Tonight, the Hartt Orchestra will be performing works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Hindemith, all of which are classics in the orchestral repertoire. The overture to The Marriage of Figaro is one of the greatest curtain raisers of all time; the producers of the movie, "Trading Places," understood that, as they quote liberally from the overture throughout the first few minutes of the film. (Watching it recently, it certainly put me in a very good mood.) Then there is the Scherzo to Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream, which violinists, violists, cellists and bass players all over the world must learn if they are to gain successful entry into an orchestra. (Ask a string player, and he/she will tell you why.) Hindemith has fallen out of favor of late, which is too bad, because the Symphonic Metamorphosis on themes by von Weber is one of those pieces that orchestras love to play (though it isn't easy).
Then there is the final work on tonight's program: Frank Ticheli's Radiant Voices.
You might be wondering why I would conclude a concert with the only unfamiliar work on the program? The short answer is this: We are celebrating Ticheli's music throughout this weekend at Hartt*, so it is appropriate to end the concert with his colorful masterwork, with the composer in attendance. It's the polite thing to do, right?
But if you are at the concert, you will understand that being polite did not play into this decision, for nothing can come after Radiant Voices. At a recent rehearsal, we worked on Hindemith after the Ticheli, and it felt strange, almost anticlimactic. Point is, the Hindemith is certainly more well known, and may always be, but Radiant Voices is a much more exciting and thrilling work, and it has been deeply satisfying to see my students take to this piece so readily.
At the first play through a few weeks ago, the Hartt Orchestra played it unlike anything they've read for the first time -- like it was in their bones from the get-go. If we'd had an audience at that first rehearsal, I'm quite certain they would have been as thrilled as I.
It's rare to encounter a new work (well, it's not that new -- it was premiered twenty years ago) that speaks so readily to musicians, but this piece does. But Frank Ticheli takes enormous pride in writing music that is not just great to listen to, but is fun to play.
Thankfully, the composer has been very happy with what he's heard thus far, and all of us can hardly wait to bring it to life tonight.
* The Hartt Orchestra will perform Frank Ticheli's Radiant Voices Friday May 2, at 7:30, in Lincoln Theater. The following evening, Saturday May 3, the Hartt Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band will perform works by Ticheli, concluding with the Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Millard Auditorium.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Derek Jeter's timing
Wallace Matthews, who covers the New York Yankees for ESPN, was asked yesterday about Derek Jeter's recent announcement that 2014 would be his last season with the team. He replied that he didn't see it coming, believing Jeter to be one of those guys who would stay on too long.
I'm not sure I would agree with that assessment, but all day yesterday, while the sports talk guys were blathering on and on about this, not one guy stated the obvious.
Which is not to dismiss Jeter -- he is arguably one of the finest players of the past generation, even more remarkable for his off the field restraint; not once in the past twenty years was there any kind of 'story' about him in the tabloids. Jeter is likely to have a good season, and will hopefully go out near -- if not at -- the top of his game.
The timing of his announcement, however, is perfect, given recent moves by the franchise. For one, Robinson Cano is off to the Mariners, only because he got a better deal. Too bad for him, as he was in position to become the next leader in the Yanks' clubhouse.
And let us not forget that Alex Rodriguez will be away all of this season. What a relief for the team, to have a season with no distractions from this gifted narcissist.
Can you imagine how things would be for Jeter and the team in February 2015, when A-Rod returns after his one year suspension? What a horrible distraction it will be for the team, dealing with all of the overblown media nonsense.
So yes -- Jeter's timing is not only perfect, it's obvious. He gets to have an A-Rod-free year, going from city to city, receiving encomiums everywhere he goes. And remember all of the accolades given to Rivera at the end of last season? That will be nothing compared to what comes to Jeter. Mariano got a rocking chair; Jeter will probably have buildings, streets and highways named in his honor.
And he richly deserves all of the attention accorded to him. He is a great player, a superb shortstop, and a really classy guy in an age when we have seen so few of them.
I'm not sure I would agree with that assessment, but all day yesterday, while the sports talk guys were blathering on and on about this, not one guy stated the obvious.
