Klarinet Archive - Posting 000571.txt from 2003/07

From: "Jim Lytthans" <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] ClarinetFest
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2003 15:39:05 -0400

I guess it's my turn to jump in with a few comments on the recent SLC
ClarinetFest. Overall, my wife and I enjoyed the event, as we have all of
them. The University Guest House was really first rate, with a good
breakfast, exercise room, Ethernet port in room, etc. The University
Shuttle was OK, but somewhat slow, with the whole campus being torn up with
road work.

Most of the events were in Gardner Hall, with good acoustics. Kathy Pope
did a great job coordinating the event, IMHO. The exhibits were a brisk
uphill walk from Gardner Hall (pant! wheeze!), with all the usual suspects
displaying everything from breath developers to reed cleaning supplies.
Luis Rossi brought along some samples of his new C and Eb clarinets. I
played the C and found it marvelous, but a bit expensive. My big purchases
were for colleagues of mine: a silver plated R13 from Muncey Winds and a
really nice E11 C from Lisa at International Music Supply.

Re: concerts. I try to keep an open mind at the 'Fests, since the majority
of the performers are from collegiate backgrounds. The level of playing
overall was outstanding, even with the dryness and altitude. Squeaks were
plentiful throughout the week! I think I even heard one minor chirp from
Larry Combs, who was busy and magnificent all week. He performed with the
staff clarinet choir and the Mormon Choir on Sunday during their weekly
broadcast in the Tabernacle... a really moving half hour. After 75
continuous years of broadcasting, the MTC has it down pat!

The evening performances by Eddie Daniels, Phil Woods (on clarinet!), Gary
Foster, Giora Feidman, David Schifrin, and the Verdehrs were beautifully
done, but a bit long, I think. Ted Calcara, newly appointed principal of
the SLSO, was outstanding with his performance and knowledge of period big
band clarinet style.

The Friday noon recital, with Jane Ellsworth, Luis Rossi, Jonathan Cohler,
Jorge Montilla and Luis Ramos was a real highlight for me, for two reasons:
(1) all the clarinetists performed on Rossi instruments, and (2) two
outstanding little known (to me)chamber pieces were performed. Jane
Ellsworth played the "Quartet, Op.1", by Walter Rabl, and Luis Rossi
performed beautifully the "Eb Quintet" by Robert Fuchs. Jonathan Cohler gave
us a really fine, athletic performance of Bozza's "Bucolique".

Larry Comb's Saturday (my birthday) noon recital showed just what an artist
he is, with outstanding tone, technique and musicality. He opened with a
beautiful performance of the Mozart Trio, in spite of a troublesome violist.
This was followed by Larry and Julie DeRoche playing the delightful
Bagatelles by John McCabe. Those two have played together so long that they
sound virtually identical. The program closed with a premiere performance
of an outstanding new work for clarinet entitled "Liquid Ebony" by Dana
Wilson. Larry Combs gave a thrilling playing of this very challenging
piece.

Pardon me for closing this way, but I can't help but comment on the
performance of a certain bass clarinetist on Friday afternoon. As I said, I
try to keep an open mind about what's new in the Wonderful World of
Clarinetistry. However, this young, very talented Frenchman was, I think,
pushing the envelope a bit too much. The sounds coming from that lovely
$6000 low C bass were a bit unusual, to say the least, as was the
performer's choreography. Oh, well, it's something to talk about at
clarinet cocktail parties...... Onward and upward!

I'm looking forward to next year in DC.........

---------
Jim Lytthans
Anaheim, CA

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