I have returned.

You know sometimes you get a little behind on something and then all of a sudden it’s almost mid-February and you haven’t written a single blog entry since September? Well, yeah… I’m back.

Rêveries – Passions

I am rotated out until we start rehearsing Classics 1 the week after next. I’ll be doing a little traveling an also continuing to work on a CPO related project, collecting musician bios and also putting together a survey of ‘interesting’ questions for musicians to answer which marketing and development will be using for various promotional purposes. One of the questions we came up with is Who is your idol? I don’t actually idolize any bass players, but as long as I remember the great conductors of the world have always been people I’ve been deeply fascinated with. As a student Bernstein and Karajan were certainly at the top of my list, and my CD collection reflected that with those two certainly having lopsided representation. Now, as a professional I find that what I admire about certain conductors has changed and there is a certain individual that appeals to the idealist and the dreamer in me…

Tasty CPO

Tonight is the annual free Taste of the CPO concert, featuring music from all series, including hits like Beethoven 5 (Classics 1) The Enigma Variations (Classics 5) and a little of Handel’s Messiah (uh… from Messiah.) Conducted by the charismatic and French Pierre Simard, this is an excellent show particularly for those who are new to classical music. As mentioned, admission is completely free with a donation to the Calgary Food Bank.

A historic curiosity

A low brass colleague of mine found this very odd piece of CPO history at a garage sale.

Read on to find out what Albertans (and people who wish they were Albertans) who hate classical music apparently enjoy listening too, I promise, it only gets more interesting.

Recording day 2.

You heard it here first, two three hour recording sessions in one day is too much. My brain is a little mushy and my butt is clearly not in shape for that kind of stool time.

Recording isn’t my favourite thing.

I have just returned from the first of five recording sessions for Alberta Ballet’s Secret of the Nutcracker, which will be on TV sometime this Christmas season. (See the post below for a few more details.) This is the first time I have ever done this kind of recording, which has to be synced with the visuals as we record. If I can note one thing, it is far too early in the year to have The Nutcracker lodged in my brain like so much shrapnel.

Back to school

Today the CPO starts a three day recording session for a film project Alberta Ballet is releasing on Canadian TV and DVD this Christmas. It involves a lot of Tchaikovsky and some original music by John Estacio, our former resident composer, and it’s not the Nutcracker… or is it?

Nerd Night

Last season the wippersnapper generation of the CPO got together and spent and evening watching a collection of collection of orchestral concerts on DVD, mostly belonging me. I had recently discovered the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and their astounding Mahler with Abbado. There is something both for the professional musicians and a typical audience member more engaging and thrilling about watching a great orchestra with a masterful conductor than simply listening to it. Even our most cynical friend was converted and embraced her true orchestra nerd after that night. Next week we’re getting together for Nerd Night II, and thus indoctrinating the newest members of our orchestra. There is no denying that this type of activity falls squarely into the nerd category, but a quick trip through YouTube reveals that this nerdiness can be taken to a level where not even I dare tread.

What is going on in Saskatoon?

One of the strangest yet oddly compelling stories happening in this week’s arts news is a very peculiar lawsuit between a music director and the orchestra committee of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. The idea of a conductor being able to sue over comments made in a steward’s report could set a dangerous precedent which would make running an orchestra utterly impossible without several lawyers being present at every rehearsal and concert. Luckily for orchestras everywhere, and especially the six musicians named in the suit, the chances of Mr. Sanford winning in court are about as likely has the chances of him ever conducting in Canada again.

Hello world!

Welcome to The NEW Philharmonist! ™

Prepare yourself for thought provoking and/or interesting insights into the world of a working musician. Coming soon!