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"It is with horror and disbelief that I witness what is happening in the Netherlands, my home for over 30 years. I urge the government and political parties to change the destructive plans and reconsider these unjust cuts in the performing arts." Kenneth Montgomery KM rehearsing Slovenian Philharmonic, October 2011. Photos taken by an audience member Marija Cerar 
  Click here to hear KM conducting Handel's Solomon with the Radio Kamer Filharmonie and the Groot Omroepkoor recorded on Friday 23rd December 2011 in Vredenburg Utrecht. ... or here it can be seen via Youtube. New cd release:  Charles Villiers StanfordFinghin Collins ˇ piano RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Kenneth Montgomery ˇ conductor Claves Records Piano Concerto No. 2 Variations on "Down among the Dead Men"  On 4th August 2012, Mr. Montgomery will conduct a gala concert at the Santa Fe Opera hosted by Susan Graham. >> ... and click here to read an article (in Dutch) about Santa Fe Opera. 
On 2nd July Kenneth Montgomery received his OBE from HRH The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. The commendation was made in the 2010 New Years Honours List 'for services to music in Northern Ireland'.The following week Mr. Montgomery was in Northern Ireland to receive an honorary doctorate - DLit(Mus) - from the Vice-Chancellor Sir Peter Gregson at Queens College, Belfast 'for outstanding services to music'. 
Kenneth Montgomery - The Maestro in a recent interview for the Irish America Magazine, Mr. Montgomery spoke about the Santa Fe Opera: "I'm very, very happy working here, the orchestra is absolutely wonderful, and of course the setting is fantastic. The founder of the company, John Crosby, was a wonderful organizer and administrator. He really knew how to put things together. He was a conductor as well and a superb musician and so his combination of music and brilliant administration has made this company as good as it is. And it's a great pleasure to work here because you know everything is going to be organized as well as it possibly can be." >> click here to read the full article  Ulster Hall - Civic reopening concert 6th March 2009, 7.45pm Kenneth Montgomery conducted the Ulster Orchestra in their new home with Michael McHale, piano, Paul Whelan, baritone and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir. The programme included works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Stanford, Stravinsky and the premiere of a specially commissioned work by local composer Brian Irvine celebrating the venue`s past, with reference to past performers marking its position as a leading performance space. 
 KM makes a tour of inspection with Jacqui Owens (building coordinator) Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the photo. This gala event celebrated the return of the Grand Dame of Belfast with an outstanding programme, paying tribute to the hall`s place in Belfast`s heritage, welcoming the Ulster Orchestra`s residency and providing an opportunity to experience the hall at its very best. More information  
On Saturday 13th September Mr. Montgomery conducted the Ulster Orchestra at the Belfast Proms in the Park.Click here for further details. Thursday 7th August 2008, Kenneth Montgomery conducted Prom 28 with the Ulster Orchestra. Programme included the Stanford 2nd Piano Concert with Finghin Collins, piano and Dvořák's 8th Symphony. Click here for further details and see the Press pages for reviews.  KM photographed by Joyce DiDonato during rehearsals for Ariodante during November 2007 at the Grand Théâtre de Genčve. Production was by Pierre Strosser, cast included Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Abete, Patricia Petibon, Charles Workman, Amanda Forsythe and Varhudi Abrahamyan.  >> Click here to listen to a programme (in French) about Ariodante and interview with KM broadcast on Radio Suisse Romande on Thursday 8th November 2007. Late in 2005, Kenneth Montgomery spoke with Maria Nockin of Music & Vision about his life, his music and upcoming events. Click here to read this interview  
Kenneth Montgomery conducts the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra on a new CD of music by Frank Martin just released on the Et'cetera Label (KTC 1290), featuring soloists Quirine Viersen (cello), Henk Swinnen (oboe) and Kerstin Scholten (harp).
>> click here for 3 reviews (in Dutch) of this CD >> and click on the following links to hear 2 samples from this CD: >> Please click here for an interview for Radio Netherland's Vox Humana: "The Ode to Joy, a beginner's guide to Beethoven's 9th Symphony", featuring Kenneth Montgomery in conversation with Hans Quant (Radio Netherlands Music Adviser), produced and presented by Michele Ernsting - broadcast 24th December 2004. |
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Recent reviews can be found on the Press page:
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