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Re: Cleveland orchestra principal or did we miss something

Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2017-03-31 00:05

I'm not going to weigh in on the current process for picking a principal clarinet in Cleveland (I don't have a horse in the race, and I'm not terribly worried about it)...but a couple of points:

1. The clarinet makes a substantial difference to the sound of the orchestra in Severance Hall. This doesn't really translate to recordings somehow, but Franklin Cohen's sound had a presence that filled out the wind section in a remarkable way, and is noticeably absent now. When you consider the outstanding history of principal clarinetists in Cleveland...it's quite a legacy to live up to.

2. Cleveland is a small, close-knit town, especially in terms of the arts community. The regular audience is quite knowledgeable, and many people do know and care about the players--they know their history too. Remember, Cleveland isn't like NYC or some other large metropolitan areas--there aren't any other arts organizations that have the same prestige. The orchestra is still a major point of pride for the whole community.

I'm probably biased, but because of the hall and the way the tradition of this orchestra has been maintained, I think it's a very special environment for the clarinet: almost an ideal orchestra, sound-wise, to play in. I think they can afford to be very selective. Remember, there was also a two or three year period of searching between the time Robert Marcellus retired and Franklin Cohen was given tenure. It's impossible to replace players like them. Patience.

Eric

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The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/

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