I’m home from a recital that Sara Hancock (at UCSC) conducted. I wish you all could have been there. She did a fabulous job, and the music was really great.
The program began with David Cope’s Into the Celestial Spaces … a world premiere no less! What a great piece. (No oboe on it, but I suppose that’s allowed now and then.) The next work, on which I played oboe, was I Tailleferre’s Chansons populaires françaises. I’d never done any Tailleferre before, and now I’m curious to hear and play more of her works. I’ll have to check them out. Wie es wär’, wenn’s anders wär’ is another new work for me; I know a bit of Hindemith, but this one I’d never heard of. The work includes oboe (along with a few other instruments), but I sat that one out while another player did the work. Nice piece, and one I’d like to play sometime. Finally, we ended with Stravinsky’s Cantata and I absolutely love this work. If you’ve not heard it, I’d suggest checking it out. It’s scored for two flutes, two oboes, with the second doubling on English horn (that was me), and cello, along with tenor and soprano soloists and women’s chorus.
The soloists—Laura Anderson, Sheila Willey (sopranos) and Brian Staufenbiel (tenor)—were excellent.
So it was a great night, and I hope Sara is pleased.
Prior to the recital I had a 3 1/2 hour rehearsal of Don G. Mozart. Great stuff.
So it’s been a good day.
Congratulations, Sara, on a job well done!
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