Which is not to dismiss Jeter -- he is arguably one of the finest players of the past generation, even more remarkable for his off the field restraint; not once in the past twenty years was there any kind of 'story' about him in the tabloids. Jeter is likely to have a good season, and will hopefully go out near -- if not at -- the top of his game.
The timing of his announcement, however, is perfect, given recent moves by the franchise. For one, Robinson Cano is off to the Mariners, only because he got a better deal. Too bad for him, as he was in position to become the next leader in the Yanks' clubhouse.
And let us not forget that Alex Rodriguez will be away all of this season. What a relief for the team, to have a season with no distractions from this gifted narcissist.
Can you imagine how things would be for Jeter and the team in February 2015, when A-Rod returns after his one year suspension? What a horrible distraction it will be for the team, dealing with all of the overblown media nonsense.
So yes -- Jeter's timing is not only perfect, it's obvious. He gets to have an A-Rod-free year, going from city to city, receiving encomiums everywhere he goes. And remember all of the accolades given to Rivera at the end of last season? That will be nothing compared to what comes to Jeter. Mariano got a rocking chair; Jeter will probably have buildings, streets and highways named in his honor.
And he richly deserves all of the attention accorded to him. He is a great player, a superb shortstop, and a really classy guy in an age when we have seen so few of them.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Ray Guy
Growing up in Oakland, California, my brothers and I watched Oakland Raiders games with a passion. After church, we'd settle in for that week's big game. The 1970s were a tough time to be a Raiders fan (not as bad as today, though!), because the Steelers were always kicking our butt. And you cannot imagine how disheartening the Immaculate Reception was, when Franco Harris miraculously caught a 4th down Bradshaw pass that bounced off of Jack Tatum *and/or Frenchy Fuqua and ran it in for a touchdown -- even the cameramen were fooled.
Over twenty five years later, I was with the Pittsburgh Symphony, led by Mariss Jansons, whose newest friend at the time was . . . . Franco Harris. Harris loved the orchestra, even coming to rehearsals from time to time, sitting by himself. I asked him about that amazing catch, and told him I was a Raiders fan, to which he responded, "yeah, someone recently played me the tape of the play-by-play call [from Raiders voice Bill King] from your perspective, and I guess it wasn't such a good day for you, huh?" Harris is a really great guy, making it very hard for me to dislike him, much as he disrupted my brother's and father's life at the time.
It was thrilling to be a Raiders fan in the 70s, with so many ne'er-do-wells on the team, guys that no other NFL team wanted, like John Matuszak, Otis Sistrunk (from the University of Mars, they would say) and so many others. For the Super Bowl game in New Orleans against the Philadelphia Eagles, Coach Dick Vermeil made sure his players observed curfew, while Tom Flores's Raiders were up all night, every night, in the French Quarter. (The Raiders won -- so much for needed sleep before big games.) Quarterback Ken Stabler (aka "Snake") wrote a book about all of the off-field antics, of which one player on that team recently confirmed all of the stories to be 'accurate.'
I am speaking of Ray Guy, legendary punter from Southern Miss.
Most football fans understand that when a team has to punt, it's bad news, because you've just gone 3-and-out, and now you must give the ball back to your opponent (if you're not in field goal range). But when the Raiders had to punt, we used to lick our lips in anticipation, because we had Ray Guy. Even the announcers would get excited! Why?
When Guy came out to punt, the other team was very worried. With most punters, the ball goes down the field, the punt receiver catches it, then he runs it back. With most punters back then, a punt receiver usually had time to run before the other team could get to him downfield. But you must understand -- a Ray Guy punt was extraterrestrial. It never came down. It went so high in the air . . . there was one time when a camera caught the ball gracing the rim of the stadium! His punts were majestic things of beauty. Guy's punts brought about the advent of the phrase: hang time. Imagine being a punt receiver, waiting for a Ray Guy punt to take forever to descend while Raiders special teams guys are ready to throttle you. It was a no-win situation. One year, Guy had several punts over 60 yards. Legend had it he could throw a ball 100 yards (he recently corrected it to only 80 yards), and his status as one of the Raiders' backup quarterbacks proved it. There was a stretch of over 600 consecutive punts without being blocked. Such an amazing athlete he was!
