 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-09-27 15:05
I had the pleasure of watching on PBS last night a program of Mozart's music by the Vienna Phil recorded at Salzburg last summer. It featured some fabulous singing, by Anna Netrebko, Thomas Hampson and others, of arias from Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte, Idomeneo, and (hurrah) La Clemenza di Tito.
With regard to the latter: therein lies the puzzle. The (basset?) clarinet playing on the "Parto, Parto" aria was way beneath the standard one would expect from the VPO. Tone was mediocre and pitch -- in the high clarion register -- was consistently flat! The clarinetist (Schmidl?) did exhibit flawless technique and articulation, but the total musical effect, for me, was negative! There was also some disturbingly out-of-tune playing by the solo oboe, something I'n not used to hearing from this orchestra. Perhaps the ambient temperature in the Salzburg venue was so cold (in August?) that the players simply couldn't make the pitch, but in a recorded for TV production I'm surprised that this was let stand.
I was also interested to see the second horn playing on a modern rotary-valve double horn -- something that has always been anethema in the VPO, which has always prided itself on the use of double piston "pumpenhorn(s)" (supplied these days primarily by Yamaha!). Who knows, maybe we'll see Boehm clarinets there one of these days!
Incedentally, not a single (or married) woman in the orchestra in this recorded concert!
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-09-27 15:12
Was this a Concert or live broadcast???
.....sometimes when a clarinetist is playing these concerts where you are using a variety of clarinets it is very hard to get up to pitch on a horn not properly warmed up. Schmidl is usually very good so it may simply be a result of the sequence the concert was recorded it. On top of this if it is an outdoor gig a change in the wind can send the pitch downward depending what angle it is blowing in from!!!
David Dow
Post Edited (2006-09-27 15:13)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-09-27 16:29
Almost certainly recorded, with the prelim. commentaries on the selection to be performed. I enjoyed hearing Mozarts other than the more frequent selections, partic. of the lesser-performed operas. Larry, on the number with the "dazzling" cl work, was that the Basset piece? I believe in the close-up "shots" wasn't he playing a French cl? I didn't get a long or clear view ! Fine [otherwise] to me, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Kai
Date: 2006-09-27 17:51
The Viennese Horn is reputedly a devilish instrument to master or perform at any time and I remember reading an interview some years back when it was revealed that some of them kept a Double Horn for very tricky bits. So perhaps, there were some of these bits during the concert?
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-09-27 19:13
Clarification:
1. Aria is written for a basset clarinet in Bb. TV shots of the clarinetist didn't show enough of the instrument to determine if it had extended low C range or not -- did show enough to establish that it was most certainly a German system instrument. I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that I heard some of the low C's called for in the urtext. Orchestra covered up some of the clarinet work. Often, when this aria (and the basset horn aria "Non Piu di Fiori") are performed in concert the obligato player sits or stands up front with the vocal soloist -- I've done it that way with Maureen Forrester.
2. Not clear whether or not the new Salzburg Festival site is indoor or outdoor. There were evergreen trees in the picture, but no evidence at all of wind.
3. Concert was, as Don notes, recorded and edited from a live performance. Often, where this the case, there is a "patch" session following the concert to fix any lapses that may have occured "live."
Don't get me wrong: I loved the program, Tivoed it, and intend to watch it again after the baseball season is concluded! Interesting that the two moderators of this esteemed site are geographically situated to be Tigers and Mets fans -- wouldn't it be great if those two teams meet in the World's Series?
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