Mahler's Third Symphony is always an event, partly due to the size of forces needed and the space required. The famous opening with the horns in full flight is truly astonishing writing and the power unleashed by Gergiev's hands in the ample acoustic of the Lincoln Centre is...
Another year, another blog. Yes, I know its February but this is the first time I have managed to put virtual pen to...er...virtual paper. I was looking through some of the old blogs the other day which date back to 2007. The reason for this is that we are off to New York soon...
As an encore at the recital the other night, we played a little melancholy Welsh folk song. Simple but effective in its main aim of bringing a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye. A member of the audience asked me at the reception afterwards if all Welsh folk songs were...
?The relentless schedule which we undertake in this orchestra is tough. It forces you into a way of life which simply sounds ridiculous when you try and explain it to anyone outside of the orchestral world. The hours are long, hard and antisocial, families often take second...
In this job I see some pretty spectacular things, hear astonishing sounds and, on tour at least eat some incredible food (I had goat last night but passed on the bullfrog). I am surrounded by some fabulous musicians and hear the greatest soloists in the world as they pass...
After a relaxing break for a couple of weeks in the summer it would be nice to gradually ease myself back into work with something low pressure and easy. Of course in the music business this simply doesn't happen and so this week we were thrown straight back into the whirlwind...
Project Manager Craig Thorne gives us a progress update... I certainly can't take all the credit for Plan C - I must mention everyone in the Discovery team who pulled together to make it happen: Paul, Elie, Becca and Laura who spent many hours on hold and online with just about...
Chers amis...
As the seatbelt light came on and people gradually returned to their seats for the final descent into Mumbai, I have to admit to feeling a little nervous. After the incredibly ordered calm of UAE, I knew Mumbai was going to be almost exactly the opposite, but no matter how many...
The first concert with Kristjan...
