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How Long Is Too Long?

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-06-02 17:33

Stanley Drucker has been principal in New York for 50 years. He's still playing wonderfully, but you start to wonder how long he can go on. Anthony Gigliotti also lasted 50 years in Philadelphia, and he admitted that he had lost a bit at the end.

Here's an interesting article about long tenure in the Chicago Symphony, showing that clarinetists aren't unique, and addressing the question of how you ease a player out when he/she isn't up to it any longer:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D0306010312jun01§ion=/printstory

If that internal link doesn't work, here's a direct one:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-0306010312jun01,1,1455371.story?coll=chi%2Dleisurearts%2Dhed

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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Re: How Long Is Too Long?

Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-02 21:32

First, you find a convenient Ice Floe....

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Re: How Long Is Too Long?

Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-02 21:57

I read the article with interest also the other day. Doesn't it all actually boil down to money just as in industry? If symphony musicians had decent retirement programs perhaps they would welcome retirement at 65. In fact, I believe that the majority who reach 65 do retire but there are some who just can't stop working just as elsewhere. I thought the comment in the article about poor sound being attributed to players....in the Chicago Symphony venue......was ridiculous. We all know that after the renovation the sound never was the same. One wonders why Chicago can't find a local Conductor for less salary than is being paid to Barenboim. Perhaps that would ease the financial situation.

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Re: How Long Is Too Long?

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-06-02 22:13

Several years ago, the press asked the NY Philharmonic what Zubin Mehta's salary was, but management said it was a secret. Someone got the orchestra's public financial reports, subtracted all the listed expenses from the total budget, and came up with a "blank expense" of several million dollars. I think Mehta had as much to do with the vulgarity of the NYP's playing as anyone. Think Three Tenors. Zubalah Bubelah has a great hook at the end of his nose, with a drop of sweat always trembling on it, but IMHO he never belonged with a major orchestra, and certainly not at that salary.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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Re: How Long Is Too Long?

Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-02 23:10

Ken Shaw ... I always admired the NY Phil ... I heard them when Bernstein brought them to Sydney in the 70s, they played a thrilling concert at the Concert Hall in the Opera house - I can't remember the program now, too long ago, but I know there was a Mahler Symphony in the second half (I think the 5th). I do, however, remember the strings played with gusto and a togetherness that was inspirational. I didn't like the horns (to brassy for my liking) and thought the woodwinds were just to die for ... but then again with the charisma of Leny ... what else could they do but play like angels (mostly).

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Re: How Long Is Too Long?

Author: diz
Date: 2003-06-02 23:18

Syn Botch ... Ice Floe? What - wrap them up in their wamest clothes, give them a bottle of brandy, and push them out to freeze in the Atlantic? Wow - what a way to treat our elderly! I'm looking forward to growing old and cantancerous and god help anyone who tries to push me out to sea on an ice block ... (tongue firmly in cheek)

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