spring recital planned February 10, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, 2commentsMy first major, formal recital in Portland (it only took 11 years!!) will take place on Saturday, April 7th at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Music Center (3350 SE Francis St, Portland, 97202). I’m delighted to be able to invite some of my incredibly talented colleagues to join with me in the music-making for this recital. In addition, the concert will benefit the Community Music Center, which is suffering from decreasing levels of support from the City of Portland, and which is a priceless asset to the entire metropolitan region.
Artists:
David Buck, flute
Shin-young Kwon, violin
Karen Wagner, oboe
Cary Lewis, piano
Repertoire:
Ludwig van Beethoven - Serenade, op. 25 for flute, violin and viola
Henri Vieuxtemps - Capriccio, op. posth. for solo viola
Charles Martin Loeffler - Two Rhapsodies for oboe, viola and piano
Zoltan Kodaly - Adagio for viola and piano
Henri Vieuxtemps - Elegy, op. 30 for viola and piano
showmanship - not just for headliners anymore? February 10, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment
Johnny Mathis
It was a pleasure once again to see a packed house at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall last night. Having the Itzhak Perlman series sell out followed by a special appearance by the legendary Johnny Mathis was a great way to brighten the appearance of the orchestra’s future. I hope that these artists will begin the flood tide of world-class guest artists and conductors that this ensemble (and this community) clearly deserves.
I love watching these great artists do their thing - whether they are classical, crossover or popular music practicioners. There is such an evident dedication to their craft - and they always project a great joy in what they do. I see them all backstage, and I know that they can have their off days - and tempers to prove it! But to a one, regardless of their circumstances, they step out on the stage and give the audience the dedication and enjoyment that they are paying $50 - $150 a seat for. I’ve seen Yo-yo Ma step out of a cab from a late-arriving plane, get out his instrument, and do a spell-binding performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto in the dress rehearsal, and then several hours later deliver an even more arresting performance that night. Clearly, he was exhausted, frazzled and probably surly, but he betrayed none of this to either the orchestra, backstage staff, or audience. This is the duty of the professional performer.
We in orchestras often consider ourselves above “entertainment”, but really - what does it matter when that is one of the things that an audiences is looking for in our product? We owe them a pleasing and enjoyable visual experience as well as an aural one. I don’t mean apeing and mugging for the audience like one of Yanni’s or John Tesh’s side-performers (shudder) - I mean projecting a real and engaged involvement (and evident enjoyment) in the process of making music. What we’re doing is hard work, and sometimes it’s so hard that we cannot spare the energy or time to do that extra bit of showmanship, but there are times when it’s ok to just let go. The concerts with Perlman, especially, were full of moments like that. It’s a difficult task sometimes, when you’re tired and have had a bad day, or are catching the latest bug that’s making the rounds. But it is an obligation, and one that I aim everyday to do a better job of meeting.