Last week, Ray Guy was finally elected to the Hall of Fame. He had to wait 22 years for the honor, probably because no one had ever been elected to the hall as a punter before. Good thing the voters finally got it right, after so long. Congratulations, Mr. Guy. You richly deserve the honor!
* the 'and/or' was important then -- not so now -- as it no longer matters who last touches the ball. But in 1972, it mattered. It REALLY mattered.
Over twenty five years later, I was with the Pittsburgh Symphony, led by Mariss Jansons, whose newest friend at the time was . . . . Franco Harris. Harris loved the orchestra, even coming to rehearsals from time to time, sitting by himself. I asked him about that amazing catch, and told him I was a Raiders fan, to which he responded, "yeah, someone recently played me the tape of the play-by-play call [from Raiders voice Bill King] from your perspective, and I guess it wasn't such a good day for you, huh?" Harris is a really great guy, making it very hard for me to dislike him, much as he disrupted my brother's and father's life at the time.
It was thrilling to be a Raiders fan in the 70s, with so many ne'er-do-wells on the team, guys that no other NFL team wanted, like John Matuszak, Otis Sistrunk (from the University of Mars, they would say) and so many others. For the Super Bowl game in New Orleans against the Philadelphia Eagles, Coach Dick Vermeil made sure his players observed curfew, while Tom Flores's Raiders were up all night, every night, in the French Quarter. (The Raiders won -- so much for needed sleep before big games.) Quarterback Ken Stabler (aka "Snake") wrote a book about all of the off-field antics, of which one player on that team recently confirmed all of the stories to be 'accurate.'
I am speaking of Ray Guy, legendary punter from Southern Miss.
Most football fans understand that when a team has to punt, it's bad news, because you've just gone 3-and-out, and now you must give the ball back to your opponent (if you're not in field goal range). But when the Raiders had to punt, we used to lick our lips in anticipation, because we had Ray Guy. Even the announcers would get excited! Why?
When Guy came out to punt, the other team was very worried. With most punters, the ball goes down the field, the punt receiver catches it, then he runs it back. With most punters back then, a punt receiver usually had time to run before the other team could get to him downfield. But you must understand -- a Ray Guy punt was extraterrestrial. It never came down. It went so high in the air . . . there was one time when a camera caught the ball gracing the rim of the stadium! His punts were majestic things of beauty. Guy's punts brought about the advent of the phrase: hang time. Imagine being a punt receiver, waiting for a Ray Guy punt to take forever to descend while Raiders special teams guys are ready to throttle you. It was a no-win situation. One year, Guy had several punts over 60 yards. Legend had it he could throw a ball 100 yards (he recently corrected it to only 80 yards), and his status as one of the Raiders' backup quarterbacks proved it. There was a stretch of over 600 consecutive punts without being blocked. Such an amazing athlete he was!
Last week, Ray Guy was finally elected to the Hall of Fame. He had to wait 22 years for the honor, probably because no one had ever been elected to the hall as a punter before. Good thing the voters finally got it right, after so long. Congratulations, Mr. Guy. You richly deserve the honor!
* the 'and/or' was important then -- not so now -- as it no longer matters who last touches the ball. But in 1972, it mattered. It REALLY mattered.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
The Buffalo Bills
Today, the Denver Broncos will play the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 48. Much is being said and written about the Broncos' formidable offense, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, going up against Seattle, which can boast the best defense in the NFL. Four times before, the finest offense has gone up against the finest defense in the last game of the season, and in three of these games, the defense has prevailed. That bodes well for the Seahawks.
But Manning has been special throughout this season, playing magnificently in the Broncos' victory against the Patriots in the AFC Conference Championship two weeks ago. So the story line continues to be about Manning, and whether he will be able to match the two Super Bowl victories already owned by his younger brother, Eli. Only Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus, can understand what that would mean for Archie's boys.
But there will be a loser in today's game, and few will remember who that team was. Of all the Super Bowl bridesmaids, there is one team that will always stand out above the others -- the Buffalo Bills, who made it to the big game four years in row.
