Robert Emery talks to Willemijn Verkaik, the singer and actress best known for her stage role in Wicked and singing the voice of Elsa for the German and Dutch versions of Disney's Frozen. Willemijn talks about how she keeps on top form, her experience of playing Elphaba on Broadway, the West-End, in Germany and in the Netherlands, and how her stage confidence doesn't always translate to real life.
Easter has inspired some of the greatest works in classical music. First of all let’s get the whole religion thing out of the way; YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS TO ENJOY THIS MUSIC! Right. Now I’ve said that, in my humble option, here are five incredible Easter pieces you need to listen to before the boulder is moved for the 1986th time…
In this special episode of the ‘Backstage with Robert Emery’ podcast, RDCE takes you through what a Musical Director actually does; and it involves a lot more than arm waving...
Discussing everything from conducting technique through to some scary real life stories in theatre; he covers it all with the odd funny story along the way.
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?
Robert Emery talks to Sarah Miles, the English theatre and film actress who was nominated for four BAFTA's, two Golden Globes and an Oscar. Sarah talks about her biological connection with the British Royal family, finishing RADA and going straight into the West-End where Sir John Gielgud famously said "Did you know you have a bottom just like a boy? Two poached eggs in a handkerchief."
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.
In part II of this special episode, the ‘Backstage with Robert Emery’ podcast discovers the secrets of making a number one album. Working closely with RDCE for a few years, Joanna works hard to find out exactly how he produced her two albums and made the first one go straight to number one.
Most of you know me as a conductor. Someone who waves my arms around in unusual patterns and in return, I usually get paid in pounds; unless I'm working in the desert where they offer me a couple of camels instead. Conducting however has been a minor part of my life compared to what I always wanted to be; a pianist. But how did I choose a musical instrument?
In this special episode of the ‘Backstage with Robert Emery’ podcast, RDCE discovers the secrets of making a number one album. To turn things on their head a little, he has swapped seats and is being interviewed by the soprano, Joanna Forest.
Upon my recent travels to Tinsel Town, I stayed at The Beverly Hills Hotel for a week. The original motto of the hotel was 'entitled to the best of everything, regardless of cost', and that still seems to apply today..
Robert Emery talks to Stewart Copeland, the founder and drummer of the British rock band 'The Police'. Stewart talks about why he attributes studying 'Mass Communication & Public Policy' to becoming one of the worlds most famous drummers, why one of his balls is called Ben Hur, and how he grew up not knowing his Father was a spy.
Robert Emery talks to Stewart Copeland, the founder and drummer of the British rock band 'The Police'. Stewart talks about why he attributes studying 'Mass Communication & Public Policy' to becoming one of the worlds most famous drummers, why one of his balls is called Ben Hur, and how he grew up not knowing his Father was a spy.
In part one, we covered my standard day almost up until the start of the show. I’ve made sure the now infamous ‘click’ is working, and now after all my preflight checks, my podium phone rings. Read on to find out who is on the other end of the line…
Working in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant is the culinary equivalent to a jukebox musical. When you are eating your white truffle and gold pizza, you know full well that the King of TV bleeps didn't actually cook it; but it's his name above the door, and that's probably the reason you chose that establishment over the independent restaurant next door. So when you go to see Bat out of Hell, you shouldn't expect Meatloaf to be acting, singing and dancing, nor it's creator Jim Steinman conducting the band. No. That bit is my job.
A holiday is a leap of faith, trusting in the myriad of reviews on Trip Advisor and looking at online photos. So after much debate in the Emery household, we decided Angsana Velavaru was the chosen one Maldivian island…
I was recently lucky enough to be invited by the UK Trade and Investment Government Division to the Great Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, China, where I met our future King (and Paddington Bear!)…
There’s been a lot in the press recently about music education, or the lack of. Over recent years, the British government have seen fit to reduce the budgets, especially in primary school music education...
Today is a rather historic day in the life of RDCE, as today is the release of the first album I’ve ever done with a certain Mr Russell Watson...
It’s 6.30am Melbourne time, and I’m about 10 minutes coming from coming into land. The journey started 23 hours ago at London Heathrow...