We’re almost halfway through January 2016, and I haven’t managed to do a ‘best of 2015’ or ‘looking forward to 2016’ post. There aren’t any compelling reasons why, aside from being pretty darn busy with musical activities for the past four months or so. So, without any further ado (I so hate this phrase, but it’s so useful), and in no particular order, here are my notable moments from 2016.
- Third Angle’s New York debut at the Bang on a Can Marathon. This was pretty sweet. We took two brand new pieces and did Portland proud. Plus, I got to meet Julia Wolfe!
- Takacs Quartet at Friends of Chamber Music. My review of the legendary quartet’s two concerts at Lincoln Hall wasn’t exactly ecstatic, but any chance to hear them play live is a privilege. It was also my first time hearing them with violist Geraldine Walther, one of my all time favorite violists.
- Strauss’ Metamorphosen with the Oregon Symphony. This piece for 23 solo strings has been on my performing bucket list for, well, ever. The chance to play it on stage with my amazing colleagues at the Oregon Symphony was just about as good as it could get.
- Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra under Matthew Halls. This was a truly memorable performance for me. The key to this particular Mahler symphony is having an amazing chorus on hand for the finale, and the Berwick Chorus is simply one of the finest around. I have seldom been as emotional as I was during the grand final moment of this great symphony.
- Chamber Music at the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival. I had so much fun playing piano quartets by Dvorak (his E-flat), and Schumann (also in E-flat), along with John Harbison’s Piano Quintet. The remarkable pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough was the indefatigable pianist for all three pieces (filling in on short notice for the Harbison), and all of my fellow performers were incredible.
- String Quartets of Ott and Bunch with the Arnica Quartet. It was fantastic to play the Second string quartets of these two amazing young composers. The fact that they’re both friends makes it all the better. Daniel Ott | Kenji Bunch
- Frozen Music at Mt. Angel Abbey with Third Angle New Music. Playing the formidable and complex Magnus Lindberg Clarinet Quintet with my 3A colleagues and clarinetist Louis DeMartino in the incredible, Alvar Aalto designed library – six times over two days – was exhausting and exhilarating!
There are more instances of great musical experiences that I could find from the past year, but these were those which bubbled to the top of my brain most readily.
What does 2016 hold for me? Well, another year at the Oregon Bach Festival, which will announce its season soon, and which looks amazing! An interesting concert by the Arnica Quartet – Beyond Beethoven, which starts with Beethoven’s first completed string quartet and concludes with Pale Blue Dot, by David Ludwig, written in 2014. Much of what is to come, I don’t even know about yet, but I’m sure that 2016 will be another one for the record books!