Klarinet Archive - Posting 000005.txt from 2007/07

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Comments on Carey Bell
Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:19:43 -0400

Last night, at a performance of Rosenkavalier at the San
Francisco opera, I had an opportunity to hear Carey Bell who is
the new principle clarinetist with the San Francisco Symphony.
Because I know the score of Rosenkavalier I had a good idea of
what to listen for and I paid close attention.

He's a wonderful player and as far as I could tell, he didn't
miss a note. Beautiful sound, flexible, in tune, and intelligent
playing. Couldn't realistically ask for better.

I worked with him once several years ago, though we were not on
stage at the same time, so I had no previous opportunity to
evaluate his playing.

What is remarkable is that, at this moment, he holds the first
chair with the SF Ballet, the SF Opera, and the SF Symphony. I
presume that as soon as the symphony season starts he will devote
himself to that single position.

The overall performance of the opera was OK but not much more
than satisfactory, but that was not Bell's fault. It is rather
that the opera performance was not distinguished, just routine.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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