming entails and how enjoyable it can be, what the demands of curating and producing your own festival are and we both agreed that performing Messiaen can be frightening!
Chatting with JoAnn Falletta was a real joy - very warm, friendly and open. We discussed how rewarding it can be working with amateur musicians, how inspirational Leonard Bernstein was as a teacher and how working in Hawaii introduced her to one of her favourite pastimes!
Jiří Rožeň is a young Czech conductor who is a rising star in the music world. We chatted about his many years of study across Europe, what it was like to participate in a masterclass with Daniele Gatti and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and what it means to be a left-handed conductor! A charming young man to chat with.
Barry Wordsworth is such a gentleman and a real pleasure to chat with. We discussed the whole process of putting a new ballet together as a conductor, what great pieces of advice he got from Sir Adrian Boult and why living opposite a swimming pool was a stroke of luck!
Thierry Fischer was a late starter as a conductor but has more than made up for that. I found out how inspired by Harnoncourt he was, what lesson he learned when working with Martha Argerich and what piece of music made him lose sleep! A very warm and charming gentleman.
Mark Wigglesworth is a conductor who thinks hard about what he does, either as a conductor or as a writer. We discussed the subject of agents and managers, whether early teachers had a positive or negative influence and what orchestral musicians "expect" of conductors!
Cristian Macelaru was warm, honest and fascinating to talk to. I find out what Pierre Boulez told him about musical structure, what advice a Bass Player in Philadelphia gave him and we discussed whether it was possible for an orchestra and conductor to fall in love with each other whilst "speed dating"?!
Paul McCreesh is a good talker and, I think it is fair to say, did not pull any punches. We chatted about why conductors should be more honest, why you should employ a good harpsichord player and why there should be some chocolate in your suitcase!
I really enjoyed my chat with Nathalie Stutzmann - lots of laughter between wise words and a lot of insight. I found out what it was like meeting Jorma Panula for the first time, which word she would like to see dropped when describing herself and others and which instrument was deemed "inappropriate" for her to learn!
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This special episode announces the start of two new mini-series of podcasts and different ways of supporting the show. From today, listeners can subscribe on patreon.com/amiconthepodium and have a chance to hear these two new series along with becoming involved in the way the podcast is made in the future.
Bramwell Tovey has had a truly international career as a conductor and composer. I found out how the Salvation Army impacted his early life, how to pronounce 'Gerontius' and what is was like meeting Leonard Bernstein. We also get to hear extracts from one of his works in this episode which was possibly my favourite interview so far?!
A fascinating and very enjoyable chat! Matt Dunkley has spent most of his career in the studio, working on over 200 movies. We talk about what challenges a conductor faces in film sessions, working with superstar session musicians and he gave a very suprising answer to how he studies his scores!
Vasily Petrenko is a busy conductor worldwide and I really enjoyed talking with him about a wide range of topics. We discussed the state of music education in the UK, I found out how Sir Neville Marriner helped him early in his career and how close he came to becoming an Olympic swimmer!
Over a long and distinguished career, Sir Mark Elder has conducted pretty much everywhere. We chat about conducting in new concert halls and the challenges that can bring, how being left-handed has impacted on his career and I find out about his relationship with Sir Simon! Always a pleasure to chat with him and this proved no different.
A lovely chat between two ex-professional violinists. Karina Canellakis has risen quickly to being one of the most sought after conductors. We have a frank and open discussion about conducting our colleagues, what it was like learning from players of the Berlin Philharmonic and why Simon Rattle terrified her! I really enjoyed our chat together.
Leonard Slatkin is a Grammy award winning conductor, as well as a composer and author. I find out what conducting the Last Night of the Proms was like after the 9/11 attacks, how he came to know Frank Sinatra and we get to hear possibly the most amazing answer to the "final meal" question ever! A really enjoyable chat with lots of laughter....
Young American conductor, Ryan Bancroft, shot to fame after winning the 2018 Malko Competition and is soon to become Chief Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. I find out why the Mozart Requiem means so much to him, what it was like being taught by Jac van Steen and about his time dancing to Ghanaian music!
In a chat full of charm and laughter, Christopher Seaman tells us how he went from being Assistant Triangle with the NYO to being Chief Conductor of a BBC orchestra. He also tells me why making friends with the timpanist of an orchestra is not a bad idea and why wearing spectacles can sometimes be fraught with danger! A great chat with a lovely man.
Wayne Marshall has a multi-faceted career as a conductor, pianist and organist all over the world. I found out how his journey to the podium started at Glyndebourne, how Stevie Wonder influenced him in his early years and why it is best to avoid him during a thunder storm!
In this special "feature-length" episode, I chat with Barbara Hannigan - conductor, mentor, soprano and all-round musical polymath. I find out how she first started to conduct, how working with the greatest conductors in the world has helped her and that both of our lives have been influenced by meeting the "Yoda" of the conducting world! This was a real joy and an honour to chat with her.
We had too much to talk about so here is the second half of my chat with Daniel Harding. I find out what his early years as a conductor were like, why conductors should be more like Sir Anthony Hopkins and why his life is reaching new stratospheric heights.
This really was a fun way to spend two hours! In a special two-part episode, I have a very frank and open chat with Daniel Harding. In Part One, I find out the differences between his two mentors (Claudio Abbado and Simon Rattle), how he first got to meet Simon Rattle and why conductors should be more like Tiger Woods. Part 2 will follow very soon..
After nearly 30 years of knowing Simon Halsey, it was lovely to just sit and chat about all things music and conducting. I found out which famous family had a hand in his musical history, how a conversation with Simon Rattle changed his life and why conducting lessons with one teacher in particular could be very revealing!
Chatting with John Wilson is always a delight! In this episode, I find out how his orchestra came to be born, why he loves recording so much and I briefly get to discuss one of my other passions with him, wristwatches.
I first met Martyn Brabbins thirty years ago and have always loved chatting to him. I find out what studying in Soviet Russia was like, what differences there are in approach between orchestras in Europe and Japan and what conducting 990 performers was like. A very interesting journey and true gentleman!
The young British conductor, Alpesh Chauhan, was born and raised in Birmingham where he was first spotted and nurtured by the CBSO. I find out how those early days shaped his career, what he learned from talking to orchestral players and why rehearsing in a second language can sometimes be rather embarrassing!
Maybe this should be called 'the cricket episode" as the subject of cricket does appear a few times?
Ed Gardner tells us about his journey from chorister to conductor, which type of orchestra he would happily conduct more often and why he has an aversion to wood pigeons! A lovely chat with a good friend.
No stranger to audiences all across Europe, my guest this week is Jac van Steen. I find out what it means to run an opera house in Germany, how teaching helps you to become a better conductor yourself and how to work on your technique while riding a bicycle! We also find out what a charming and warm gentleman he is...
This week, I chatted to Holly Mathieson and found out what she wanted to be before she became a conductor, what being an Assistant Conductor entails and how conducting ballet feels like slalom skiing! A lovely chat and a very interesting path to the podium...
Andrew Litton takes us from his earliest experiences growing up in New York through to his time as being Music Director in Bournemouth, Dallas and Bergen. I found out what it was like to commute from the U.S. to Norway, how to conduct and play the piano simultaneously and what being assistant to Rostropovich was like. A chat I loved having, full of laughter, insight and bon homie!
Welcome to a brand new podcast, devised and presented by me, Michael Seal. Each week I interview a distinguished conductor and get them to tell us everything from their earliest musical experiences to their favourite food and drink.
In this "taster" episode, I explain how this podcast came to happen, who was involved and what the format will be for the upcoming episodes.
I also take the "10 question" challenge at the end!