I went to the first of those four games, played against the New York Giants in 1991. We had just entered into the Gulf War, and for the first time, there were snipers waiting for all of us, circled along the top rim of the stadium. Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem, and the recording -- yours truly conducting the Florida Orchestra -- went platinum.
If Scott Norwood's 47-yard field goal in the closing seconds had been a few feet further to the left, the Bills would have won the game. To their credit, they returned to the Super Bowl the following year . . . and then again the next year . . . . and then again the following season. That is an extraordinary accomplishment. A number of teams have made to to the Super Bowl in successive years, and there have been other teams that have gone winless in four of these games, namely the Minnesota Vikings. (The Broncos have lost four times, but few will remember this, because in the twilight of John Elway's career, they won two in a row.) Still, no team can lay claim to what the Bills did in the early 1990s.
When Vince Lombardi famously said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," he wasn't talking about Marv Levy's Gang from Upstate New York. So today, I tip my hat to the greatest team that never won the Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills.
But Manning has been special throughout this season, playing magnificently in the Broncos' victory against the Patriots in the AFC Conference Championship two weeks ago. So the story line continues to be about Manning, and whether he will be able to match the two Super Bowl victories already owned by his younger brother, Eli. Only Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus, can understand what that would mean for Archie's boys.
But there will be a loser in today's game, and few will remember who that team was. Of all the Super Bowl bridesmaids, there is one team that will always stand out above the others -- the Buffalo Bills, who made it to the big game four years in row.
I went to the first of those four games, played against the New York Giants in 1991. We had just entered into the Gulf War, and for the first time, there were snipers waiting for all of us, circled along the top rim of the stadium. Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem, and the recording -- yours truly conducting the Florida Orchestra -- went platinum.
If Scott Norwood's 47-yard field goal in the closing seconds had been a few feet further to the left, the Bills would have won the game. To their credit, they returned to the Super Bowl the following year . . . and then again the next year . . . . and then again the following season. That is an extraordinary accomplishment. A number of teams have made to to the Super Bowl in successive years, and there have been other teams that have gone winless in four of these games, namely the Minnesota Vikings. (The Broncos have lost four times, but few will remember this, because in the twilight of John Elway's career, they won two in a row.) Still, no team can lay claim to what the Bills did in the early 1990s.
When Vince Lombardi famously said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," he wasn't talking about Marv Levy's Gang from Upstate New York. So today, I tip my hat to the greatest team that never won the Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Peyton Manning's moment
This coming Sunday, Peyton Manning will have the biggest game of his life. Not of his career -- his life.
This is a man who came back after a neck injury that threatened to end his career. Luckily for him, it only suspended it for awhile. But after this season, he will be examined once again, and if there is any cause for concern, he may retire at season's end.
He has just come off one of the finest seasons in NFL history for a quarterback: 55 touchdown passes. Many sports writers who extoll praise on this achievement are, in the end, still unimpressed. Those who follow football do not care about the regular season. For most of us, it's all about the post-season, that rarified world open only to those teams who peak in the winter. And the best teams have the best quarterbacks.
That's true again this season, as the four teams still in the playoffs all have superb leaders: in the NFC conference championship, two young ones -- great, but still unproven; in the AFC championship, two star veterans, Manning and Tom Brady, both with Super Bowl victories to their credit.
But Brady not only has more Super Bowl victories (three, to Manning's one), he also has a sterling post-season record -- more playoff victories than any other quarterback in history. From his first playoff games in 2001, Brady was special, always finding a way to win. Last Sunday against the Colts, he did not throw one touchdown pass, but they could not have won without him.
Manning's post-season record is not nearly as good as his record in regular season games. Many have pointed out his inability to win in cold weather, and this is somewhat unfair; most quarterbacks whose team plays in a dome do not fare well in cold weather. (Ask New Orleans's Drew Brees, an A-list quarterback with a championship ring of his own, who has a subpar record outdoors.) Manning spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, where the weather on game days in their domed stadium is never a factor.
But forget the elements. Manning is in Denver now, having led his team to victory last Sunday against San Diego. He's weary of all of the naysayers who continually hound him for his record in frigid conditions, and frankly, he's got a point. Enough already.
