<<  -- 4 --  Maria Nockin    A STRAIGHT LINE CAREER PATH

MN: What interesting symphonic engagements do you have coming up?

KM: Recently, I've been appointed the chief guest conductor of the Ulster Orchestra in the Northern Ireland town that I came from, Belfast. On 27, 28 and 29 January 2006, to celebrate Mozart's Birthday, I will do three of his piano concerti with the orchestra and Finghin Collins, a wonderful young pianist from Dublin.

MN: What languages do you speak?

KM: Besides English, I speak Dutch since I live in Holland. I speak French and work in it. I've just been on holiday in Italy and I speak that language, too. This year I will be working in Germany and I speak German. I can read Czech and Russian if I have a dictionary. When you conduct, you have to find a method of getting what you mean across to the other artists. I wouldn't say that my languages are all great, but I can communicate.

MN: What do you like to do in your free time?

KM: I love reading, cooking and going to Italy! Last summer in Santa Fe I picked up a book called Seasons in Basilicata, A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village, by David Yeardon. I loved it so much that I went to that part of Italy for a holiday. I stayed in Matera, a town built in an area completely riddled with caves. Even my hotel room was a well appointed cave with modern conveniences. Best of all, the hotel was a short walk from three fantastic restaurants.

MN: What new recordings do you have coming out?

KM: One just came out this past fall. It's music by the Swiss composer, Frank Martin. There are two pieces for cello and orchestra with a wonderful Dutch cellist, Quirine Viersen. Also on that disc is the Passacaille for Strings and Three Dances for Oboe and Harp with oboist Henk Schwinnen and harpist Kerstin Scholten.

At that point I thanked Maestro Kenneth Montgomery for his time and began to anticipate all the wonderful music I expect to enjoy at his performances in San Diego and Santa Fe this spring and summer.