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Our first rehearsal with Maestro Muti

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:12:21 +0000

this season… a reminder of what to look forward to starting in 2010. A total musician, with absolute command. And this story, from his arrival on American soil yesterday, involving a US Customs official:
‘What is the purpose of your visit?’
I told him, it is written here, Chicago Symphony.
‘Do you carry with you any meats?’
I look, and I tell him no. Then he sees I am Italian, and asks,
‘Do you carry any fruta?’
He asks about fruit. And now I must interrurpt, I tell him,
‘I am sorry, it is fruTTa. With two T’s!’

A colleague said later, “finally, a maestro who knows his place!”

about last week’s chamber music,

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:41:41 +0000

how could I forget to post? First, the sextets. Znaider is a wonderful player, which was true not only in our chamber concert but in his Beethoven concerto with the CSO later in the week. He was also a gracious colleague and compelling leader. We had two rehearsals, and that was just about right. Not enough for too many cans of worms to be opened, but enough to smooth most rough edges. We reversed the program order, so Schoenberg was first and Brahms B-flat the closer. This was a good move, I think, because even for a short program like this, concentration and stamina become factors with so little rehearsal time. Add to that the fact that we’re trying to project in a big hall, and you’ve got 6 tired string players after an hour’s time! Well, 5 maybe; who knows how much Znaider had in reserve? I think we were better off getting tired in Brahms than in Schoenberg, where there are many more ensemble issues to worry about.

Two interesting things: one, Znaider was quite taken with my Heifetz mute, although he refused to use it for the concert. “I could not sleep at night,” he said, “knowing that I had deprived you even for one hour of such a mute.” I guess I’ll hang onto this piece of rubber. Two, Znaider broke his E-string near the end of the Brahms, much to the delight of the audience. People always get a kick out of that! We wondered whether he had rigged it to go off during the Beethoven concerto later in the week.

Then on Saturday, a trio concert with Brant and John Novacek. Another limited-rehearsal deal, but at least this trio has played together many times. What a fun group! Too bad we only get once or twice a year to do this kind of thing. That program was Haydn E-flat, Rachmaninov Trio Elegiaque, Sibelius Canon for violin and cello (to tie in with that week’s CSO program) and Mendelssohn c minor. Plus we threw in John’s Intoxication rag as an encore. That should be heard often, as it’s a thrilling 2 minutes!

rehearsing sextets today

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:41:09 +0000

for tomorrow’s 7:30 PM Donor Appreciation concert on stage at Symphony Center. Nikolaj Znaider is in town to lead the sextets (Schoenberg’s Verklarte Night and Brahms’ B-flat) and we have our first meeting this afternoon. Should be a great time, as sextets usually are!

Akiko reminds me that another time Znaider was in town, also playing Schoenberg (the concerto) the second half of the concert was Mahler 5. Maestro Barenboim allowed the soloist to sit in the back of the firsts and play the Mahler, after little or no rehearsal. Akiko, doing duty in the back of the firsts that week, was his stand partner! She reports that he acquitted himself quite well, although his height made him stand out among our section.

Today’s other activity is listening to violin juries at Roosevelt, that semi-annual tradition that I’m not sure anyone looks forward to… but that’s nonetheless an important tool in the learning process. If a 10-minute snapshot of your playing in front of the full faculty doesn’t make you nervous, you’re well on your way to achieving veins of icewater. Luckily I never had to go through this in school! Good luck to all jury-players today.