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Re: Loren Kitt retires from NSO

Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2016-05-31 00:14

Ken Shaw wrote:

"His predecessors were Robert Marcellus and Harold Wright, so I'm sure he had ambitions. Instead, he stayed forever, playing, from what I've heard, better than everybody. Does anyone know what jobs he tried for?"

It was my good fortune to play in the National Symphony clarinet section for 40 years -- 10 of those with Harold Wright and 30 years with Loren Kitt. In my opinion Loren's playing was certainly on a par with his two notable predecessors! I don't know if he ever "tried for" any other jobs. As Loren states in his interview, the NSO had been, under Howard Mitchell and before, a "stepping stone" job -- preparation for more celebrated orchestra positions.

With the advent of the Dorati era and beyond I feel the NSO is now a "destination" orchestra, financially on a par with the historic "big 5", and I believe artistically also. Other (non-principal) members of the NSO clarinet section while I was there have "stepped up" to principal clarinet positions in orchestras such as Pittsburgh and Dallas. Two members of current section will be NSO co-principals for the coming season, pending the outcome of auditions for Music Director Designate Giannandrea Noseda in the 2017-18 season.

To make a lateral move to a corresponding chair in another orchestra seems to be fashionable these days. Perhaps maintaining a pleasant life style in a great city is just as fulfilling!

Loren is a wonderful player, and just as important, a dear colleague and always a musical inspiration to me. The respect he has earned here in Washington, and nationally, has been well deserved.

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