But his playoff record . . . . that's a problem. He's lost more games than he's won. Certainly, a team's defense has something to do with that. Dan Marino's legacy - similar to the one built by Manning -- is secure. But look at his playoff record (again, more losses than wins) and look at his playoff stats -- all of those interceptions -- and they may give you pause. I will always think of Marino as a great quarterback, even though he appeared in just one super bowl (a loss), but a good part of his record belies that status.
No one is talking much these days about Manning's brother, Eli, who, coming off one of the toughest seasons of his career, has two super bowl victories. He may never be as highly regarded as his older brother, which is unfair. When the heat is on, Eli can play.
And that's the biggest knock on brother Peyton. When it's crunch time, he simply is not the same quarterback. (For those who like to think of last Sunday's game as a big pressure game . . . please. Not even close. But to the Bronco's credit, they shut out the Chargers for the first three quarters.)
The New England Patriots come to Denver on Sunday, and the Broncos will have home field advantage, which can be factor in the playoffs, when fan noise reaches higher decibel levels than in the regular season. Just ask teams who've played road games in Seattle, where teams have committed the dreaded false start (a penalty which occurs when the visiting quarterback's signal-calling cannot be heard over the din) more than any other team . For Tom Brady and the Patriots, this won't be a problem. They are too well coached, and will be prepared for this.
Which brings us to the real reason why this game is so important for Manning.
If the Patriots lose Sunday, Brady's legacy will still be secure. Three championships is something only a few quarterbacks have achieved. Even if the Patriots go to the Super Bowl and lose, Brady will still be regarded among the finest quarterbacks of all time. The same cannot be said of Manning. For him, a Denver loss to New England would be devastating.
John Elway knows something about this. The super bowl losses early in his career would have marred his legacy, had it not been for his resurgence at the end of his career, with two super bowl wins. Later, as the Broncos's general manager, Elway brought Manning to Denver, believing that he had what it takes to give the Broncos their next championship.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova played against each other eighty times. Navratilova was better on grass (and won more finals matches), and Evert was superior on clay -- otherwise, there head-to-head record was 37-43, with a slight edge to Navratilova. This will be the fourteenth time that Manning and Brady have played against each other, and Manning's teams have won only four times. But Manning does have one thing in his favor: there have been just three playoff bouts, and the last was a victory for Manning.
In commercials, and on Saturday Night Live, Manning is a gifted actor and comedian. His retirement looks very rosy, indeed. Of all the sports figures on television today, Manning is far and away the most natural talent. I look forward to the years ahead, when he will no doubt be a regular presence in the media. He's a classy guy, and a real gentleman.
But for now, Manning has some unfinished business. When these teams have met in past playoff games, the home team has won, which may be why the Broncos are favored to win. Still, I would not want to be the oddsmakers on this game. With two of the greatest quarterbacks in the game today going against each other, and two teams playing their best football of the year, it promises to be a great game. I might miss the Super Bowl, but I'm not going to miss this one.
This is a man who came back after a neck injury that threatened to end his career. Luckily for him, it only suspended it for awhile. But after this season, he will be examined once again, and if there is any cause for concern, he may retire at season's end.
He has just come off one of the finest seasons in NFL history for a quarterback: 55 touchdown passes. Many sports writers who extoll praise on this achievement are, in the end, still unimpressed. Those who follow football do not care about the regular season. For most of us, it's all about the post-season, that rarified world open only to those teams who peak in the winter. And the best teams have the best quarterbacks.
That's true again this season, as the four teams still in the playoffs all have superb leaders: in the NFC conference championship, two young ones -- great, but still unproven; in the AFC championship, two star veterans, Manning and Tom Brady, both with Super Bowl victories to their credit.
But Brady not only has more Super Bowl victories (three, to Manning's one), he also has a sterling post-season record -- more playoff victories than any other quarterback in history. From his first playoff games in 2001, Brady was special, always finding a way to win. Last Sunday against the Colts, he did not throw one touchdown pass, but they could not have won without him.
Manning's post-season record is not nearly as good as his record in regular season games. Many have pointed out his inability to win in cold weather, and this is somewhat unfair; most quarterbacks whose team plays in a dome do not fare well in cold weather. (Ask New Orleans's Drew Brees, an A-list quarterback with a championship ring of his own, who has a subpar record outdoors.) Manning spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, where the weather on game days in their domed stadium is never a factor.
