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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000028.txt from 2006/10
From: Chleo Jet <chleojet@-----.com>
Subj: [DR-L] Sylvia Kushner/Wrestling with Angels...
Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2006 00:38:59 -0400
I had the great pleasure last night of seeing the new
documentary film (here at the Film Forum, NYC - soon
to be released to "art" theaters around the USA and
internationally, I assume) "Wrestling with Angels" -
all about the playwright Tony Kushner ("Angels in
America," "Homebody Kabal," "Caroline or Change,"
etc.)
All through the movie a clarinetist and _bassoonist_
provided a wonderful background - excellent players;
unfortunately, didn't have a credit for them at the
end of the film. It's appropriate that these 2
instruments were prominent, since Tony's parents were
both professional musicians - Sylvia was principal
bassoonist with the NYC Opera and Bill Kushner was
principal clarinetist for the NYC Ballet. The entire
family moved to Lake Charles, LA, when Bill inherited
his father's lumber business, some years ago.
I had the great opportunity to study bassoon with
Sylvia for a couple of years, while I was a student at
Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. I commuted once a
week to Lake Charles (was usually met at the door by a
very young Tony!). She had one of the most magnificent
tones I've heard - before or since - on our esteemed
bassoon. I also played some with the Lake Charles
Symphony, conducted by Bill Kushner (who still
conducts the Alexandria Symphony in his 80's!). The
Kushners were instrumental in encouraging me to go to
Juilliard and get more "entrenched" in meeting lots of
fellow bassoon/oboe students, as well as the contacts
in NYC that have helped me through the years
professionally. It was also a great treat to sit next
to Sylvia when she periodically performed principal
bassoon with the Beaumont Symphony. (I remember one
Beethoven Violin Concerto performance in particular -
her sound and musicianship were exemplary, and Werner
Torkanowsky, the conductor, made a real point of
publicly acknowledging her great artistry.)
The film is quite inspiring in that it shows some of
the creative process that Tony goes through with his
art, as well as showcasing his entire family's major
creative talents. (In addition to Sylvia and Bill,
Tony's brother was French hornist in the Vienna
Philharmonic - now he's in the Munich Philharmonic and
performs in the movie. (Sylvia passed away a few years
ago, and her Heckel (I believe) still resides with one
of Eric's colleagues in the Vienna Phil!) When things
got slow for her in Louisiana, bassoon-wise, she
became quite a good actor in the local community
theaters in the state!.
This film is truly a gift - hope everyone on the list
gets a chance to see it for yourself in the future.
The Kushners are a real American artistic "treasure" -
be their performances in Louisiana, Munich or NYC!
Peace, Jim
************************
James Jeter, D.M.A.
NYC Bassoonist
http://www.westfieldnj.com/wso/jeter.htm
"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that
you do it."Â Mahatma Gandhi
"Mach' es kurz! Am Juengsten Tag ist's nur ein Furz!" Goethe
http://mail.yahoo.com
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