daily observations » conductor

conductors, redux May 7, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, 2comments

Towards the end of any orchestra’s season, you tend to hear a lot (make that a LOT) of armchair quarterbacking by the rank and file about the leadership of any conductor within rock throwing range. Some even make the entire organization’s woes solely the responsibility of the stick waver. I’m sure that’s gratifying to the most egotistical of conductors (most of whom range pretty high on the ego scale anyway, otherwise they wouldn’t have taken up conducting), but for those who are music directors and are busting their butts doing all manner of fundraising, it would be something that they’d take offense to. (more…)

a great bench April 16, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

In the sporting world, if you’ve got depth on your team, then you’ve got a “great bench”. Supporting players that can come in at a moment’s notice and make a crucial difference when one of your first string players is unable to play. (more…)

Portland Youth Philharmonic appoints new music director April 1, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : News, conducting, music, the orchestra world, youth orchestras, 1 comment so far

Conductor David Hattner has been appointed as the fifth conductor and music director of the Portland Youth Phiharmonic, known as America’s first established youth orchestra, founded in 1924.

Hattner’s first musical career was as a professional clarinetist, and his positions have included the Princeton Symphony, Cascade Music Festival Orchestra, New Jersey Opera Theater and the Key West Symphony Orchestra.

As a conductor, Hattner has worked with many professional ensembles, including the Brooklyn Symphony and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

You can find a complete press release here, which includes additional biographical information.

another new face March 25, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

We here at the OSO seem to the welcoming committee for conductors who are making their first forays into the North American market this year. Earlier this month we welcomed Pietari Inkinen of Finland, who was in his second week of being in America (after a week in Cincinnati).

This week we welcomed a visitor from warmer climes: Juanjo Mena of Bilbao, Spain.

Juanjo Mena, conductor

Due to the vagaries of our scheduling rules, we had a single rehearsal on Monday, followed by two days off, then the rest of the rehearsals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Initial impressions? Well, as he, himself admitted, his English isn’t great, but it’s a LOT better than my Spanish, and what he lacks in vocabulary he makes up for with voice modulation, singing, and elaborate hand gestures. The fact that he looks a bit like Fat Tony from The Simpsons doesn’t hurt - I immediately took a liking to him. He’s a genial fellow.

In regards to his conducting style, he’s one of these “beautiful hands” conductors who look great as they create great, sweeping arcs in the aerial real estate in front and above themselves, but don’t always provide precision movements that help the ensemble ground itself. I’m all for anything that’s beautiful, and so long as he follows Google’s edict of “do no evil” as he gestures, then it’s all good for me.

More to come as the week progresses…

atlanta re-ups its conducting staff March 17, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

Atlanta Symphony music director Robert Spano and principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles have both had their contracts extended - Spano’s through the 2013-2014 season, and Runnicles’ through the 2010-2011 season.

Robert Spano
(photo courtesy Kirshbaum Demler & Associates )

Donald Runnicles - photo courtesy of San Francisco Opera
Donald Runnicles
(photo courtesy San Francisco Opera)

Not much of a surprise, since this duo of conductors consists of two of the most hard-working and results-oriented conductors working today, and surely good news to the musicians in Atlanta.

You can read the whole story here.

first meetings March 6, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

Today we had the first rehearsals for our upcoming classical series concerts with Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen. He’s a guest conductor that we’ve never worked with before, and he’s very new to the U.S. conducting circuit - this is his second US orchestra ever, his first having been the Cincinnati Symphony in February. (more…)

lintu scores in NJ March 5, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, 2comments

I was forwarded an online review of Hannu Lintu’s conducting debut with the New Jersey Symphony this past weekend. He’s an almost perennial favorite of the Oregon Symphony and its audiences, so I thought this might be of interest. I’m glad to hear that he’s on the radar for US conducting posts as well - he’s a real catch, and whoever lands him will be lucky indeed. (more…)

better living through chemistry March 3, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

NSO bassist Jeff Weisner (with whom I was at Peabody Conservatory back in the day) has written an excellent blog post at Double Bass Blog concerning the delicate balance of chemistry that can make or break the relationship between orchestra and conductor. Since the National Symphony is, ahem, conducting a search for a new music director right now, his remarks are very prescient.

Here’s a sample: (more…)

dudamel on 60 minutes February 19, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, television, the orchestra world, video, add a comment

For those of you who missed it, Gustavo Dudamel (music director-designate of the LA Philharmonic) was featured on 60 Minutes on Sunday evening. You can go here to see the video of the segment.