But forget the elements. Manning is in Denver now, having led his team to victory last Sunday against San Diego. He's weary of all of the naysayers who continually hound him for his record in frigid conditions, and frankly, he's got a point. Enough already.
But his playoff record . . . . that's a problem. He's lost more games than he's won. Certainly, a team's defense has something to do with that. Dan Marino's legacy - similar to the one built by Manning -- is secure. But look at his playoff record (again, more losses than wins) and look at his playoff stats -- all of those interceptions -- and they may give you pause. I will always think of Marino as a great quarterback, even though he appeared in just one super bowl (a loss), but a good part of his record belies that status.
No one is talking much these days about Manning's brother, Eli, who, coming off one of the toughest seasons of his career, has two super bowl victories. He may never be as highly regarded as his older brother, which is unfair. When the heat is on, Eli can play.
And that's the biggest knock on brother Peyton. When it's crunch time, he simply is not the same quarterback. (For those who like to think of last Sunday's game as a big pressure game . . . please. Not even close. But to the Bronco's credit, they shut out the Chargers for the first three quarters.)
The New England Patriots come to Denver on Sunday, and the Broncos will have home field advantage, which can be factor in the playoffs, when fan noise reaches higher decibel levels than in the regular season. Just ask teams who've played road games in Seattle, where teams have committed the dreaded false start (a penalty which occurs when the visiting quarterback's signal-calling cannot be heard over the din) more than any other team . For Tom Brady and the Patriots, this won't be a problem. They are too well coached, and will be prepared for this.
Which brings us to the real reason why this game is so important for Manning.
If the Patriots lose Sunday, Brady's legacy will still be secure. Three championships is something only a few quarterbacks have achieved. Even if the Patriots go to the Super Bowl and lose, Brady will still be regarded among the finest quarterbacks of all time. The same cannot be said of Manning. For him, a Denver loss to New England would be devastating.
John Elway knows something about this. The super bowl losses early in his career would have marred his legacy, had it not been for his resurgence at the end of his career, with two super bowl wins. Later, as the Broncos's general manager, Elway brought Manning to Denver, believing that he had what it takes to give the Broncos their next championship.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova played against each other eighty times. Navratilova was better on grass (and won more finals matches), and Evert was superior on clay -- otherwise, there head-to-head record was 37-43, with a slight edge to Navratilova. This will be the fourteenth time that Manning and Brady have played against each other, and Manning's teams have won only four times. But Manning does have one thing in his favor: there have been just three playoff bouts, and the last was a victory for Manning.
In commercials, and on Saturday Night Live, Manning is a gifted actor and comedian. His retirement looks very rosy, indeed. Of all the sports figures on television today, Manning is far and away the most natural talent. I look forward to the years ahead, when he will no doubt be a regular presence in the media. He's a classy guy, and a real gentleman.
But for now, Manning has some unfinished business. When these teams have met in past playoff games, the home team has won, which may be why the Broncos are favored to win. Still, I would not want to be the oddsmakers on this game. With two of the greatest quarterbacks in the game today going against each other, and two teams playing their best football of the year, it promises to be a great game. I might miss the Super Bowl, but I'm not going to miss this one.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Bill Moyer on Beethoven Nine
Bill Moyer has written a piece on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which previews a documentary titled,
"Following the Ninth."
One of the performances he posted is a flashmob I did with my students at The Hartt School last spring.
You can see the piece here:
http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/14/beethoven%E2%80%99s-flash-mobs/
"Following the Ninth."
One of the performances he posted is a flashmob I did with my students at The Hartt School last spring.
You can see the piece here:
http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/14/beethoven%E2%80%99s-flash-mobs/
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Bernard Haitink
Last Sunday, I heard the Boston Symphony and Tanglewood Festival Chorus perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony under the direction of Bernard Haitink. It was easily the finest performance I have ever heard of this work.
