September 4th was a wonderful day: it was not only my birthday, it was also my return to the stage with the full Oregon Symphony for the first time in 545 days. 545. That simply does not register with my brain. For the first time in a long time I was happy to have the trumpets blasting straight into my brain! It was also the literal passing of the baton from Music Director Laureate Carlos Kalmar to our incoming Music Director David Danzmayr. So much to unpack here!
It was incredible to perform for a sizable (but reduced for social distancing purposes) crowd at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. There is nothing like having a live audience. If I’ve learned one simple thing (or had it reinforced very clearly) during this time of isolation, it is that the audience IS THE REASON. That connection which exists – so ineffable and elusive – gives the music we play meaning. Playing to a camera just doesn’t do it. It’s possible for an audience to enjoy concerts that are streamed – I’ve done a fair amount of it myself these past 18 months – but it’s just not the same as being there. So, to all of our supporters who have kept the lights on and the refrigerator stocked, thank you so much – we appreciate you more than you can possibly know!
As for the changing of the guard, it was handled with grace and humility, which is not something often associated with conductors, and that is a credit to two fine humans who have led, and will lead the Oregon Symphony into the future. Conducting is sorcery, I’m convinced. I’ve been playing in professional orchestras for 30 plus years, and I still don’t know how it really happens. But having Carlos and David conduct on the same program highlighted this. The sound of the orchestra has already changed under David Danzmayr even after just a few short rehearsals. I’m not quite sure I can put my finger on it, but there seems to be a new suppleness to the playing. The strings are a bit more plush, the winds more plangent, and the brass are somehow a bit more burnished. There was also terrific energy and passion, but that could also be partly attributed to the excitement of being back together after so much time away, and having a live audience. These are very early thoughts, and may be just total BS on my part, but I’m going to try to highlight the evolution of the orchestra’s sound as best I can as the season unfolds.
On a quick side note, I’m playing this season as Acting principal violist, as my stand partner of 23 years Joël Belgique retired from the orchestra this summer. I’ll have a nice post about our years together soon.
