Classical Music Recording Producer
The Producer
Mark Elder (centre) with Andrew Keener (right) at the Hallé Orchestra's own-label sessions for Elgar's First Symphony, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
(September 2001)
As a recording producer, I attach equal importance to several inseparable factors. Musicianship attached to a good pair of ears is of course essential. Just as pertinent, however, is a recognition that a good producer possesses 'people skills' in the environment of the studio and the ability to relate to, be stimulated by, and gain the musical and personal trust of a wide variety of human beings who happen to be musicians. A thorough knowledge of the central repertoire is also vital in order to gain an artist's trust.
Without any one of these, a recording producer is, I feel, not completely equipped to do the job, not least in today's reduced world of recording classical music, in which an end result of distinction and the highest possible quality matter more than ever.
My love of, and affection for, music and musicians remains undimmed after thirty-five years. From my days as a music undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh, I realised that, as a non-performer, there would be something vicarious about my life as a musician.
Producing sessions for Britten's Opera
"The Rape of Lucretia" with members of British Youth Opera and the conductor Peter Robinson
(January 2001)
Recording the Takács String Quartet
at St George's, Bristol
at St George's, Bristol
(Volume I of a complete Beethoven cycle for Decca),
July 2001
July 2001
Engineer: Simon Eadon
Sessions for Harmonia Mundi at Potton Hall, Suffolk for Virtuoso Encores for clarinet and piano.
(L>R: Andrew Keener, pianist Nigel Clayton, clarinetist Joan-Enric Lluna and assistant engineer Nick Williams)
Engineer: Simon Eadon
Cello Concertos by Dohnányi, Enescu and d'Albert with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
The cellist Alban Gerhardt (fingers in ears) at Hyperion sessions in Caird Hall, Dundee (December 2004), with conductor Carlos Kalmar and Andrew Keener.
<Photo left by Simon Eadon
Shostakovich and Shchedrin piano concertos with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Left to right: Marc-André Hamelin, Andrew Keener, Andrew Litton at Hyperion sessions in Caird Hall,
Dundee (April 2003).
Dundee (April 2003).
Photo right by Simon Eadon>
Sony Classical sessions at the Philharmonie, Berlin.
With Michael Tilson Thomas (centre) and
engineer Arne Akselberg.
engineer Arne Akselberg.
Tchaikovsky with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
<Photos left by Peter Avis, January 2005
Please click pictures to enlarge
Please click pictures to enlarge