 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-07-26 22:28
My impression, and it's a long time ago, is that there was no audition. Wright was so good that everyone knew he would have the Boston job when Gino Cioffi retired.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-26 23:30
I think there was an audition but I don't know who was in the finals, it they even had them. All I know is that I didn't audition and either did Ricardo Morales, he was much to young, wasn't born yet. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-07-28 18:22)
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2009-07-27 04:12
I had heard from a former teacher that there was an audition but in name only. The BSO wind section, many of whom had attended Curtis with Wright, knew that they wanted him from the start. And Wright knew that the National Symphony was a cup of coffee until a Big 5 job opened up.
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Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-27 12:57
This is probably completely rubbish and I apologise for adding to the large quantity of bull faeces floating around, but I seem to remember someone mentioning years ago that Frank Cohen was runner up to Harold Wright.
R Wodkowski
www.ramonwodkowski.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-27 14:55
One has to remember that back then not all auditions were behind a screen as today. As a matter of fact, only a few were doing that then. I'm sure Wright had a leg up since he already had a great rep and probably did have friends in the BSO that wanted him but that doesn't mean it was settled before that audition. A conductor has something to say about that too you know. As a matter of fact, they have the last word. ESP
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-07-27 16:29
Ramon -
Frank Cohen was born in 1946 and was thus 24 in 1970. According to his bio, he was entering contests in 1968, so he almost certainly didn't have a permanent position then. I haven't been able to find out where he played before coming to Cleveland in 1976, but I think two years of experience wouldn't be enough to get him seriously considered for Boston in 1970. It doesn't mean he didn't enter the auditions, but Wright clearly had the job.
Ken Shaw
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Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-27 17:29
Frank was in the Baltimore Symphony prior to Cleveland. Prior to that he was the first prize winner of the Munich ARD and lived in Germany for a few years.
I dont think age in that period was as much an issue as it is today, lots of people were hired young as principals with relatively little experience - David Shifrin won Cleveland at the age of 24, Stanley Drucker NY Phil at 19 was it? Joshua Smith principal flute of Cleveland at 19 years old, Lynn Harrell Principal cello of the the Cleveland Orchestra at a very young age, under 20.
Too bad that sort of thing doesnt happen anymore. Seems orchestras are after something different - taking a risk on raw talent and moulding that player doesnt seem to be very fashionable.
Post Edited (2009-07-27 17:30)
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2009-07-27 17:48
Age is still really not an issue. The better the orchestra, the more they want the best player possible. A great, talented young player can keep up with experienced players by virtue of an Ipod, good practice habits, and a little fear.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-07-27 18:12
From The Clarinet Volume 21 Number 1 Nov/Dec 1993:
"...when Wright joined the (Boston Symphony) orchestra, the only question music director William Steinberg had after Wright's audition was "could he play out?" The answer turned out to be of course, he could. But he didn't have to play loudly to make an impact: Wright's was the gift of drawing you in, making you come into the heart of the music..."
...GBK
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2009-07-27 18:17
And getting the luck and good fortune to play in Symphony Hall. It was exactly suited to his style of playing.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-27 18:20
I thought Frank played here in Baltimore for 6-8 years so if he was playing in Cleveland in 76 as said above then that would be just about right.
Ricardo Morales was hired at the Met when he was about 20, give or take. Also, Philly hired a tuba player, a solo position, a few years ago while SHE was still in school so they are hiring young players if the player is that exceptional. Frank Cohen, by the way, was and still is, exceptional. ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-07-28 18:21)
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-07-28 11:39
Frank Cohen joined the Baltimore Symphony as Principal Clarinet in the Fall of 1970, the same year that Harold Wright became Principal in the Boston Symphony. To my knowledge, Frank never lived in Germany. As a winnner of the Munich Competition, however, he had a few tours in Europe as soloist or recitalist. For a couple of years prior to joining the Baltimore Symphony, he was Principal Clarinet of the American Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski.
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-07-28 11:40
Oh yeah: I don't recall whether there was any audition for the Boston Symphony when H. Wright got the job. I doubt it, frankly.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-28 16:33
According to Wikipedia Harold Wright was principal of the Boston Symphony from 1970 to 1993.
According to A Google search Frank Cohen joined the Cleveland Symphony in 1976 and won the Munich Competition in 1968.
That means he joined the Baltimore Symphony somewhere between 1969 and 1970. It didn't give those dates. So Steve Hartman is probably correct. I e-mailed him and asked him, I'll let you all know if he responds.
