A Stick With A Point

Andy Smith is so much more than just a timpanist. I loved our chat here about his decades with the great Philharmonia Orchestra in London, how he got there, what some of the glory times were and, what he thinks of the current state of affairs!

Orli Shaham is one of the brightest stars on the musical stage today. Not only a wonderful pianist and expressive performer, she is one of the sharpest music minds I know. I always learn from talking with her, and it's always fun!

With tales of George Szell, Oscar Shumsky and over fifty years as a violinist in the revered Emerson Quartet, Philip Setzer is full of tales, reminiscences and boundless energy and ideas for his new role as Artistic Director of Vermont's Manchester Music Festival.

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...

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 psycho...

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...

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.