Welcome to Issue 4: Conducting for Dance. I’m delighted to publish this unique set of interviews, focusing on one of the least covered specialisms in the profession. Featured are three of the most eminent and experienced conductors in the field of dance/ballet, starting with Paul Hoskins, Music Director of Rambert Dance Company, talking about Haydn’s The Creation (a production staged to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary). Gavin Sutherland, Principal Conductor of English National Ballet, follows with Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky is surely a must in an issue on dance!). Finally, Paul Murphy, Principal Conductor of Birmingham Royal Ballet, gives an interview on Britten’s Prince of the Pagodas.
In case it is also of use, here is the link to my PhD thesis online. It specialises in Stravinsky’s ballets, and discusses their effect on the role of the conductor. However, there is also a more general overview of conducting for dance on pp. 7-14.
http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/49075/1/Baxter%2c_Hannah.pdf
Very many thanks to Paul, Gavin and Paul for their involvement and ongoing interest in the project. I hope that readers find these interviews as enjoyable to read as they were to work on!
Director – Dr. Hannah Baxter