Klarinet Archive - Posting 000096.txt from 2000/05

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Strauss Concertino Performance
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 06:15:31 -0400

Lori, I am so happy to hear of your successful performance of the
Strauss. Let me add something to your knowledge of the history of the
piece. Once, at a performance of Elektra at the Met in 1963 or 64 (I
forget), a man was seated in the orchestra next to me and he introduced
himself as Hugo Burghauser. He had been basoonist/contrabassoon with
the met but was retired.

I was called in at the last minute to substitute on bass clarinet for
someone who was sick so I did not have much of a chance to chat with
him. He was not playing, mind you, just sitting in the wind section and
since I was the last one in the row, he was given a seat next to me (but
turned 90 degrees so that he faced the stage).

In the few minutes before the performance started I told him that I
hoped that he would enjoy the performance but that I was going to be out
of my brains busy. He said, "Yes. I know. I once told Strauss that
Elektra exhausted the musicians, particularly the wind players."

And so I said, "Mr. Burghauser. Did you know Richard Strauss?"

And he replied, "For many years! We worked together in Vienna."

It was a few days later that I learned that the concertino that you
played was dedicated to "Hugo Burghauser, dem getreuen" (or Hugo
Burghauser, the faithful). The work is really for bassoon and clarinet
rather than clarinet and bassoon even though both parts of graceful, but
it was written for and dedicated to a bassoonist and not a clarinetist.
Wlach played the clarinet part at the first performance.

I wrote a short story about the incident and it is published. He was a
great humanitarian, but that's another story.

Dan

LoriLovato@-----.com wrote:
>
> Hi Laroy,
> Thank you for the kind words. Until last summer
> for the audition, I did not even know of the Strauss Cl/Bsn
> Duo! It was written when Strauss was 82 years and it
> is absolutely beautiful. The piece is full of complex rhythms.
> Yet while listening, the melodies are so wonderful you don't
> even notice. (for example, clarinet part in 4/4 while everyone
> else is in 6/4)
> The title is actually quite misleading....it should be
> called "Piece for Clarinet, Bassoon, Solo String Quintet,
> Chamber Orchestra, and Harp." Although, all the solo
> attention is quite fun! : )
>
> Lori Lovato
> 2nd/Eb NMSO and Principal COA.....
>
> Word of advise learned the hard way, ALWAYS CHECK
> TO MAKE SURE THE SECOND PAGE (COPY) IS
> READY AFTER GIVING YOUR MUSIC TO THE STAGE
> MANAGER! (Had to turn while playing an A....) DOH!
>
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--
***************************
** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
***************************

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