A wonderful encounter while visiting Toronto ...

Concertonet

I attended the concerts and masterclasses at the Arc Festival Academy ages ago. Luck and good fortune have allowed me to interview for Concertonet Pierre Réach who used I heard play and teach students some superb Schubert. His interview is here, in French, and his comments on orchestral writing and views on China should not be missed.

Concertonet

My interview of the new OSR director is here. (in French)

Must-Read

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2013/01/do-classical-musics-big-new-ideas-have.html

Concertonet

My review of the OSR under C Dutoit with an amazing E Pahud is here.

Joining an orchestra

French speaking readers have the ability to watch on their PC a one hour program of how an orchestra like the OSR auditions new players. This is available http://www.rts.ch/video/emissions/chut/4551035-cor-violons-basson-l-osr-embauche.html.

A few comments, you can see when the audition is in Victoria Hall the famous rehearsal curtain which cuts the hall in half and gives the musicians a feeling of the hall when it is full.

More significantly, it is important to bring in the young great musicians of tomorrow in positions of responsibility so this is so good to see that they are bringing a young player to be part of their concertmeisters.

Last, life is tough for young musicians and we have to respect this indeed.

Concertonet

My review of the last concert of the OSR in Geneva is here. http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/review.php?ID_review=8910.