Monday, December 8, 2008
Hello, from Leonard
This week we begin an exciting new journey in Detroit as I join the DSO as its music director. The program that we've prepared this week features the iconic Carmina Burana by Carl Orff as well as the world premiere of "A Different Soldier's Tale" by James Lee III.
I'd like to invite you to join me for an Open Forum one hour before each concert for an informal chat where we can discuss the music to be played and answer any of your questions. This is a great opportunity for me to learn about your interests and in addition I will share my hopes and vision for this great orchestra.
You can submit your questions by selecting the comment button at the bottom of this post. I'll respond to your question here on this blog and your question may be discussed from the stage during one of my open forums at any of this week’s concerts.
I look forward to hearing from you on this blog and seeing you at our concerts!
Yours,
Leonard Slatkin
Click here For Tickets to the Leonard Slatkin Performances
For an upcoming schedule of Detroit Symphony Orchestra events and information visit detroitsymphony.com
Labels: Leonard Slatkin
18 Comments:
Dear Maestro Slatkin,
My son, Joey, turns 16 this Thursday, December 11. He has dreamed of becoming a conductor ever since he heard and played his first Beethoven pieces at age 8, and has totally immersed himself in the learning and appreciation of classical music since then.
Joey wants to attend your opening night for his 16th birthday. He would consider meeting you the best of all birthday gifts!
His questions for your Open Forum would be: "What is the world of a conductor really like?" and "What advice would you give a student who hopes to join that world one day?"
Thank you for inspiring young people to follow their musical dreams!
See you Thursday.
Laurie LoCascio
Mr. Slatkin,
I am a student studying clarinet performance and music education at Central Michigan University and am incredibly excited that you are the new music director for the DSO.
You are known, among other things, for innovative concert programming; How do you feel about the tendency for many orchestras to play only "the classics" in lieu of contemporary music? Is this affecting the role of the symphony orchestra in society? On a larger scale, what direction do you feel music is headed in, as far as compositional styles and techniques are concerned?
David Cook
Central Michigan University
Awesome Performance
most exciting evening ever!
Why was the brass rail left off of the conductor's platform?
Thank you,
Ron Michalak
ronsnipper@aol.com
Superb concert last night. Carmina Burana was fantastic. A Different Soldier’s Tale is very artistic and enjoyable and was performed quite well.
I appreciate Maestro Slatkin's interactive dialogue with concert goers during the pre-concert talk. It was good that he publicized the blog site - however, it was somewhat difficult for me to find the blog site from the DSO homepage.
I look forward to the rest of the season - we need to get the word out to the rest of the community about our great Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
To the Maestro and the entire symphony:
Bravo! Your performance on Thursday night was simply outstanding. All three pieces were outstanding! We also very much enjoyed your preconcert discussion and the short conducting lesson (you have no fear of losing a job to me).
Also, thank you so much for your confidence in the Detroit region and Michigan. We will need bold and energetic leadership in the next few years, and expect that you will be a shining star to provide such leadership.
Kudos!
Dear Laurie: First of all, happy birthday to Joey. Please feel free to bring him backstage the next time you attend a DSO concert.
Conducting is on one hand the most exhilarating experience I can think of, and on the other, the most frustrating. The idea that a simple gesture of the arms can produce a wealth of sonic splendor is difficult for anyone to imagine. When it works there is really nothing like it. But at the same time, you have to be aware that you are guiding up to 100 musicians and must use your gestures to be as clear and precise as possible. If I had one piece of advice to offer aspiring conductors, it would be to attend as many rehearsals as possible. Not only can you learn from the experience that a great conductor brings, but perhaps more important you can learn from the mistakes he or she makes. Conducting generally comes a bit later in one’s musical life but it is never too soon to begin studies.
