Klarinet Archive - Posting 000256.txt from 1998/10

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Nutcracker
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 13:00:58 -0400

On 10/4/98 7:08 PM, Neil Leupold wrote:

>I've now *played* the production dozens of times over the
>last few years, and I never stop enjoying the music.
>I'm probably an exception in my enduring love for
>it among those who sit in the pit year after year.

No, I don't think you are. I'm not a big Tchaikovsky fan, but
surprisingly enough, the Nutcracker and the Rococco Variations are among
my favorites. I'd rather play the first three symphonies than the last
three, and yes, Romeo and Juliet works for me too.

A few of you said you'd rather never hear the Waltz of the Flowers again
(or something to that effect). Good thing you don't play here! The RSO
plays 17 performances a year with the Richmond Ballet, which has 3-4
casts for most of the character dances in the 2nd act. So the rehearsals
are the worst part. After we've slogged our way through the whole ballet,
we start repeating the character dances with the various casts. It's
nothing to play Waltz of Deflowers 3 times in one rehearsal.

After 19 seasons, I never practice this book any more. There are about
three licks that I have to practice, and I do that in the 1/2 hour before
the first rehearsal. I don't recommend that on the first try, though! I
remember practicing my butt off for the first couple of years. And the
hardest part is the physical endurance to play it twice on the same day,
IMO.

My worst Nutcracker moment happened the year we took my daughter to see
it for the first time. She spent the month of January playing the tape
(which I foolishly gave her) **every night** at bed time!

Ah, yes - looking forward to December!

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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