Winston Webber with “Best Seat in the House”

From Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman Leah Roseman

The focus of this episode is violinist Winston Webber’ss wonderful book “ Best Seat in the House: love letters to a profession” and you’ll be hearing Winston read from the book, and share memories with us of musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Karl Ancerl, Ida Haendel and Greta Kraus. He also shared his experiences of violin lessons with Lorand Fenyves and conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, many moving experiences on tours, and insights into composers. We also exchanged ideas about programming and concert presentation, and his experience of quitting the Toronto Symphony to go to University of Toronto to study pre-med science while conducting several orchestras, before he borrowed a violin to change directions again to audition for NACO. Winston has been my colleague for decades, and has recently retired from his position as Assistant Principal Second Violin of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO). Show notes with the book, suggested episodes, newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, podcast version, transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/winston-webber

(00:00) Intro

(02:47) “Best Seat in the House”

(09:22) Helmuth Rilling

(12:32) CBC radio, NACO, Pinchas Zukerman, Trevor Pinnock, Mario Bernardi

(16:33) advice for conductors, John Storgårds

(21:17) reading from the book Sir Henry Wood, Musicians’ Chapel, Winston’s father

(29:16) childhood love of orchestra in Detroit

(31:34) decision to leave Toronto Symphony Orchestra to apply to medical school

(38:07) reading from the book about Karel Ančerl

(46:52) other linked episodes with many NACO musicians

(47:56) conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, borrowing a violin to audition for NACO

(54:26) Steven Staryk, Lorand Fenyves