all good things… May 22, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a comment…must come to an end, and so, today is the last day of work for us at the Oregon Symphony until the 2008-2009 season begins in late August. Fittingly, tonight’s concert is a thank you to all of our hard working donors and volunteers who have helped to keep the OSO in business for yet another season (no small feat for any orchestra) and have made our performances worthwhile by being enthusiastic audiences and supporters. It’s also fitting that the major work of the program, Bruckner’s mighty Fourth Symphony, is being performed side-by-side with members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Their youth, energy, and virtuosity is fun to be on stage with, and it’s nice to share the end of the season with them.
eastern exposure May 9, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : bloggers, music, the orchestra world, add a commentI’m here in La Grande, Oregon with the Oregon Symphony, in case you’re wondering. And it’s been a busy first day. Yesterday my wife (a freelance cellist who plays often with the orchestra) and I arrived here at around 9:00 p.m., enjoying the great change of scenery and ecosystems that we continually marvel at when we venture across the Cascade Range along the way.
I got some great sunset shots from the top of the huge hill that I-84 climbs before you descend through the Blue Mountains into La Grande, but no way to post them at this time - I’ll be sure to share photos from the trip with you when I’m back home on Sunday.
This morning at 9:30 and 11:00 we played youth concerts for elementary, middle, and high school students from La Grande and several surrounding communities, including Baker City, Cove, and Union. (more…)
think globally, act locally? February 28, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : education, music, add a commentI was taking part in a meeting this past Wednesday of a task force of players, board members, and management personnel which has met off and on for the last 7 months to discuss the future of the Oregon Symphony. It’s been a pleasure to serve on this committee, and there have been no shortages of good ideas, lively exchanges, and eye-opening revelations from all comers.
While I can’t go into any specifics about what we’ve talked about, our last meeting concerned the future of the Oregon Symphony’s education initiatives. Many of you probably aren’t directly affected by the education arm of the Oregon Symphony’s mission - so I’ll give you a quick rundown on what this vital arm of the organization presents to students both in Portland and around the state during the 2007-2008 season. (more…)
grim-faced music making? January 25, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so farI read with interest an archived review by Stephen Marc Beaudoin from the Willamette Week of the OSO’s last classical subscription concert, which featured the works of MacMillan’s The Confession of Isobel Gowdie and Mendelssohn’s Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was nice to hear that the MacMillan was appreciated (I even had a woman approach the edge of the stage at the end of intermission to thank me for that piece in particular), and the high state of artistic prowess that the orchestra acknowledged. (more…)
here’s some good news for a change January 21, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a comment
The Kansas City Star reports that the Kansas City Symphony’s subscription sales for next season are up over last year’s record increases, and that major new outreach plans are in the works to revitalize the orchestra. (more…)
columbus’ conductor takes a stand January 21, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment
Photo credit: Koichi Miura
Photo courtesy of Frank Salomon Associates
Junichi Hirokami, the music director of the Columbus Symphony (who I hear is fantastic), has been interviewed by the Columbus Dispatch and made some telling remarks about the situation there. (more…)
on witches and sprites January 20, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, new music, the orchestra world, add a commentLast night we performed the first of our three concerts of Classical 8 - whose program is:
James MacMillan - The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (Oregon premiere)
Felix Mendelssohn - Complete Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
It wouldn’t have occurred to me without hearing Carlos mention it in his remarks before the performance, but the two pieces are linked by the theme of witches. I think they could also be linked by the premise that they are just about as diametrically opposed as two pieces can be in terms of their aesthetic and their basic view of the world. (more…)
columbus lost at sea? January 19, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, 3commentsIn a move which will likely result in the permanent crippling of a once fine orchestra, the management of the Columbus Symphony (Ohio) is proposing massive cuts of both orchestra personnel positions and the length of the season: the former down from 53 to 31 full-time musicians, the latter from 46 to 34 weeks. (more…)
eartha kitt - one performance only January 18, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a commentFrom the Oregon Symphony:
eschenbach to national symphony? January 17, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment 
Apparently the rumor mill at the Philadelphia Orchestra is buzzing with news that Christoph Eschenbach is due to be named music director of the National Symphony - Peter Dobrin of ArtsWatch reports:
That’s been the backstage rumor lately at the Philadelphia Orchestra - that the Washington, D.C. ensemble is set to name Eschenbach its next music director. It certainly added credibility to the rumor that Nigel Boon, the National’s artistic chief, recently stopped by the Kimmel Center to hear several Eschenbach concerts. Now, lots can happen between courting time and sign-on-the-dotted-line time. But Eschenbach will conduct the National in February in a special benefit concert; that might be a good time to expect an announcement.
