a mic on the podium

Having played for Nicholas on many occasions, I knew he would be fun to chat with given his ebullient nature. I also found out how open and honest he is and also how much he has thought about his craft!

With many anecdotes and stories, I heard his thoughts on many conductors, both past and present, we discussed how important it is as a conductor to "read the room", and I discover what he has in common with David Beckham!

If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this interview and discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 12th September 2022 via Zoom.

Anja Bihlmaier and I seemed to have a lot in common right from the outset and it made this an extremely enjoyable chat. Lots of warmth, honesty and humour!

I heard her describe the differences between conducting opera and symphonic work in terms of skiing, I discovered that we had a similar childhood experience whilst playing Dvorak's New World Symphony, and I found out why she took some coca-cola into the opera pit once!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 15th September 2022 via Zoom.

This was a truly fascinating chat! As one of the foremost conducting teachers of today, I hoped Mark Heron would be good to chat with and I was not disappointed - I learned a lot and I know you will as well. It was such a warm and thoughtful discussion.

We discussed strategies when faced with guest conducting an orchestra for the first time, I discovered which famous ex-pupil was "pretty rubbish" at conducting two pianos and why it didn't matter, and I discovered which sport he likes which, given his Scottish roots, might be quite surprising?!

If you would like to hear the bonus mini-episode attached to this interview and discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 3rd November 2022 via Zoom.

As two ex-violinists, Gábor and I had quite a lot in common and we seemed to hit it off immediately. He is such a warm and thoughtful person to chat with!

I discovered how music helped him cope with living in a communist regime, we discussed in depth how conductors should talk to an orchestra, and he told me how a joke told to him by his violin teacher changed his life.

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 10th September 2022 via Zoom.

This is a deeply touching and personal episode. Grant Llewellyn was so open and candid about his experiences of having suffered a stroke in 2021 and how it has impacted his life and career.

I heard his honest opinions of four of the greatest conductors of the past who mentored him, we quickly got sidetracked talking about football (well, it is a World Cup year?!), and I allow him to "break the rules" in the ten questions at the end!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 11th October 2022 via Zoom.

My chat with Eva Ollikainen started with us noticing our studies have the same coloured walls and it carried on being a very relaxed and fun interview to make!

We discuss fixing problems in rehearsals and whether we should, we got very geeky about metronome markings, and I discover which very famous conductor she once had to ask to be quiet in her rehearsal!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 24th October 2022 via Zoom.

Having heard Nicholas Buc's podcast, it was great to put a face to the voice. We also had a lot in common and it made this a really enjoyable interview!

I discovered how his podcast came into being and why the chemistry between his co-presenters and himself works, we discuss the similarities between "footballs" and "eggs", and you will discover which avid listener to this podcast will be rather pleased with his answer to Question 5!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

Here is the link to Nicholas's excellent podcast about film music, 'The Art of the Score' - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/art-of-the-score/id1207181678

This interview was recorded on 27th September 2022 via Zoom.

Some interviews feel good from the very start and my chat with Leslie Suganandarajah felt like that immediately - such a thoughtful and humble person to chat with!

We agree that conducting opera when you cannot actually see the singers is extremely difficult, he told me which specific rehearsal always gives him "goosebumps", and I hear how, at an early age, a dentist changed his life!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 30th August 2022 via Zoom.

Having worked with Stéphane Denève on a project together in the summer of 2022, I knew he would be a brilliant guest and a very interesting person to chat with. It helped that we had become friends very quickly indeed!

I discovered who his "Yoda" was, he gave a really brilliant answer to Question 7 that I just did not see coming, and I heard how an experience in the "night bar" of the Ritz Hotel, Paris, changed his life!

Here is a link to Stéphane's website to see the video we discuss of him assisting Sir Georg Solti in London -https://www.stephanedeneve.com/video/

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 15th August 2022 via Zoom.

I have probably known Jamie Phillips for more of his life than any other conductor I have interviewed! I knew, therefore, that he would be perfect to chat with and interview.

We discussed when and why you should stop entering conducting competitions, I discover what the "golden rule" was when he attended CBSO rehearsals as a child, and I find out what sporting event he has been training for!

If you would like to discover a whole lot more about conductors and conducting, why not subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/amiconthepodium, and, for a monthly fee starting from just £5 a month, you can access two new series of interviews, group Zoom meetings with other fans of the podcast and myself, a monthly bulletin about the podcast and my own career as well as articles, photos, videos and even conducting lessons from myself.

If you listen via Apple podcasts, please do leave a rating and review - it really helps the podcast get noticed and attract more listeners.

If you want to get involved on social media, you can via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/amiconthepodium) or Twitter (@amiconthepodium).

This interview was recorded on 5th July 2022 via Zoom.