YolanDa Brown sits down with three former LPO members - violinist Geoff Lynn, bassoonist Gareth Newman, and oboist Joan Graham - to explore retirement.  When they retire, some musicians sell their instruments and never play a note again. Others reduce the amount of performing they’re doing to make more time for teaching. The former LPO members chatting to YolanDa today all approached retirement in very different ways. Geoff, Gareth and Joan tell YolanDa what they miss about their orchestral years, share the pits and troughs of their careers, and share hints and tips for anyone who might ..read more

YolanDa Brown joins composer Colin Matthews, Principal Conductor of the LPO Edward Gardner and flautist Juliette Bausor to revisit Gustav Holst’s most famous work, The Planets. Faber recently published a new facsimile edition of Holst’s The Planets, edited by Colin Matthews, and today’s episode explores its significance and the unique insights that the original handwritten manuscript can give us.  Colin, Ed and Juliette also talk to YolanDa about their favourite and least favourite movements, their thoughts on the speed you should play the big tune in ‘Jupiter’, and tips on how best to ..read more

Today we’re dimming the lights, turning off our phones and filling up a giant bucket of popcorn to get the lowdown on music for film and TV. Film score production has changed a lot in recent years, and LPO musicians timpanist Simon Carrington and tuba player Lee Tsarmaklis have seen it all; from Elmer Bernstein’s skilful, old school approach, to the meticulous modern day techniques of click tracks and multitrack recording. Simon and Lee tell YolanDa about the film scores which soundtrack their earliest cinema outings and describe the joyful and awe-inspiring experiences playing the music of ..read more

Today we’re going deep in the music of Wagner - and specifically The Ring cycle, his collection of 4 monumental operas: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung  Even if you haven’t seen these live, you’re probably aware that these are absolute behemoths of the opera house - with heroism, love, death, gigantic orchestras and big tunes that need big voices. Bass Brindley Sherratt is tackling the role of Hagen in Götterdämmerung, and he explains how memory, text and costume are just some of the challenges he grapples with. Wagner wrote some stunning brass parts, and trom ..read more

Today, another one of our top episodes from the archive… YolanDa Brown joins organist and conductor Anna Lapwood, piccolo player Stewart McIlwham and violinist Martin Höhmann to take a close look at Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No.3 - his organ symphony.  They discuss the challenges of communicating with the conductor from the organ, how to get the perfect tempo so those mammoth chords have maximum impact, and how the flutes and violins manage the difficult offbeat rhythms.  Anna also reveals how she’s able to practise on concert hall organs, gives some social media tips for music ..read more

YolanDa Brown talks to trumpeter Anne McAneney and cellist Francis Bucknall and explores Stravinsky’s Firebird.  The Firebird is a hugely popular work, but what makes it so enduring? Anne, Francis and YolanDa discuss its story, Stravinsky’s revolutionary writing, and how to keep the music sounding fresh on stage and in recordings. They also mention a number of related works and why Stravinsky’s music lends itself so well to education projects.  Plus, they reveal what changes when a piece is being recorded, and the extra layer of difficulty that comes with being filmed.  If yo ..read more

YolanDa Brown joins violinist Minn Majoe and horn player Mark Vines to share their touring tips and tricks. Hot off the plane from their recent tour to Asia, Minn and Mark share the highlights and lowlights of the trip with YolanDa, who brings in her own touring experiences. They discuss the difficulties of transporting large instruments, suitcase essentials, and how to navigate washing your clothes when you’re away from home.  Plus, ideas for what to do on a day off abroad… If you have any questions you’d like to put to the musicians, please email offstage@lpo.org.uk, and you might be ..read more

YolanDa Brown joins harpist Rachel Masters and trombonist Mark Templeton to talk all things festive in this special Christmas episode.  In this episode of LPO Offstage YolanDa and her guests share their favourite musical Christmas memories. They discuss the magic of carol singing, the pros and cons of seasonal gigs, and their favourite Christmas repertoire including some amusing alternative lyrics.  Plus, they bust some myths about busking and share their tips and trips for performing in inclement weather… If you have any questions you’d like to put to the musicians, please email ..read more

We’ve been dipping into the LPO Offstage archives and revisiting our favourite episodes. In this one, YolanDa Brown sits down with baritone Roddy Williams, horn player Johnny Ryan and cellist Kristina Blaumane to hear what singers can learn from instrumental playing, and why the issues of balancing a voice with an orchestra may not be what you expect.  YolanDa also discovers how the players transition from the concert stage to the opera pit and back again, and finds out about the surround sound experience Roddy has when he’s got some bars rest… Plus, Roddy explains the lengths singers h ..read more

Here’s another favourite episode from the LPO Offstage archives! YolanDa Brown chats to Damian Davis about the celebrated LPO truck, complete with a hydraulic lift and kitchenette, and asks how he safely transports hundreds of instruments to concert halls around the world. She also hears bass player Laura Murphy’s point of view - when do you take your ‘second’ instrument, and what do you absolutely not put in your instrument case when you go on tour…? If you have any questions you’d like to put to the musicians, please email offstage@lpo.org.uk, and you might be featured in Series 7! Pr ..read more