Klarinet Archive - Posting 000056.txt from 2004/08

From: Allen Levin <alevin@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] James Campbell
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 13:19:36 -0400

I have just returned from my annual trip to Canada for fishing and chamber
music. (The fishing s****d).

On the bright side I heard a magnificent recital at the Ottawa
Chamberfest. James Campbell played the Brahms F minor sonata and (with the
St. Lawrence quartet) the Brahms quintet. The sonata was very good. (one
or two missed notes and some curious throat tones.) The quintet
performance was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It ranks up
there with a handful of magical, mystical performances where everything
seemed inspired - not too maudlin - the merest trace of vibrato when it
complimented the string parts.The performers knew it, too. At the end they
had that giddy, exhausted appearance that you have to experience to understand.

I'm not criticizing the small problems in the sonata. Mr. Campbell played
the Eb sonata and the trio at a noon recital the same day! The reviews
were similarly effusive.

A note: He used a matched set of Selmers, modified by Morrie Backun with
new barrels and bells. On the Bb it produced a very even sound throughout
the range; but aggravated the tendency of a Selmer to sound too loud and
jazzy - like my old Centered Tone*. On the A it produced the most
beautiful sound I've heard in many years. The breathy throat tone problem
may simply have arisen because of the need to match pitch to the piano in
the second movement.

My wife and I treasure the wealth of good music stations we can receive in
that area. After that performance it never occurred to us to turn on the
radio for the 70 mile drive back to the cottage.

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