Conductor's Roundtable

Conductor's Roundtable

Author: Joshua Weilerstein April 13, 2020 Duration: 56:21

This week I was proud to join the Phoenix Orchestra's livestream at twitch.tv/thephoenixorch for a quarantined conductor's roundtable featuring Matthew Szymanski, Aram Demirjian, and Gemma New. We discussed what it is that conductor's do, the art of rehearsing, batons, the psychology of working with large groups, our craziest stories from doing the job, and much much more. This was such a fun experience and we're going to be doing it again very soon. We hope you enjoy it and will join us for the next one!


There’s a particular kind of curiosity that draws people to classical music, but the sheer scale of the repertoire can feel overwhelming. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast, hosted by conductor Joshua Weilerstein, meets that curiosity right where it is. Think of it as a series of open conversations about the music itself, designed to be equally engaging for someone hearing a symphony for the first time and for a lifelong devotee. Episodes might feature a thoughtful interview with a performing artist, offering a glimpse behind the curtain, or they could focus entirely on a single piece, peeling back its layers to explore why it resonates. Weilerstein guides these explorations with clarity and enthusiasm, moving seamlessly from foundational concepts to more nuanced details about different musical eras. The entire premise of this podcast is built on a genuine belief that this music belongs to all of us. It’s about replacing any sense of intimidation with connection and understanding. While past seasons are gradually being re-released, each episode stands as its own invitation to listen more deeply.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 284

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Beethoven Triple Concerto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:00
Beethoven's Triple Concerto might be his most heavily criticized work. Musicians look down on it, critics always complain about it, conductors hate conducting it, orchestral musicians hate playing it, and yet it still ge…
The Life and Music of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
Just a glance at a biography of Le Chevalier should have every movie producer salivating. He was the son of a 17 year old slave and her white owner. He was an expert athlete, known as the greatest fencer in all of France…
Bartok Violin Duos and Social Duoing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:08
Bartok's 44 Violin Duos are a triumph of Bartok's devotion to the folk music of Eastern Europe. 42 of the 44 are based on field recordings Bartok collected in his travels, many of which you will hear today. The social du…
How Musical Revolutions Were Created, Part 2 - w/ Jan Swafford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
Jan Swafford was such a fantastic guest last time that I thought we had to have him back on! During these past two weeks, we discussed how so much of the revolutionary music in the history of classical music was influenc…
Sibelius Symphony No. 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:21
Sibelius' 7th Symphony is a piece that is barely a symphony at all, and yet it carries symphonic logic throughout. It's only 20 minutes long, in one movement that never stops evolving, with a form that has sparked many d…
How Musical Revolutions Were Created, Part 1 - w/Jan Swafford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:17
Jan Swafford was such a fantastic guest last time that I thought we had to have him back on. This week(and next week), we discussed how so much of the revolutionary music in the history of classical music was influenced…
Respighi, "The Pines of Rome" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:36
Respighi occupies a strange place in musical history. He is almost never considered to be one of the "greats," though his mastery of orchestral color is never doubted by anyone. Today on this Patreon sponsored episode, w…