If anyone is really curious about either one of them they can go to Wikipedia or Google them. The bottom line is that they are, or were, both great players in their own style. ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-07-28 18:19)
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Author: clarinetwoman
Date: 2009-07-28 17:04
This is interesting readin material to us clarinetist......who was in the finals with Marcellus?? Why did David Shifrin leave Cleveland?? Who was in the circuit with Ricardo Morales and who beat him in auditions right before he won the met are some of the questions I have wondered about.
Dind't Larry Combs job open a few years when Mr. Cohen was in the circuit also????
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-07-28 17:58
National Symphony - Michael Rusinek won it over Ricardo
Rusinek auditioned for Met and Ricardo got it over him
Ricardo just like most everyone else did have auditions where he didn't get past the first round. It happens - he probably didn't miss notes, but just wasn't what they were looking for at that time.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-07-28 18:13
Loren Kitt's bio on the Kennedy Center website says that he joined the National Symphony in 1970.
Michael Rusinek was Assistant Principal in the National prior to joining the Pittsburgh Symphony as Principal in 1998.
Frank Cohen joined the Cleveland Orchestra as Principal in 1976. I could find no mention of his dates in Baltimore in a brief search. I'm pretty sure he joined Baltimore the same year as H. Wright went to Boston. In fact, I'd be willing to bet Ed Palanker a box of Vandoren Bass Clarinet reeds that I'm correct!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-28 18:25
Steve, I edited my above posts because I do believe you are correct so there's no bet because I know you would win. Besides, I use the Rico Grand Concert bass clarinet reeds most of the time. When you're right, you're right. My memory is failing me, I hope I can still remember how to play my clarinets when I get back from vacation. I may need help in putting them together though. Which end does the mouthpiece go on? Take care, ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-07-28 18:29)
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-07-28 18:39
Pretty sneaky way of finding out what kind of BC reeds you use, wasn't it, Ed?
Best wishes to you.
-Steve
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-28 19:56
Well Steve, you could have just asked. Pretty sneaky. I am a Rico artist after all, but they don't ever pay me anything. I've always kept a ten year supply of reeds to "age" them so I still have several boxes of Vandorens left so I do open a box of them now and then, but don't tell anyone. I haven't bought a box of Vandorens in many, many years though. Somehow I think we got off topic. Take care all, ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-07-28 21:12)
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2009-07-29 10:25
I seem to remember Harold Wright being offered the 2nd position in Boston when Mazzeo retired. As I heard the story, he supposedly turned it down because they would not guarantee his move to Principal when Cioffi retired. There definitely was an audition for Principal at the time Cioffi did retire but it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the position would go to Wright.....as it did.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-29 16:00
Hi Gene, did Mazzeo ever play 2nd as a regular position? I'm pretty sure he was their bass clarinet player and personnel manager. I auditioned for his bass clarinet position when he retired in the mid 60s. That was not a great experience on any count but that's another story for another time. Take care, ESP
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-07-29 21:38
Ed may be "off topic" above but it raises some interesting questions
- will there be no Bass vacancy in BSO for at least 10 year ?
- how will he know when to stop buying his 10 year advance stock ?
How far in advance do other professional players buy their reeds ?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-07-30 00:23
Well Norman, I probably have enough reeds now that I won't have to buy any more. Over time I've learned to adjust them pretty well and along with the Rico Vitalizers they last me a lot longer then they used to. (Maybe I just don't practice as much). I used to go through 6-8 boxes of bass clarinet reeds each year, sometimes more when I would open 2-3 boxes of Vandorens at a time and not find a single reed that I could play professionaly. That used to happen more then once. I know I'm a Rico reed performing artist but that's the reason I am, I love their reeds and the Vitalizer. This past season I opened two boxes of Grand Concerts and one box of Vandorens and I still have a few good Grand Concerts to start next season. Had a lot of big bass stuff this season too.
Anyway, I currently have 16 boxes of bass reeds in my "reed draw" so do the math. I figure at least 5 more years to go and maybe I'll want to give Stanley a run for it. I don't think I'll beat him. I'll buy a dozen more boxes in a few years if I need to but I won't be able to age them for ten years any more, only time will tell. Maybe when I run out that will be the time to retire. I begin my 47th season in September.
In answer to your other question about other proffesionals, I really don't know. It seems to me that many just buy them as needed but I'm sure it's different for many. It would be interesting to see if others answer. ESP
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-08-05 01:18
Frank answered me, he did in fact come to Baltimore in 1970, the same year that Wright went to Boston. Settled! ESP
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