Classical music has been known to have a calming effect on people for centuries. Many people turn to classical music to relax after a long day at work or to help them sleep at night. But why is classical music so calming?
Preparing for a concert is a bit like preparing for a job interview; with the exception that you face a panel of 80 or so players, staring and waiting to decide in the first five minutes of a rehearsal if you're the worst candidate in history or not. That first three-hundred seconds can make or break you, regardless if you have a baton in your hand or just a good old CV - and as anyone who has been successful in an interview knows, it's all in the preparation. So how does this conductor prepare for those three-hundred seconds?
Robert Emery talks to Jodie Prenger, actress and singer best known for winning the ‘I’d Do Anything’ TV programme in 2008, giving her the opportunity to play Nancy in the West End revival of ‘Oliver!’ at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Jodie talks about her work on stage, and the influence the National Theatre had on her. She of course also answers a quick-fire round of questions culminating in the big question; Oliver or Annie?
Robert Emery talks to David Miller, American Tenor who is a member of the successful classical crossover group Il Divo, who has sold over 28 million copies worldwide. David talks about the challenges of being on tour, recording albums and how he believes that living 'in the now' is the biggest factor of his success and happiness.
Robert Emery talks to Cassidy Janson, actress and now singer/songwriter best known for playing the lead in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and joining Beverley Knight and Amber Riley to form the trio; The Leading Ladies. Cassidy talks about the challenges of being a musical theatre actress, the struggle to record her debut album, and what it's like to be a standby Elphaba in London's West End. And of course, she answers a quick-fire round of questions culminating in the big question; Kate Monster or Lucy the Slut?
Robert Emery talks to Peter Polycarpou, British stage, TV and film actor best known playing Chris Theodopolopodous in the hit TV series 'Birds Of A Feather'. Peter talks about his approach to work, tells some incredible stories on what happens behind the scenes in the world of theatre, and answers a quick-fire round of questions culminating in the big question; Les Mis or Miss Saigon?
Preparing for a concert is a bit like preparing for a job interview; with the exception that you face a panel of 80 or so players, staring and waiting to decide in the first five minutes of a rehearsal if you're the worst candidate in history or not. That first three-hundred seconds can make or break you, regardless if you have a baton in your hand or just a good old CV - and as anyone who has been successful in an interview knows, it's all in the preparation. So how does this conductor prepare for those three-hundred seconds?
In this special episode of the 'Backstage with Robert Emery' podcast, RDCE discusses the reason learning a musical instrument is so hard, and how to overcome these issues.
Covering the skillsets needed to play an instrument, techniques to keep playing, the differences between adult and child learning and the importance of setting goals. This episode is designed to be short and informative for parents of children who play, or indeed an adult who is learning.
I am often asked what it's like to be a musician, and with respect, that's almost as broad as asking what it's like to be a human. I'm pretty confident that a day in the life of Robert Emery will be radically different from Puff Diddly, or Simon Cattle; yet we are all musicians, allegedly. So if the making of music is the only thing that connects us, what is it like to be this musician?
The journalist Jeremy Clarkson has his gargantuan stomach and the pianist Glenn Gould had his wooden chair. Novelist Mary Shelly (think Frankenstein) wrote with a Boa Constrictor around her neck, and artist Salvador Dalí carried around a piece of Spanish driftwood. Nigel Kennedy performs in an Aston Villa t-shirt and Robert Emery, yes that's me, conducts barefoot.