A Stick With A Point

Moray Welsh is one of the UK's most distinguished musicians. In this podcast he describes his musical life's journey, how he came to meet and be championed by Benjamin Britten, studies with Rostropovich in Moscow and his time as Principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra.

The wonderful Italian conductor, Carlo Rizzi shares memories, ideas and experiences about music making in general and, about conducting in some of the world's great opera houses in particular!

Following stints in a similar role at the Houston and San Francisco Symphony orchestras, Mark Hanson is the recently appointed President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony. In this podcast he articulates a passionately held vision for the future not only of the BSO, but orchestras throughout the US.

JoAnn is one of the most beloved and enterprising of all conductors working today. She's enjoyed spectacular success during her tenures as music director at a number of orchestras, and is just a delight to be around!

Paul Meecham, one of the industry's most distinguished leaders reflects on a lifetime managing orchestras in both the USA and UK.

Jeremy Rothman, Chief Programming Officer for The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Kimmel Center, guides us through his role in the orchestra's new "Golden Age'.

Let's hear it from conductors!  In an occasional departure from the usual A Stick with a Point format I've been interviewing a few of my conductor friends and getting their thoughts on the state of the business and what the future might hold, as well as a few more practical matters; “What is the role of an orchestra in a community? How do orchestras in different parts of the world survive and get their funding? Will there be an audience for symphonic music in the future and how do we nurture it? Is the notion of ‘relevance' a transitory red herring? My first guest is the wonderful James Judd whose views are not only well considered but inspiring and, well full of that much-overlooked attribute, “common sense”.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you do too!

All you ever wanted to know about how the greatest violins move around the music world and why. Bruno Price from Rare Violins of New York gives us the lowdown on this mysterious area of the classical music business.

An inspiring interview with a musician who is truly leading the way into the future for young artists and re-imagining the landscape for performers.

Kathy Schuman, Vice President & Artistic Director of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in New York shares some of the delights, challenges and stresses that go hand in hand with running one of the US's most respected and admired performing Arts Centers.

Avshi Weinstein, co-founder of the amazing Violins of Hope project - rescued and restored string instruments from the Holocaust - tours the world with his story telling collection. Grim as the reality of that period was, the humbling humility with which these tales are recounted is truly uplifting.

Simon Eadon is one of the most respected and successful recording engineers of today and has been at the controls of countless great recordings of classical music. Despite all this he still claims one of the most important attributes necessary is the ability to brew a good cup of tea!

Raymond Gubbay, the only man I know who ever made money out of classical music and, introduced tens of thousands of people to this glorious art shares candid stories about the journey that took him there!

Leading Beethoven scholar Jonathan DelMar gives us the lowdown on his celebrated excavations into the mistakes, misprints and misreadings of some of the greatest orchestral masterpieces and, how to deal with them!

Director of both the Donatella Flick/LSO Conducting Competition and Menuhin Competition, Jessica Brennan, gives the low down on how these celebrated events come together, what their role is and challenging moments en route!

The great composer Sir James MacMillan discusses his formative years and shares thoughts on composing techniques, sources of inspiration, his festival in Ayrshire and...electric pencil sharpeners!

Andrew Jowett, the former, and longtime, director of one of the greatest concert halls in the world recounts the hurdles jumped and the deals made to make Symphony Hall in Birmingham a reality and, the joys that came for so many with the countless world-class artists that graced its stage!

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Director, Dominic Parker is my inspiring guest on this episode. Not only does he rise to the challenges of running one of the finest orchestras in the UK on a daily basis, he also is full of vision, progressive solutions and practical approaches. His is a no-nonsense approach based on real world values. Terrific listening! 

Nancy Laturno, Mainly Mozart and a whole lot more than just a summer music festival in California!

If you don't know the wonderful cellist Robert deMaine already, now's your chance. As Principal Cellist of the LA Philharmonic he not only holds one of the great orchestral posts in the business, he also gets to perform widely as a soloist and works regularly with the greatest musicians around. Not only will this be a fascinating listen for cellists, it will also keep those intrigued by the psychology of the musician enthralled!

In this episode I'm breaking my own house rules by inviting a performing musician as my guest. But what a musician! Stewart Goodyear is a phenomenal pianist and composer with an ever positive outlook. He tells us all about his early upbringing and its challenges and speaks with huge energy about the 'wildest music in the world - classical music!' He also talks about his passion for Beethoven which he continues to explore through his extensive recordings and a personal phenomenon, the 'Sonatathon'!

Ulrich Gerhartz is Steinway's top man in London when it comes to getting the very best out of their legendary instruments. In our chat he describes just what it takes not only to get the pianos in 'tip-top' condition, but also manage the expectations and demands of some of the world's finest virtuosi.

In this fabulously informative and lively interview, Jennifer Higdon, the world's 'busiest' composer, offers insights not only into her inspirations and motivations but also her working practice and outlook on the music business. The various detours around reviewers and critics make it even more engaging!

Henry Fogel has managed the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony in DC and the American Symphony Orchestra League in a career that began in the 1960s. He's still a force of nature and as active as ever! Fervent in his beliefs and with all the statistics to back up his arguments, chatting with Henry is never dull!

The highly respected artist manager Eleanor Hope recounts her many years in the business and her time as the great Yehudi Menuhin's manager. Along the way our conversation dwells on the current state of the music business, its colourful past and optimism for the future. Nothing misses Eleanor's perceptive gaze!

John Gilhooly is the inspirational force behind one of the great recital venues in the world, Wigmore Hall in London. In this interview he not only speaks to the current challenges they are facing there, but also offers a fascinating insight to his personal philosophy of audience engagement. Head over to Apple podcasts, Spotify and Google to hear all about it!

Award winning composer Stacy Garrop is rapidly becoming loved and admired for her energetic and engaging musical language. In this interview she traces her path to finding her musical independence.

Jonathan Palevsky is a source of inspiration and joy to all of his listeners. Listen here to find out what makes classical music work on the public airwaves.

Andrew Keener is one of the finest and most sought after record producers in the classical music business. In this conversation AC and AK discuss what it takes to help some of the most distinguished artists in the world shape their performances  for posterity, how you get there in the first place and what to do when things are getting a little tense!

Conductor Andrew Constantine introduces his new series of interviews with luminaries from behind the scenes in the classical music industry. Celebrity composers, record producers, venue managers, radio broadcasters and many more, turn the spotlight on the inner workings of this mysterious world in A Stick With A Point.