I have performed the Dring trio, but it’s been quite some time. I’d love to do it again. Hmmm. Next year is my required performance year at UCSC. Maybe I can get our wonderful flutist to do this with me there, if we can find a pianist to join us.
Despite the tough economic landscape currently facing Bay Area arts groups, Ballet San Jose has decided to push forward with an ambitious expansion in its 2009-10 season.
In an announcement to be released later today, the company will unveil plans to increase the number of main-stage programs from five to six and to extend the runs of several productions, including the company’s popular version of “The Nutcracker.” With the exception of “Nutcracker,” most ballet programs have run just one weekend in recent years.
In addition, the entire season will be produced with live music by Symphony Silicon Valley. In the past, some productions have been done to recorded music to contain costs.
The announcement is here.
I might write more about this later (the “rest of the story” sort of thing). But maybe not. For now, though, let me just say that more work is more work, and for that I’m grateful! These are tough times, so to see we might be doing more is a good thing. (Of course some will conflict with Opera San José, so I’ll have to be doing some calendar work here soon to see how all of this fits together.)
My daughter’s oboe cracked again this weekend. Said it was just one more hole to play. I got THAT LOOK!!
Two sets ago, as readers here know, I played the English horn with Symphony Silicon Valley in Symphony No. 9 by Dvorak (From New World) as well as Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture. It was one of the few times I was actually very satisfied with my playing (I am, I think, my harshest critic). I had fun. I played musically. Things just felt right. (Yeah, I go by how I feel much of the time.)
And then it was over.
Most of us then go through that withdrawal period. I did a wee bit, but of course I did have more work right after that, so there wasn’t all that much time for it. The concerts were over, and that was that.
Last week I was surprised at a rehearsal. I was handed a letter that had been sent to the symphony office. It was a lovely letter, complimenting my English horn playing at that former concert.
My first fan letter! No doubt my last as well. But how wonderful it was to get that encouragement. So many musicians I know are somewhat insecure. We think we are playing well, but unless a conductor or some of our colleagues say something we begin to doubt ourselves.
Hmmm. Or maybe I’m the only one with that problem.
In any case, the letter was so wonderful to receive, and you can bet I’ll be saving it! :-)
This wasn’t my most pleasant week of concerts, due to my noisy left ear and dizziness issues, but I still truly enjoyed the works I played, along with the Shostakovich Piano Concerto that didn’t involve oboes. I thought this Symphony Silicon Valley program was a very good one!
Our principal bassoonist, Deborah Kramer, was absolutely incredible today. It’s such an honor to sit in front of her. So thanks, Debbie! You made even my left ear happy! :-)
Chloe Veltman has an article that has been given the title Female conductors crack the glass podium. I read that, and I visualize these women sinking, since a podium is what they stand on. Yeah, I’m silly that way.
Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
Many thanks to Gabrielle, at Lone Oboe, for putting this up at her site.
From Camerata Pacifica: Nicholas Daniel, oboe; Richard O’Neill, viola & Kevin Fitzgerald, piano perform the 1st of Loeffler’s Rhapsodies.
There was definitely a period during which a lot of music seemed to be written to satisfy academic committees, which had to approve of you for you to be taken seriously. In more recent years that academic control has been loosened, and this has finally allowed a lot of composers of my generation to pursue successful careers. Perhaps a Pierre Boulez may still think we should never put another note on paper — but we’re no longer controlled by one point of view. And I think that’s wonderful.
-Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (found here)
I should be practicing piano or oboe, but The Golden Girls is a little more interesting right now :)
Even a rotten reed deserves clean teeth.
And you can quote me on that.
Principal bassoon Deborah Kramer’s solo in the fourth movement was a consummate statement of existential anguish; you will not hear it better played in any orchestra.
Richard Scheinin’s review is so true. Debbie was incredible. No. Question.
Working on oboe reeds. oh the humanity
Below is Shostakovich, playing the end of the piano concerto SSV is doing this week with Jon Kimura Parker:
Here is Bernstein talking about Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6:
Part 7:
(Of course I’m on my way out the door, so I don’t even have time to check these out … but I began the first one and I’m now listening to the last. I’ll have to get to the remainder later … UCSC calls!)
… oh, and do note the Viennese oboes!
