Klarinet Archive - Posting 000083.txt from 2005/07

From: Sean Osborn <feanor33@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] A long concert
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 22:00:08 -0400

Dear Curtis and everyone,

The longest concert I ever performed was the James Levine 25th Anniversary
Gala, which lasted for EIGHT HOURS!

It's one thing to do an opera that's 6 hours long (and as our bass
clarinetist said - "There's NOTHING I want to do for 6 hours"), but this 8
hour concert was beyond tiring. There were two long intermissions, but it
was also being teletaped for later broadcast, so it was important to be on
your toes all the time. But even the best intentions can go awry: the
only time they showed me in the pit (which they hardly ever show), I was
"resting my eyes". Jim (aforementioned bass clarinetist) and I are dozing
in the 7th hour during a Don Giovanni aria that we both taceted. You can
get the DVD.

The gala started at 6pm and went until 2am. I have to say the singing was
incredible, and most of the world's great singers were there, but
still....... EIGHT HOURS?!?!

I just laugh about it now.

The longest orchestral concert was also with the Met and Levine (he likes
things long). In Suntory Hall in Tokyo, we played Schubert Unfinished, The
Firebird, Berg Three Pieces for Orchestra, and La Mer, then for an encore,
we played Valse Triste, and the Meistersinger Overture.......TWICE. Three
hours with applause and intermission. I played principal on everything,
except the Berg, where I played Eb. No lip by the time the first
Meistersinger happened. I begged assistance from a section mate, and he
kindly obliged.

I have actually bled a couple of times from overly long performances I
wasn't ready for - once in my first Rosenkavalier (4.5 hours - but a
wonderful Opera)

There's a Morton Feldman string quartet that lasts for 6 hours (no
intermission). I think I'll resist playing a transcription! ;)

What are your stories, everyone?

Sean
www.osbornmusic.com

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