Klarinet Archive - Posting 000068.txt from 2004/01

From: EClarinet@-----.com
Subj: [kl] NY Philharmonic concert/clarinetists slighted
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 00:42:18 -0500

Hi all!

I watched the NYPhil New Year's Eve concert the other night, and I have a
gripe! Is it just me, or am I the only one who is burned that the announcer, the
usually professional Martin Bookspan, named all of the principal players as
they had solos, EXCEPT the clarinetist who is Drucker's replacement?

The orchestra played the Offenbach Orpheus in the Underworld with its
clarinet cadenza (made famous by Dan Leeson in that Instrumentalist article as the
worst cadenza ever!), and the announcer never mentioned it or said the guy's
name. He named Ray Still, the oboist, Carter Bray, the cellist (who I LOVED),
the concertmaster Glenn Dichterow(sp), and even the bassoonist, who he
acknowledged had the tiniest of solos. Yet the clarinetist, who had the FIRST solo, a
substantial one, and who played beautifully enough to make the conductor just
beam, did not get a mention.

And that reminds me: those dratted cameramen can never seem to find the
clarinetist when he is playing, like they don't know which instrument makes that
sound....have you ever noticed that? They ALWAYS show the flutes, even when
they aren't playing, and the oboes are seen because they're sitting right next to
the flutes. The bassoons get shown by accident because they stick up so
high, but the clarinets are hidden back there, unless the cameraman happens to
screw up when he is trying to show the flutes, and whoops, oh look, what is that
instrument back there? During the clarinet cadenza in Orpheus, the camera did
eventually find him, but then left again, to show the harpist sitting there
with her hands on her instrument, not playing. Then the camera went back to
the clarinet at the very last note, and while he was holding it still, went to
the oboe, who wasn't playing yet, and then back again. I just hate that!

Elise Curran
Orlando

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