Tea with Netty

As summer approaches, bass-baritone Dingle Yandell joins Netty in the fields of Glyndebourne for the latest episode. They have compelling conversations, from his discovery of British novelty pop act Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers to sharing experiences of music college auditions and there are revelations behind the meaning of names. Dingle Yandell, who was part of the first cohort of OAE's R...

OAE’s Head of Digital Zen Grisdale spills the tea as he joins Netty in the latest episode. Zen is responsible for delivering all the wacky and wonderful digital content, from our distinctive instrument videos to paying homage to Coldplay and everything in between. He shares his creative thought process and how it all began in the least expected way! Be prepared for an episode of funny stories, sou...

In the latest episode, OAE Co-Principal Cello Luise Buchberger joins Netty for tea. Tuning in from her home in Frankfurt, Luise talks about more travels between her projects with the OAE and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Find out what makes gut strings ‘crunchy peanut butter’ like and whether cellists really do have the best seats in the house! Having been with the OAE for over 10 years, Luise...

Conductor, composer and arranger John Wilson joins Netty for tea in the latest episode. They delve into themes that are close to the heart of the OAE. John also recalls some interesting memories including his revelational trips to HMV, and his (nervous) first encounter with the OAE…  John Wilson, who joined us in the summer as conductor for our Princess Ida production, shares his journey into the...

 The first Tea with Netty episode of 2024 features a Viola combo with Principal Violist Max Mandel joining fellow Violist Netty for tea and chats. They dive deep into a range of topics, including quirky ensemble names, a story on a quick costume change, Max's top five conductors, and more!  Max tells his story of coming from Toronto and what inspired him to join the OAE. He also shares a sign...

In the latest episode, we bring you a Christmas treat of not just one but two Cuttings in a sibling special with Guy Cutting (tenor) and Hugh Cutting (countertenor). They touch base in Netty’s lair (hotel room) during the Christmas Oratorio tour with Masaaki Suzuki. There are talks of chaotic travelling, funny audience encounters, an unusual request for a Sony Ericsson charger and many more amusin...

In this episode, OAE Principal Oboe Katharina Spreckelsen joins Netty for tea and chats. She recalls her first encounters with the oboe at a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, where she discovered the joy of Bach's chorales in the Christmas Oratorio and the energetic oboe parts. You can catch her performing and experience the same musical delights in our upcoming concerts with Masaaki Suzuki. Also,...

In the latest Tea with Netty episode countertenor extraordinaire Michael Chance, who is currently running The Grange Festival and other music projects, shares his journey as a singer and teacher. He tells fun stories which include singing in mid-air to performing opera in Superman and other questionable costumes, guaranteed to bring plenty of giggles!  Michael and Netty take a nostalgic trip down...

Joining Netty in the latest episode is Claire Holden, who has been an OAE violinist for over 20 years and is also an academic researcher who has led two major Arts and Humanities Research Council projects, as well as being a teacher and consultant on performance practices in the 19th Century.  Claire Holden takes us on a captivating journey as she recounts her experiences of growing up playing the...

Joining Netty in the latest episode is Václav Luks, who is currently conducting Handel's Semele with the OAE at Glyndebourne. We travel back in time with Václav to an era when libraries and photocopy machines were the norm. He shares his passion for mountaineering, survival instincts, and taking a leap of faith in the Baroque world. Conductor, director, harpsichordist, horn player and musicol...

In this episode, Netty is joined by countertenor Tim Mead who shares some interesting stories. Tim talks about wacky costume preparations with lots of unexpected on-stage action and reveals what his ultimate critic (his dog) really thinks of his singing… As the Glyndebourne summer festival continues, countertenor Tim Mead, who is currently playing the role of Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, g...

Amidst the summer season, Evan Rogister, currently conducting Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne joins Netty for a cuppa. He takes us through his intriguing past which led to the opera bug and admission into one of the world’s most prestigious performing arts schools. There’s also an exciting revelation about our well-loved theme tune...  From a child singer to a trombonist and now conductor, multi-tale...

OAE Principal clarinet Katherine Spencer joins Netty for a cuppa in a brimming episode. They talk about nickname origins, a clarinet obsession and other entertaining stories involving some chickens, a pony and diving.  Deep within Glyndebourne territory, amidst the Don Giovanni rehearsals for the summer, Katherine Spencer (aka Waffy) joins Netty and spills the tea. Katherine talks about her very f...

