Starting is often the hardest part of any artistic, or entrepreneurial project. So, despite the gajillions of reasons why NOT - find a way to power through them and get to DO. Act, massively, and soon...
Robin talks to the Oxford Student magazine about Bruckner and Debussy, orchestras and conducting, as part of his performance with OUO in the Sheldonian Theatre last May...
I decided on a total overhaul. Things were getting old, a bit out of date, and I was becoming limited on what I could update. So, I chose what I thought was a good time, without pressing gigs, mountains of admin and loads of meetings...
Not everyone "gets" Mahler. Whether they're musicians, or not. Some people can't spend a day without it. Remember that scene in Educating Rita, where Julie Walters is met at the door by Maureen Lipman - complete with Mahler 6's finale blaring away behind her? Indelibly etched upon...
Just recently, I was lucky enough to share the stage with the fabulous James Mayhew. Every year we work together, preparing, rehearsing and performing our incredibly successful series of Family Concerts. These are a highlight of the de Havilland Philharmonic season, attracting huge crowds - largely,...
Despite being a celebratory year for those two Scandi-giants Sibelius and Nielsen, a number of my opening concerts this year have a distinctly Beethovenian theme. Take this weekend, for example: an all-Beethoven evening on Saturday, with an award-winning soloist, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care....
January is a funny month. Always is. After a whirlwind of travelling, concerts, meetings and whatnot in the autumn, I'm now enjoying a reclusive month. I quite like it. I wish I could report I've spent most of it studying Mahler, or cruising the podiums...
Yes, I reckon that's an unusual combination too. But it hooked you in, right? Or maybe you've been googling something else, and have ended up here by mistake. In which case, welcome - you're amongst friends here. I promise. I won't judge people for their...