| Author |
Subject |
Bob
Registered User
(9/27/00 10:10:45 pm)
Reply |
NYP/BPO
Sure would be nice if we could catch
the CSO on tv once in awhile. Seems like every time you turn it on
there's the NY Phil. They were just on last week. But tonight they
showed the Berlin Phil. Comparisons were interesting.
The
NYP "looks like America." All ages, genders, ethnic groups are
represented. Scan down a string section and you also see a wide
variety of playing styles, even how they hold the instrument. Of
course, it's New York, so you also see a jaundiced, bored attitude
from quite a few players.
With the BPO, it appeared that
there were fewer than 10 people in the orchestra who weren't white
males between 30 and 55. Didn't see one Asian. The basses all played
with German bows and 5-string instuments. There was much less
variety in playing styles within a section. But the musicians were
more visibly "into" the performance. All the left hands vibrated on
soft pizzicato, even the 2d woodwinds kind of bounced around as they
played. Seemed like more of an event than a gig. Of course, it
probably helped that they had a good musician conducting them
(Haitink).
NYP has made some excellent recordings under
Masur. But I wonder if our CSO friends would like to comment on
general differences they see between the top American and top
European groups.
|
David
Sanders 
Registered User
(9/28/00 12:04:50 am)
Reply |
Re:
NYP/BPO
One difference between American
orchestras and the Berlin Phil is that (I believe) they don't let
anyone over the age of 35 audition for the orchestra.
They do all
tend to play in the same style, have the same background, etc.
Our esteemed music director has asked that all our basses use
German bows (they refused). He asked our clarinets to play German
clarinets. (I think they do now, at least when he's here.)
He
asked our principal oboist to use a much harder reed to get a more
Germanic sound. It was so hard that he got migraines from playing
it.
Today he gave a speech about how disappointed he was that we
couldn't play the last 3 minutes of a piece because the rehearsal
had ended. He didn't understand why he couldn't finish the piece (go
overtime without paying us) and then let us out early or start the
next rehearsal late or something. He also asked about that 9 years
ago when he became music director. He also knows how long the piece
is, and how much time he needs and how much time he is
allowed.
Solti once said at a rehearsal (after he was no longer
music director) that although he hated the union ("damn union" was
one of his favorite comments) when he first started with American
orchestras, he had gained great respect for the union, because it
had forced him to have to learn how to rehearse effeciently, and
budget his time wisely.
I can't really comment on other
differences between top American and top European orchestras,
because I don't listen to recordings of European orchestras, and I
rarely go to concerts of visiting orchestras.
|
Tracie
Price 
Registered
User
(9/28/00 12:44:07 am)
Reply |
NYP
I can't comment on the differences
either, but I did notice what you call the "jaundice, bored
attitude" in the NYPhil. I almost posted something about it then,
but didn't. I mean, they're a great orchestra, but they just seem so
uninspired to me. I didn't even watch the rest of the broadcast
after intermission because I found the first half to be so
uncommitted.
I haven't seen many of the big orchestras.
Actually, the only "Big 5" orchestra I've ever seen was Philly a
number of years ago at Wolf Trap. (someday I'll get to Chicago...)
I've been fortunate enough to see the LA Phil a few times in the
past two years, and each time I've seen them, it seems that they
have a lot more spirit than I've ever seen on the NY Phil
broadcasts-- even allowing for the differences between live and
broadcast concerts. They just seem to throw themselves into it more.
The smaller orchestras I get to see more often- Utah and Colorado
also have more enthusiasm than NY. Is this just a New York thing? Is
it Masur? I wondered if I just didn't like his interpretations much
or if it was jaded players. Or maybe just television?
|
zambocello
Registered User
(9/28/00 1:36:17 am)
Reply |
US vs.
European orchestras
Of course "European orchestras"
covers a lot of territory. Would German orchestra players want
themselves thrown in the same lot with French?
Hans Vonk,
Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony, was here to guest conduct
the LA Phil during the summer. We got out early every rehearsal (Yes
he is a great conductor!) with a lot of time to spare. (It was
familiar "Top 40" repertoire: Beethoven 3 and 6, Bruch and
Tchaikovsky Concertos, etc.) He commented that it was so easy for us
-- like most American orchestras -- to play the way he wanted, as
opposed to European orchestras where he "has to fight for every
little [musical] thing."
I've heard other conductors make
similar comments: that American orchestras are very quick to
rehearse. Some conductors feel that European orchestras, while
slower to respond in rehearsal are ultimately more flexible.
Of course, it depends on the conductor a little, too.
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