Soprano and early music specialist Dame Emma Kirkby joins Netty for a cuppa, taking us back to her earliest career moments. From learning Latin to performing and teaching opera, she talks about the approaches to singing baroque music and has been an inspirational figure to many other sopranos. As a renowned soprano of the 70s after Christopher Hogwood's recording of The Messiah came out, Dame...

OAE leader Matthew Truscott joins Netty for tea and takes us on a (boat) ride through his musical career, reminisces about long-standing OAE friendships and recalls a startling find under the house.  Highly in-demand violinist Matthew Truscott shares his experiences of playing a vast range of repertoire with the OAE, his prominent role and love for our pioneering series The Night Shift and gives u...

One of OAE’s favourite sopranos, Julia Doyle, joins Netty for tea in this jam-packed episode where she talks about unusual vocal exercises to the perils of playing the viola and keeping a tortoise in the fridge.  Having worked with the OAE for almost 20 years, soprano Julia Doyle recalls her earliest memories with us and growing up in a musical family which led to a variety of instrumental and voc...

OAE's Principal Timpanist Adrian Bending joins Netty for tea and talks about the approaches to playing the timpani to some of his ear-bending revelations and everything in-between.  Adrian Bending rewinds back to an unexpected occurrence in his early life to the start of his musical journey and chats with Netty about the development of the Timpani along with many intriguing stories. --- Tea w...

Music played a large part in the early family life of the Isserlis Siblings and their dog, and here they share memories of their childhood, and how it shaped the trajectory of their respective musical paths. --- Tea with Netty is the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s podcast hosted by viola player Annette Isserlis (Netty). Over a cuppa (or something a little stronger…), Netty chats with a va...

From Director of Opera and Drama at Gothenburg Opera to Glyndebourne's current Artistic Director, Stephen Langridge has directed many productions throughout his career for renowned opera houses around the world. He talks about taking his first (literal) steps at Glyndebourne to making a return during the pandemic and everything in between. Stephen looks back at his musical background and educ...

Cherry Forbes, OAE's Director of Education, is the powerhouse behind OAE’s all-embracing philosophy of providing access to classical music for everyone. She organises musical events across the UK, starting with tots and reaching across the range to care-homes and hospitals. Her energy and enthusiasm continues to inspire all of us who are involved in the programme. --- Tea with Netty is the Or...

Rowan Pierce was one of OAE’s first intake of Rising Stars. She is indeed stellar, and very much in demand, both on the concert platform and as an opera singer. Here she talks about her musical family beginnings in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and how her background, including amateur dramatics, shaped her approach to the profession. *** Tea with Netty is the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s podcas...

Ben Glassberg is a young conductor much in demand by several opera companies including ENO and La Monnaie, and Chloe Rooke, who has been working as his assistant on Don Pasquale at Glyndebourne this summer with OAE, is also a prodigiously talented conductor, on the threshold of her career.  Ben has been principal conductor of Glyndebourne on Tour since 2019, and is also Music Director of Opera de...

Jonathan Cohen has appeared with OAE as a principal cellist as well as directing from the keyboard and is currently directing Handel’s Alcina at Glyndebourne. He is a musical polymath, appearing in chamber concerts either on cello or harpsichord, and was a founder-member of the London Haydn String Quartet. His own ensemble, Arcangelo has made many prestigious recordings and appeared at major venue...

David Blackadder, OAE’s principal trumpet, shares memories ranging from playing in a brass band as a boy via Brandenburg 2 on the natural trumpet to featuring as soloist at a Royal Wedding, with colourful incidents and thoughts along the way.  --- Tea with Netty is the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s podcast hosted by viola player Annette Isserlis (Netty). Over a cuppa (or something a litt...

Steven Devine is a core member of OAE as our exceptionally versatile keyboard player, who also directs our monthly Bach, the Universe and Everything series on Sundays, as well as appearing in many of our OAE Player videos. In this episode we hear about his extraordinary pathway into the world of period instruments, as well as his thoughts on how they reflect musical history so explicitly.  --- Tea...