A Stick With A Point

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Andrew Constantine interviews celebrities from behind the scenes in the classical music industry in "A Stick With A Point". This innovative and thought provoking podcast turns the spotlight on composers, directors, record producers, venue managers, radio broadcasters and many more!

Andrew Constantine


    • Apr 4, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 30 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from A Stick With A Point

    Moray Welsh - more than a great cellist.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 50:08


    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 Italian Maestro!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 47:13


    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!

    italian maestro carlo rizzi
    Mark Hanson, via Houston and San Francisco, President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 39:04


    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 Falletta

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 37:03


    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!

    A Life at the Helm!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 35:15


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

    Jeremy Rothman and Philadelphia's new 'Golden Age'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 29:17


    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'.

    philadelphia golden age philadelphia orchestra kimmel center chief programming officer jeremy rothman
    Conductor Spotlight - James Judd

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 42:39


    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!

    conductor james judd
    Strads, Guarneris and the world of great violins!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 50:20


    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.

    Jeffrey Sharkey - Principal of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 34:30


    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 and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 36:05


    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.

    Violins of Hope co-founder Avshi Weinstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 37:18


    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 - the man behind the controls for fifty years!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 42:12


    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!

    Lowering the Tone and Raising the Roof - the story of Raymond Gubbay.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 47:28


    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!

    Beethoven and Jonathan DelMar - quite a team!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 37:14


    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!

    Jessica Brennan - Director of the Menuhin Competition and Donatella Flick/LSO Conducting Competition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2021 39:03


    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!

    Sir James MacMillan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 39:05


    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!

    ayrshire sir james macmillan
    Andrew Jowett - Symphony Hall's man at the helm for over 25 years!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2021 55:31


    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 - A Man For All Seasons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 45:03


    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! 

    uk orchestras terrific orchestra director bbc scottish symphony orchestra
    Nancy Laturno

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 31:30


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

    The One and Only, Robert deMaine!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 60:00


    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!

    Stewart Goodyear - Breaking the House Rules!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 32:01


    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'!

    Steinway's top man reveals all!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 41:18


    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.

    Jennifer Higdon - The world's most performed living composer.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 34:22


    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!

    The Legendary Henry Fogel

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 49:56


    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!

    Eleanor Hope - Music, Management and Menuhin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 36:55


    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!

    Episode 4 - John Gilhooly of London's Wigmore Hal

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 32:32


    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!

    Episode 3 - Stacy Garrop, a composer with a tale to tell.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 34:17


    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.

    Classical Music on the Public Airwaves!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 24:48


    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.

    Keener! Record producer extraordinaire.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2020 28:58


    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!

    A Stick With A Point - Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 4:11


    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.

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