The Forte Podcast – a little-known but fast-growing corner of the classical music podcast scene – invited Robin to share the virtual airwaves in an otherwise quiet part of post-lockdown summer. After careful juggling of diaries, podcast host and director Anthony Cheng met Robin to talk at Southampton’s Turner Sims – an ideal venue, given Robin’s history of performances on that stage, and long association with University of Southampton (he teaches his renowned conducting class in the hall, too).

Originally positioned more as a pianists’ podcast, Forte has expanded to include composers, teachers, media editors and – yes – conductors. In Anthony, Robin found an engaging and encouraging interviewer, feeling comfortable to open up about multiple aspects of the musical world.

Subjects covered include an artist’s response to lockdown and the pandemic; where inspiration comes from; and what modern conductors need to add to their already flexible toolset to take their craft forwards.

You can watch Part 1 of the podcast here, and see a shorter extract below.