 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-09 14:24
Just heard a recent version of the Mahler 6 under Sinopoli with the London Philharmonia and was amzazed by the excellent woodwinds and brass.
this orchestra is certainly one the underrated ones, and man the clarinet section is very fine.
Check out some of this Mahler on DG.
all the Best
DD
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Author: William
Date: 2003-01-09 15:27
I seem to notice--at least locally where I play--that regional orchestras are generally improving, almost to the extent that it is unnecessary to go to the "big city" in order to hear quality performances of the classic literature. But all is not good. Music is meant to be heard, and somehow, we must find a way to encourage the general public to "want to listen" in order to increase ticket sales and other vunues of finacial support necessary for the continued success of musicians and orchestras alike. It was good to read in the recent edition of the International Musician of orchestras that have reinstated seasons and performances, but generally, more "good news" is needed. How can we create quality "excitment" that will attract audiencies back to our concert halls???? Every muskie fisherman knows that the big fish will only go after the bait with the most action, so is that it will take--huge amplifiers, laser lights, smashing of instruments, wierd dress, sponatneous dance or celebration?? Perhaps more effective general music programs in the public and private schools is a long range answer--but what about the present?? Your ideas........................????????
(sorry to "get off on this", but it just seemed to fit with d's discovery of another good orchestra that probably has similar finacial concerns with the rest of us)
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-09 15:36
Being a performer as a Principal clarinet in a regional orchestra (Symphony NB here in Canada), I too have simialr concerns with our orchestra's fiscal concerns. However, we have sold out every concert this season(18 so far) and it looks like our group is on the trun up side of things.
Insofar as to my comments above- they are only meant to show that much can gleaned from the excellent ensemble (of such groups) the craft is still involved and not everything is dollars and cents.
In fact, if the craft and artistry is high--- this adds further excitement around the quality of performances and tends to bring back audiences.
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-09 15:41
I think that the orchestra I am in does excellent community work and in fact we do a wide range of school programs and concerts and also do alot of activity in the community.
This has been going on for quite some time and it seems the audience is quite large and in full force at concerts....
....as for other communities it depends greatly on logistics ,such as market demograpphics ,and, also alot on whether a community can support the kind of funding an orchestra requires.
It also means that the orchestra has to maintain a profile in the community through events and advertising as well as getting young people to junior concerts etc.
This is not easy work and requires excellent management and a very integrated team of volunteers as wells as good communication between management /board /volunteers and the musician's union.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-01-09 17:00
Just a nit-pick, not to show off, but because calling the orchestra the "London Philharmonia" may confuse. London's orchestras have very similar names:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra (of London)
Sinopoli conducted the Philharmonia. He was not universally admired, but then, who is?
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Author: Zack Best
Date: 2003-01-09 17:28
> Music is meant to be heard, and somehow, we must find a way
> to encourage the general public to "want to listen" in order
> to increase ticket sales and other vunues of finacial
> support necessary for the continued success of musicians
> and orchestras alike.
I recently heard Andre Previn explain that his primary
artistic loyalty was to the composer, and secondarily
to the performers. But he said he tries to avoid allowing
the audience to influence his artistic direction.
Although I am sure someone of Mr. Previn's stature and
accomplishment can get away with this, if this attitude
is common, then it is not surprising that audiences are
not turning out.
If one judges the greatness of music by the extent to which
people respond artistically and emotionally to it, then
Beethoven's music is far greater today than it was when he
wrote it. Not because the music is any different, but
because modern classical music audiences have been trained
and educated (formally and informally) to respond artistically
to Beethoven's music. In his day it was new and unfamiliar.
But this leads to the strange conclusion that musical greatness
is a function of how audiences are trained and conditioned
rather than having anything to do with the music itself.
If one judges the greatness of music by audience
response, then "We all live in a Yellow Submarine" is probably
greater music than anything Beethoven wrote. Of course,
I am cynical enough to think this also is the product of
social conditioning rather than anything inherent in the
music.
So I guess I really have no idea what really makes great
music, but I harbor a lingering suspicion that those who
claim they do know are perhaps a bit too full of themselves, and
a lot more influenced by the arbitraryness of how they were
trained and conditioned than they realize.
Anyway, I will continue to enjoy what I enjoy and not worry
about it too much. But I would caution young aspiring
musical performers that it makes a great hobby and a poor
profession, and all signs are that this trend will continue.
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Author: Rob Bell
Date: 2003-01-09 17:37
The Philharmonia are a superb orchestra and we are lucky to have them as resident orchestra at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester.
I heard them do Mahler 9 and Mozart's Piano concerto no. 20 with ashkenazy that was excellent.
Rob
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2003-01-09 22:05
I have many of their recordings, and they have always been right up there in my list of top orchestras. They are high quality.
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-09 23:02
the philharmonia orchestra is currently playing Offenbach's Ballet pastoral from Orpheus in the Underworld on wqxr.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2003-01-09 23:13
To D Dow:
Was that you and your orchestra I heard on a Canadian radio yesterday?
I was driving through a snow storm in northern Quebec looking for my next concert venue and the Dvorak Cello concerto was playing on the radio. Nice playing from the orchestra -- nice clarinet solos -- and the soloist (a Canadian cellist whose name left me). The concerto ended the live concert; sustained applause from the audience brought the cellist out for an encore.
The radio announcer said it was a live concert by either the NB Orchestra or the Nova Scotia. I was trying not to slip, slide away and didn't quite get the details.
Good work...
Tom Piercy
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-10 11:40
Yep, it was I and our orchestra.
It was NB with Denise Djokic playing on the recording done back in late September..that was part of Symphony Nb's first concert series done in the Imperial theatre.
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Author: Er
Date: 2003-01-10 14:43
How was the cellist? (Her playing, that is...I already know she's a looker. <g>)
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Author: William
Date: 2003-01-10 15:08
Ah yes!!!!--that's why behind screen auditions are best. (card carrying older ugly clarinetist)
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-10 16:10
The cello solist was Denise Djokic of Halifax NS and she is very beautiful. Her Stradivarius sounds fatastic and she is absolutely a superb player.
Years ago we did the Elgar Cello Concerto with Ofra Harnoy and I must admit I prefer the playing of Djokic.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2003-01-10 18:09
It seems to me that the U.K probably has more great orchestras per capita then just about anywhere on earth -- anyone else feel the same way (or disagree)?
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