Just watched a bit of the new kid on the block down south who insists upon standing up in front of the LA Philharmonic, and doing contortions greater than Bernstein or Ozawa could ever imagine! He will learn his craft there with a reasonably attentive orchestra, and leave them wondering what happened — in about 10 years. Why do the boards of directors and orchestras choose these flappers? Tickets, honey, tickets.
Now, I know that television is not the best way to listen to a Mahler Symphony, but heck if I get totally bored with knowing the sound governor at every known triple f (fortississimo!) will cause the set to nearly lose the sound, why can’t the PBS or whomever is doing the recording… a world of experience at their fingertips…. get with the program. The sound was wretched. The orchestra was good when allowed to be good and loud. The tv sound, however, left a considerable amount to be desired.
Should I even mention the camera work. How many times do I have to see the pinched face of the oboe player playing a solo and the flute player…. I won’t even go into it. There are so many shots I would have absolutely loved to have seen — one good shot from mid audience… the entire orchestra and not just the second violins. Great shot of bass player in the big solo, and the wonderful trumpets — especially the principal — and the horns who were worth the whole wait until the end of the Mahler.
After playing in orchestras here, there, and everywhere for many years, I am totally opinionated about conductors (having been married to one for several years) as well as orchestral players, individual playing, ensemble playing, audience reaction — not a smile in the most lovely of all landlers …… and who cares what Tom Hanks thinks.
Sure, Gustavo will bring in a herd of children who will end up being the next generation of orchestral players, and who will most likely become what an old friend calls recovering symphony players who go into doo wop acapella singing, or venture into oboe improvisation… you know orchestral playing is a mighty thing, but there are too many rules, the first of which is that you have to follow the person wagging the stick in front of the group.
Now I know it’s bedtime.
Stay tuned. This critic stuff is kinda fun! You know, I listened without viewing for a bit, and realized just how many rehearsal hours in full orchestra and sectionals, how much time in practice alone was represented on that stage. I would not dissuade anyone from being a part of the music world….. just as I held my words as the kid next door droned on while listening to accompanying music? on the headphones — the other day well, night actually outside the apartment door. I never want to be the one to discourage anyone about their vocal abilities and other such skills.
Oh yes, I thought it fascinating that when the announcer — was it Andy Garcia?– mentioned that Gustavo, wunderkind, was in demand round the world, he spoke of every major city that has a major orchestra EXCEPT London. Hmm…. is this reminiscent of the previous wunderkind, the now Sir Simon Rattle who currently conducts the Berlin Philharmonic… see, he too learned his craft and moved on to one of the greatest. My prediction is that Gustavo will be in Vienna before long. Maybe even before his hair turns grey, as has Sir Simon’s.
I remember a long time ago, while watching the BBC in England, a young miss of 12 was interviewed as having been one of the first 12-year-olds to have completed a degree at Cambridge or somewhere like that. The interviewer asked her what it was like to be a genius. Her response was something like Sir, I’m not a genius yet. Right now I am ordinary. I will become a genius when I have done something no one else has done before me. Wonder where she is now.
Later……..
what you've said