Klarinet Archive - Posting 000958.txt from 1998/02

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Stoltzman Barrel & Third Clarinet in Wagner
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 11:20:43 -0500

Stoltzman plays a Kal Opperman barrel and mouthpiece. He studied with
Kal for many years in NY and is still very good friends with him. Opperman
has his own very strong ideas about equipment and has been a pioneer in the
development of mouthpieces, barrels and of course hand made reeds.

RE: Jacqeline Eastwood and the Ring Cycle. I have played that part
with the SF Opera many times. Third clarinet is an extremely fun part
because it seems to roam around with the other woodwinds so much. Sometimes
you are actually a third bassoon, fourth flute or third oboe. There is a
lot of sitting and NOT playing, but the up side is that you get to sit in
the middle of all of that wonderful music. Another plus for me was the
great joy of sitting next to one of the finest musicians and bass
clarinetists alive, Greg Dufford. Wagner knew how to write for the bass
clarinet! One of the most glorious moment in "Die Walkure" is the huge bass
clarinet solo in the first? act.

Have Fun!

Clark W Fobes

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes