 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anthony_Madderson
Date: 2006-05-28 22:17
Well, after my rave reviews last week, I return with my tail between my legs. The concerts I have heard this week, apart from one exception make me want to go back to the midlands!
Let me start from at the last concert I heard, and possibly the biggest dissapointment of all the ones I have heard since I moved back to london. The clarinetist shall remain nameless, but he performed at the prestigious Wigmore Hall and was, well, he was just bland. No colour variations, no tonal variety, just bland clarinet playing with a sound that didn't make you want to listen to him ever again and most importantly a dull musician. An evening to truly forget if ever there was one. I just can't understand why people would want ot hear such dry thin colourless clarinet playing. Please help me if you were there!
On Thursday with my spirits still reasonably bright I heard the London Symphony. Well, I don't know if it was Andrew Marriner playing, I assume it was, and it was superb clarinet playing. Not much to highlight his playing in the program of Fidelio, but when it came across it had perhaps the sweetest sound I have ever heard from a clarinet, I can't wait to hear him again.
Earlier in the week I had also heard the Royal Opera House Orchestra in Sleeping Beauty. Not sure who was playing here, but it was English playing at its worst, out of tune and full of vibrato!!
So after two weeks back, here are the questions I ask my fellow posters:
Is Andrew Marriner one of the best around? I surely think he is, and if he is does anybody know how I can hear him play more often?
Who are the players in the Royal Opera House Orchestra and am I right in thinking they are true old school english players, or were they on an off night?
And finally, after hearing three young players in london in two weeks, two from the Royal Academy and one from the Guildhall, I can honestly say that I have a huge appreciation of the Royal Academy. I was wondering what others thoughts are on the Guildhall and its quality of studnet and other players, apart from Harper and Orpen, from the Royal Academy. Incidentally, after looking at adverts quite closely, I am yet to see any other concerts by those two young players, can anybody help? They really were two of the most extraordinarily gifted clarinetists I have heard, and would love to hear them again. Has Harper returned to Australia? What of Orpen, has he gone too?
Anthony Madderson
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2006-05-28 22:27
Interesting...
The principal at Covent Garden is as far as I know still Nick Rodwell, who oddly is one of the Academy's professors. It's strange as he makes a beautiful sound and is far from 'English old school' in my opinion. Perhaps someone else was in.
Andrew Marriner (also an Academy professor you'll be pleased to hear) is indeed one of the finest players in around as far as I'm concerned. He's also a great teacher, great person to chat with and extremely helpful.
I'm ex-Academy (I was in Tim Orpen's year at the Academy, and know Andy Harper as well) so am biased, but I agree with the comments you made on your last thread about it being the best around for London clarinet playing (but I would say that!!) I'll forward this thread on to Tim, he may be able to give you more details of what he's doing. As far as I know he's only doing a single year of postgrad study. Andy is not actually a student as I understand it anymore...he's some kind of new music fellow. He's planning on staying in this country for the forseeable future as far as I know.
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