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In Reply to: Top 5 Orchestras no longer! posted by Rookie on July 19, 2005 at 15:27:43:
Philadelphia keeps hiring amateur musiciansHuh? Anyone who heard their new principal clarinetist, Ricardo Morales (who came from the Met Orchestra), playing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto this past season would agree that he could quit the orchestra and launch a solo career. He's phenominal. Overall the Orchestra's principals are superb musicians, such as David Kim (concertmaster), Robert Diaz (principal viola and new Curtis Headmaster), Jeffrey Khaner (principal Flute; held same spot at Cleveland before), the always amazing Richard Woodhams (principal oboe) and Don S. Liuzzi (timpani). All the Orchestra needs to do is hire one or two new brass players and drop Eschenbach.
Philadelphia still and probably forever will hire more Curtis graduates then any other orchestra. Talent is not lacking in the Orchestra, just leadership. Things should improve now that hated President Kluger is leaving the Orchestra.
Their new recordings on Ondine should pleasantly surprise skeptics. I've talked to some of the Orchestra members who have heard playback and they're genuinely proud of the recordings.
Only New York seems to have faded.
As good as San Francisco is, they're not the only orchestra that can play Mahler.
This sounds like another rant by a West Coaster jealous of the North East's cultural dominance :)
Follow Ups:
"Jeffrey Khaner (principal Flute; held same spot at Cleveland before)"I remember Khaner... Mostly by what he did when he assumed his chair before the concert, playing this up-and-down chromatic scale... I always had the impression that he wanted to stand out in the orchestra, but seemed to put too much of his stamp on the music...
I think had Khaner been better with the difficult stuff (I recall him having a hard time with the solos in Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" and Beethoven's Leonore Overture #3...), he could have gone onto a solo career. He did have a big "James Galway" sound...
LOL!!! You seem to rattle off names as if they are your neighbors. Perhaps when I see Roberto (Diaz) tomorrow I will tell him there still are devoted fans of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Curtis Institute, so he should be proud.Funny that you mention Curtis. Are you one of those people who have been going to their Satuday morning readings for the past 40 years and making annual donations? : )
Have you listened to any of the Curtis kids lately? It's a mess. Curtis is the laughing stock amongst the music schools in the States. Curtis grads used to go out there and be able to say, "I'm from Curtis," and they would receive jealousy and admiration at once, but now, people just laugh. I can tell you straight off the bat that NEC and Rice are the top schools for musical training now. It just shows how times have changed.Eschenbach is definitely having a hard time in Philadelphia. Musicians don't respect him to begin with. But then the orchestra doesn't seem to appreciate any of their music directors. They used to complain about Sawallisch all the time but now they miss him more than ever.
By the way, you can replace all of the "they" above with "we".
"Have you listened to any of the Curtis kids lately? It's a mess. Curtis is the laughing stock amongst the music schools in the States. Curtis grads used to go out there and be able to say, "I'm from Curtis," and they would receive jealousy and admiration at once, but now, people just laugh. I can tell you straight off the bat that NEC and Rice are the top schools for musical training now. It just shows how times have changed."Could you elaborate? I'm only casually familiar with the reputations of some of this country's music schools (NEC, Eastman, Cleveland Institute, Curtis, Juilliard, etc.) but all the things I've heard or read indicate Curtis is still very highly regarded. Yours is the first negative comment re: Curtis I've seen. But as I said, I'm not in the know on a professional basis. When you talk about people who do not regard Curtis very highly anymore ("laughing"), what group or groups of people is this, mostly? Orchestra managers? Current AFM orchestra players? Critics/observers? I'm confused here.
- Mike
P.S. I have no affiliation whatsoever with any music school, orchestra, etc. etc.
Yes, you are right. Curtis is still very much highly-regarded, but they just are not in their best shape right now. They are going through some changes (appointment of a new music director), but that shouldn't keep them from accepting good musicians. Almost every student will agree and some are contemplating leaving.Don't take that "laughing" comment literally. I was just trying to show the minute difference of usual acceptance of Curtis graduates in the real world.
I've found out through these postings that there are fervent supporters of the school. What Curtis does to ensure every student gets a full ride is to attract as many patrons as possible. Part of that process involves basically brain-washing that will extract as much money as possible. These people come to every student recital, orchestra concert, and even Saturday morning rehearsals. And they are some great people, I can tell you that, and they have no reason to put their money elsewhere. But it's very tiring when they just won't accept what's really going on. Of course, I'm not talking about you, but read some others. There are like vipers in this forum.
Thanks for your genuine interest in the inside world of music business.
p.s. I am absolutely affiliated with music organizations including Curtis.
Thanks very much -If you would ever feel like emailing me via AA, I'd enjoy getting some more reconaissance on current trends, as you see them, in this area (Rice and NEC riding high lately, etc.). How do you see Juilliard, Indiana, Cleveland Institute, Eastman? My impression has been that Eastman is especially regarded for winds, do you agree? Indiana for violin especially (very good overall though) and Juilliard for everything, including conducting and composing.
If you have any further thoughts, please let me know on here or via email, thanks!
Mike
You seem to rattle off names as if they are your neighbors.Some are.
Have you listened to any of the Curtis kids lately? It's a mess.
What?
Curtis is the laughing stock amongst the music schools in the States.
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