Klarinet Archive - Posting 000350.txt from 1998/07

From: <KlarBoy@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Notes from Columbus
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 19:40:26 -0400

Clarfest 98 was just awesome, I feel very proud to say that I'm an OSU alum.
Congrats to Jim Pyne and everyone who worked hard to make the festival so
successful. Unfortunately I couldn't go to Donatos for the Klarinet meeting,
but I did meet many of you through out the week. There were several
highlights to the festival, but the best is just seeing old friends and
colleagues who have moved around the country. It felt like a big family
reunion.

Days would begin quite early, recitals beginning at 8:00am and didn't stop
until dinner (around 5:30). Then the evening gala concerts would be at 8:30.
The Aspen faculty concert was a highlight, very fine players who all play
quite differently; it was interesting to hear these contrasting sounds in one
recital. The pianist who accompanied Joaquin Valdepenas in the Brahms f
minor, Patricia Parr was incredible (there were more than just great clarinet
players at this festival). Another fine recital was one that featured the
three Leblanc virtuosi, Ricardo Morales, Larry Combs, and Eddie Daniels. Just
imagine these fine players playing trios and duets to the amazement of the
audience. Speaking of the audience, this has got to be the hardest house to
play for in the world. Of course maybe we're also the most forgiving crowd,
because everyone know how hard things can be.

Ricardo was in fabulous form. A friend of mine described him as a Brazilian
soccer -star, since everyone refers to him only by his first name :-)) His
performance with the Columbus Symphony of the Mozart concerto and the Weber
Concertino, will not soon be forgotten. His sound is simply gorgeous and his
technique-effortless. The concert was an evening of clarinet concerti and
started with a concerto for two clarinets by Franz Krommer, performed by the
clarinet section of the Columbus Symphony, David Thomas and Robert (Woody)
Jones. It was a terrific performance and a fun piece (the sheet music quickly
sold out at the music venders at the exhibit hall). Howard Klug also
performed a concerto by Alfred Prinz, which at least to me, sounded
reminiscent of Shostakovich and Bartok.

Saturday night featured Edddie Daniels and the Columbus Symphony, in a pincic
with the pops concert. Concert goers were asked to take their clarinets and
be a part of the largest clarinet band on record (final numbers put it at
280). Where did everyone go, there were over 800 participants, but less than
a fourth made it to Saturday night. We played When the Saint's go marching
in.

The final concert was a recital by Richard Stoltzman, which featured so many
different styles, of which he is a master. I had the privilege of going to a
luncheon in his honor. The luncheon was for Ohio State alumni and Richard
Stoltzman who was honored with a Distinguished Alum Award, which is only given
to those graduates who have achieved international reputations in their
respected fields. Howard klug who is also an OSU alum gave a fine speech
about Stoltzman and their days together in school. Klugs remarks reflected on
how Richard Stoltzman has changed the nature of clarinet playing in America.
He reminded us of the criticism the Stoltzman endured in the early years, but
now you can hear alot of his qualities in the younger generation.

Congrat to my friends who performed: Kathleen Gardier, Jeffery Olson, Tod
Kerstetter, Kim Cole, Keith Koons, Kimberly Ellis, Jane Ellsworth, and my host
for the festival Melanie Richards. Bravo to all of you!!!

I'll write more later about the exhibits, one stop shopping for all your
clarinet needs. I spent over $400 ouch!!! Believe it or not one of the
vendors was selling synthetic reeds, which were great ( I still can't get over
it). It might mean the end of the cane and reed industry, then what will we
all grouse about?

Ciao,
Mario Estrada

P.S. Dan Paprocki knows everyone :-))

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