Mark Hood

This channel concentrates chiefly on great conductors that I have experienced live in concert or opera.
Also one or two of my favourite singers are amongst the posts.
Klaus Tennstedt and Rudolf Kempe are two of the finest interpreters of the 20th century.
Both were born in East Germany, Kempe became principal oboe of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig under Furtwängler and then took up conducting by accident. Tennstedt had a similar background, being a very fine violinist, but due to a medical problem with his left hand gave up playing and took up the baton. I was very lucky to see them as often as I did, in London firstly then in Munich with Kempe and Hamburg with Tennstedt.
David Ward was one of the great Wagnerian Bass-Baritones, had he not been so fond of his summer holidays he would have become the resident Bayreuth Wotan of the mid to late sixties.
Amy Shuard was another great Wagnerian and sang all the main roles - Brünnhilde, Isolde and Kundry.