 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-06-08 18:50
Hello,
(Disclaimer: I'm a Buffet Crampon artist/clinician)
I must report on last weekend. Of course, this is Stanley Drucker's last season with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, having played with them for nearly 61 years. Last weekend, he played the Copland concerto with them; one night last week, Saturday (the concert I attended) and will again this Tuesday, for the last time. At the pre concert lecture, the speaker noted that this was the 65th performance of the Copland by Drucker with the NY Phil. He also noted that Drucker had played roughly 10,500 concerts over 60 years.
The concert was sold out and featured soloists from within the orchestra. First was the Brandenburg Concerto, No 4 in G major, with two flute and one violin solists. Next, Phil Smith played the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, followed by the Copland and ending with Bolero, with everyone soloing within the orchestra (Nuccio on 1st, Martinez on e-flat). The concert was very enjoyable and featured a rather lengthy montage of short video interviews with various people related to the Philharmonic. The most memorable was the stage director (I presume) who said that in all the years, Drucker had not given him almost no problems!
Afterward, the Buffet Crampon Company honored Mr. Drucker with a lovely reception at a restaurant across from Lincoln Center. Many notable Buffet artists were in attendance with many tributes to Stanley. Perhaps the most famous attendee was Alan Alda!
Also of note, this is Lorin Maazel's last season with the orchestra, and this is the last season for Stephen Freeman, bass clarinet, who has performed with the orchestra for 42 years!
Hats off to the Buffet Crampon Company for sending Mr. Drucker off with style. I know I'll miss him! I hope he continues to perform recitals and teach in retirement.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2009-06-08 19:46
Alan Aldas wife (or ex wife?) plays the clarinet- he met her when he went to hear her play the Mozart Quintet at a friends house. A very romantic story...
dn
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-06-09 03:06
donald wrote:
> Alan Aldas wife (or ex wife?) plays the clarinet- he met her
> when he went to hear her play the Mozart Quintet at a friends
> house. A very romantic story...
> dn
That's right; she played with the Houston Symphony (under Stokowski).
She studied clarinet in Cologne on a Fulbright scholarship.
Post Edited (2009-06-09 03:21)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2009-06-09 22:20
One of my favorite all time recordings is Boulez doing the Firebird suite from 77 with New York Phil on Quad CBS. I think it the winds here are the best I have ever heard them sound. As to Maazel I think he has done a great job in the interim. Like any orchestra the NY Phil is going to be very busy re-inventing themself. Drucker is going to be missed alot. He is also not afraid to take risks artistically...a true free spirit musically.
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2009-06-11 01:26
I was at last night's concert and must agree that it was a truly great performance. I actually had never seen Mr. Drucker in a solo performance before, but now I know "what all the fuss is about". As cliche as it sounds, he really does still play with the energy of a 25-year-old, and on a piece like the Copland, he's just plain fun to hear (and watch!). In fact, I had never much cared for the Copland before this concert, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying his version of it. I only wish I had made it a point to go see him more before he retired!
Tom
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-06-11 19:21
Just a word about Tuesday night's (June 9) concert, Stanley's final Copland as a member of the orchestra.
As others have reported, he was at his very best and the concerto never sounded better. What's more, the Philharmonic seemed to enjoy itself immensely.
The program provided lots of opportunity for solos: flutes and violin in the Brandenburg Concerto No. 4; Phil Smith in the Haydn trumpet concerto and, in the final offering, nearly every part of the orchestra got a chance to shine in Bolero.
As for Stanley, he played to a worshipful, sold-out house. But his fans weren't all in the darkened hall. I had a fourth-row orchestra seat on the far left aisle, with a perfect view of him and Lorin Maazel..and of the violas, cellos and double basses. John Deak, Carter Brey, Cynthia Phelps and others gazed at Stanley with enormous affection and pleasure as he played. So did the conductor.
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-06-12 12:11
For those in the Long Island area, Stanley is performing the Copland Concerto once more with the Philharmonic at the Tilles Center on June 19. His final concert in the orchestra will be in Vail, CO on July 31.
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