-Leonard Slatkin
Dear David:
Contemporary music today is hardly the same as it was 30 years ago. Audiences seem more receptive to new thoughts and ideas. Perhaps it is because composers today are more willing to embrace many different styles and genres of music. The popular culture now blends in with ease alongside even the most severe of compositional techniques. There was a time when academic formalism prevailed but this is changed dramatically over the last 25 years. As we progress through the 21st century I can see an increased presence of music from other cultures entering our concert repertoire.
-Leonard Slatkin
Dear Anon: Good question. During rehearsal I hit my left elbow on the back of the railing. It hurt! I also think that it actually is distracting and unless I get even more animated, I do not plan on to fall backwards into the mosh pit. Other conductors may choose to put the railing back, but I am pretty comfortable within the confines of the podium.
Here's a Detroit-centric question -- Are there any pieces you're fond of in the classical or pops repertoire that somehow pay homage to the auto or the automotive era?
Hi,
my name is Rosita Krass> I have just walked out from the concert hall where I heard your talk and I do have to say that I am absolutely, madly in love with you. Welcome to Detroit and I do hope you find a fine neighborhood to live in> You will find us very friendly, warm and welcoming. Thank you so much for being you and for being here.
Leonard:
It was evident from last night's concert that your tenure with the DSO is off to highly auspicious start. Congratulations!
In the pre-concert talk, the analogy you made about the orchestra on good nights, etc., was particularly interesting, as it mirrors what I have told others about what has long made you a superior conductor, in addition, to programming that is always interesting. Unlike many other noted stick wavers who seemingly aren't too concerned if they lead mediocre performances of works outside their particular area of specialization, even when you conduct pieces that may never make your list of personal favorites, you still give it all you've got, which NEVER results in less than a B+ performance, and rarely even that. The music lovers of Detroit don't yet know how good they are going to have it. Please be assured that you are already missed in Washington, both by my friends in the NSO itself, and in the Kennedy Center audience.
Knowing that I would be in Detroit for this concert, Hal Weller (in Las Vegas) and Dick Hoffert (in Texas) both asked me to give you their best regards. We all wish you a long and highly successful partnership with the DSO!
P.S. Are there performances of the Vaughan-Williams Sea Symphony
in the DSO's future?
I enjoyed your talk before the concert tonight. Two remarks:
1 We really enjoy Charles Greenwell pre-concert talks and hope that they will continue.
2. We enjoy Robert Conway's playing and wonder why his name is never mentioned in the roster or program.
mortonraban@yahoo.com
Dear Maestro Slatkin: As St. Louis transplants, my husband and I were not disappointed and got what we expected and knew all along...a wonderful performance of Carmina Burana during Sunday's matinee. Welcome to the DSO! We look forward to many more...All the best in this new venture with the DSO.
Henny and Charles Marske
Leonard!
Welcome to bloggerspace!
Best of luck in Detroit. Hope we can work together on something with your new orchestra.
All the best, and with fond memories of our work together at the National.
Daron Hagen
Dear Maestro: Just finished watching the January 17 edition of Making Music with the DSO. Despite all of the raves on the show for the Steinway piano, Olga Kern was playing a Yamaha at the January 16 concert. I wondered why and although I am not that knowledgeable about pianos, I thought that the Yamaha had sort of a "harder" sound. What is the reason for the change?
Dear Mr. Slatkin,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Carmina Burana concert. I have been a singer since I was a child. The first time I participated in Carmina Burana was 30 years ago. My children's choir was part of a performance of Mr. Orff's work to help raise funds to renovate Orchestra Hall. The Hall was pretty sad looking then, but I remember the sound of the place shone gloriously through the dirt.
It was such a thrill to be able to hear that work again in a renewed Orchestra Hall... it's sound just as glorious as the last time and it's appearance now matching that glory. I am so proud to be able to say that I played a small part in a very worthy endeavor.
From what I heard that Sunday, the DSO is home again to stay. Thank you to you, Mr. Slatkin, and to every musician and singer on the stage for a wonderful experience!
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