 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kefei
Date: 2003-02-09 17:18
Richard Stoltzman playing Mozart's Concerto with the English Chamber Orchestra is currently being broadcasted on WQXR. I've never heard this recording bfore, this is the first time. What in the world is Richard doing????!!?!!?!!
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Author: Ken
Date: 2003-02-09 17:49
Earning a living I would think.
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Author: Frank
Date: 2003-02-09 19:47
i don't understand.....you disapprove of some aspect of the performance?
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-02-09 19:51
Is this going to be another recap of why "everyone" hates Stoltzman?
Bob A
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Author: Michael Norsworthy
Date: 2003-02-09 20:26
Frank, (and others)
I would agree.... earning a living!! It's interesting that so many people criticize him negatively without knowing a thing about him. An interesting and positive way of saying things might be, he has a unique sound, he makes unique choices and plays in a personal style all his own.
I am his only student and can tell you from personal experience that he makes every decision for a musical reason and he seeks to create only art when he plays. He strives to be the best clarinetist he can by doing his scales, exercises, etc... on a daily and regular basis. If anyone has ever heard him play THROUGH one of Opperman's books, studies or solos, I think you'd be quite amazed at just how good a clarinetist he really is. He's got all the necessary tools that many of us seek and chooses to do UNIQUE things with them.
In short, he's unique. (I believe I've mentioned this already) Is there something wrong with this? And why is it that so many of us strive to be so much like other players in our own playing? Has the recording industry truly destroyed all sense of individuality in playing? Must we sound like Larry Combs, Robert Marcellus or Karl Leister? (to name but a few) Why can't we sound like ourselves and strive for the individuality that so few of us actually achieve? It bothers me that when I play for another clarinet player, they compare me to these icons of the past and always forget to consider me on my own merit. While comparison can be a great way for us to grow, I don't want to sound like a carbon copy of someone else in any way, shape or form.
Dick is my teacher, my guide and one of my dearest friends and I cherish every phrase turned, every word spoken and every performance. Though I may disagree with certain things, I appreciate his uniqueness and hold him and his playing in very esteem. He's never afraid to be himself and that speaks volumes to me personally. Now go and practice!!!!!!!!
Regards,
Michael Norsworthy
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-02-09 20:47
I only recently discovered his albumn "Aria" and I have enjoyed listening to all the selections immensely as I have also enjoyed all of the other performances of his that I have heard. I suggest the poster try to understand Mr.Stoltzman's interpretation if he/she thinks there is something wrong with it.
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Author: Jules
Date: 2003-02-09 23:30
His recording of the Copland concerto is the finest I have ever heard and one of the prize CD's in my colection. You go Dick!
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Author: aria
Date: 2003-02-09 23:43
I just picked up Aria as well. I guess to go along with his unique styling in other rep he chooses to do non standard aria phrasing, which is just fine. but being a clarinetist that is closely familiar with opera aria's (my fiance is a lyric colloratura), when we listened to each aria, we would get really pumped to hear how the standard phrasing would come out singing on the clarinet. but it didnt happen, it was totally different phrasing. c'est la vie, I still enjoy his interpretations on the cd.
my fiance, however, was kind of turned off in his program notes about how he really didnt listen to many recordings of the arias for style study and what-not (or something to that effect). I wonder if there are other clarinetists who shared this cd with vocalists and what their reactions were. to finish, he does some quite amazing work, and I am not trying to persuade anyone that his work is inferior in any way. have a good one.
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2003-02-10 03:14
Michael...
You are fortunate, indeed (fortune earned through a lot of hard work, I'm sure) to have Mr. Stolzman as an instructor. When I first heard his Mozart K622 recording, I was blown away. Unique, yes, and refreshingly so. Some of the longer clarions and altissimos "shimmer" - very fitting and overdue. Others have called it "vibrato" but they are perhaps not fine tuning their descriptions enough. Aker Bilk does the extreme vibrato - the opposite of that extreme is "shimmer"- I love the "shimmer" - he makes the piece glisten. Classical clarinetists, I'm gathering from many posts, are one of the most conservative groups of humans on the planet. Every nuance of change gets a reaction. I guess the fear is the classics will be distorted into oblivion. I don't think there's much danger in that happening.
Please let me know when he performs within 100 miles of Destin, Flordia...I will make the trip.
Jerry Mucci
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2003-02-10 05:37
Michael --
Your proximity to the man adds considerable weight to your statements. Thanks for saying what many of us wanted to say about Richard Stoltzman, including those like myself who have personal disagreements with many of his artistic/interpretive choices.
I would describe his playing as variously sublime (some of his older classical recordings), idiomatic yet quirky (certain pop/jazz), awe inspiring (Seasons, especially his altissimo), confusing (some of the modern works), but never ordinary and never predictable! He seems to place a personal stamp on everything he does in so many different styles of music.
IMHO, Duke Ellington (who loved the "classical" clarinet sound as played by both of his long time featured soloists, Barney Bigard and Jimmy Hamilton) would have given his highest musical praise to Richard S. -- that his playing is "beyond category".
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Author: William
Date: 2003-02-10 15:50
If I could play as good as Richard Stoltzman, I would probably be enjoying a cruise in the South Seas right now and be living off my CD royalties. But he keeps on going.......... Although I personally like/hate his playing (and was totally turned off by his attitude and playing during a clinic given by him for our school kids), I have great admiration for his professionalism, his tenacity in discovering and performing new works, and for the "press" her brings to the world of clarinet. Like that famous watch, he "takes the lick'n (from a lot of us), but keeps on tick'n (his own way)." Way to go, Richard (but try a little less vibrato)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-02-11 13:42
I also agree that his style is unique and refreshing. I have several of his recordings and enjoy them. I may not agree with some of the interpretations, but I still enjoy his personal style. We each need to come up with a style that is from the heart, not just the head or textbook. When it's from the heart it captures the listener's ear. I hear Mr. Stoltzman's heart when he plays.
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