Granted, this is the kind of piece that guarantees a rousing ovation at the work's conclusion, and so any conductor could be excused from thinking that all of the plaudits are for him (or her). But the Tanglewood crowd can be a discerning crowd, and they were not going to stop applauding after two or three curtain calls. And much, if not all, of the credit, must go to Haitink.
When I am asked for my favorite conductors living today, I have never mentioned Haitink's name. His reputation is beyond repute, and even the composer/conductor Gunther Schuller -- who is tough on all of the greats -- places Haitink among those at the top of the heap. This was only the second time I have seen Haitink live; the first time was over thirty years ago, conducting Holst's Planets at the BBC Proms. I thought it was a good performance, but I quickly forgot about it. When I saw him on television with the Concertgebeow Orchestra, his work seemed first rate, if sometimes lacking spontaneity.
That's all changed now. Among the great conductors today, he is totally devoid of ego. The score was in front of him, and he turned every page, though I doubt he needed it. But the tempos were all right -- even when they were a bit on the slow side (the scherzo in particular), they still seemed right. He is 84 years old, but conducts like someone much younger. The third movement was glorious. And the finale, which in the wrong hands can be an unholy mess, was the most cohesive and persuasive account I have ever heard. (Stravinsky did not like the Ninth, but he might have liked this one.) The Turkish March had just the right combination of spit and humor, and the double fugue was super-charged, every voice crystal clear. There was never a moment when Haitink did nothing less than guide the players, and reveal the music as Beethoven wrote it.
Afterwards, a player told me that Haitink stopped just once in the dress rehearsal, after a few bars of the slow movement, addressing the first violins: "Yes . . . . but can it not be more beautiful?" That's the only thing he said all morning. Many of the players agree that, were it not for his age, Haitink would be their next music director.
After the performance, I spoke briefly with Mark Volpe, Executive Director of the BSO, who said the players were very tired, running on fumes, but because of their enormous respect for Haitink, they played like it could be their last performance. After several curtain calls, Haitink came out twice more, and both times the orchestra refused to stand, rapping their stands and stomping their feet in approval -- the ultimate compliment for a conductor.
Granted, this is the kind of piece that guarantees a rousing ovation at the work's conclusion, and so any conductor could be excused from thinking that all of the plaudits are for him (or her). But the Tanglewood crowd can be a discerning crowd, and they were not going to stop applauding after two or three curtain calls. And much, if not all, of the credit, must go to Haitink.
When I am asked for my favorite conductors living today, I have never mentioned Haitink's name. His reputation is beyond repute, and even the composer/conductor Gunther Schuller -- who is tough on all of the greats -- places Haitink among those at the top of the heap. This was only the second time I have seen Haitink live; the first time was over thirty years ago, conducting Holst's Planets at the BBC Proms. I thought it was a good performance, but I quickly forgot about it. When I saw him on television with the Concertgebeow Orchestra, his work seemed first rate, if sometimes lacking spontaneity.
That's all changed now. Among the great conductors today, he is totally devoid of ego. The score was in front of him, and he turned every page, though I doubt he needed it. But the tempos were all right -- even when they were a bit on the slow side (the scherzo in particular), they still seemed right. He is 84 years old, but conducts like someone much younger. The third movement was glorious. And the finale, which in the wrong hands can be an unholy mess, was the most cohesive and persuasive account I have ever heard. (Stravinsky did not like the Ninth, but he might have liked this one.) The Turkish March had just the right combination of spit and humor, and the double fugue was super-charged, every voice crystal clear. There was never a moment when Haitink did nothing less than guide the players, and reveal the music as Beethoven wrote it.
Afterwards, a player told me that Haitink stopped just once in the dress rehearsal, after a few bars of the slow movement, addressing the first violins: "Yes . . . . but can it not be more beautiful?" That's the only thing he said all morning. Many of the players agree that, were it not for his age, Haitink would be their next music director.
After the performance, I spoke briefly with Mark Volpe, Executive Director of the BSO, who said the players were very tired, running on fumes, but because of their enormous respect for Haitink, they played like it could be their last performance. After several curtain calls, Haitink came out twice more, and both times the orchestra refused to stand, rapping their stands and stomping their feet in approval -- the ultimate compliment for a conductor.
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