oboeinsight

Now that my husband, Dan, has been given his birthday present, I can say that I’ll be going to see and hear John Adam’s Dr. Atomic in October! (Yeah, I gave Dan a gift that gifted me as well. Um. Well. It’s still a gift, right?) I’m really looking forward to this, and pretty darn embarrassed to admit that I’ve never attended a San Francisco Opera performance before. (I played some performances with them, many years ago, but paying to hear one is something I’ve not done.)
I think I might listen to what’s available before going, just so I can hear the work better … sometimes it helps to have the music in my ears already, you know? If there were a libretto I’d read that as well, but I suspect that won’t be out.

I was sorry to hear that Lorraine Hunt Lieberson wouldn’t be singing the opera after all, but when doctors say you shouldn’t sing in order to recover from a back injury, I guess you have to follow their instructions. Oh well. I’m still very excited about the opera!

Before this opera, though, I get to have my own little time in the opera pit. We begin rehearsals for Opera San Jose’s The Crucible soon. Yay! Not only am I getting back to my favorite thing, opera, but I’m going to learn something new, as I’ve never done this work before!
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This article is well worth the read.

It reminds me, too, that I have this book by Daniel Barenboim, Edward Said, and I’ve yet to even open it up. I really need to read it.
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I’m finally updating some pages at this site. One that I have been working on both yesterday and today is the roster for double reed players in American Symphony Orchestras. I think I’m finally finished, although there are still some question marks; I’m sure I’m missing both orchestras and correct names there.

It’s been interesting to go back and check out the websites of all these orchestras. While I verified the lists, I also noticed how darn ugly some sites are. For arts organizations some folks sure have no eye! I also was frustrated because some are very awkwardly put together … not user friendly at all. And I found it absolutely horrifying to find a few that didn’t even bother to list the orchestra members’ names, while always making sure there was a page noting all their board members and office staff. (Sigh)

Another interesting and disturbing thing was to see the number of names I deleted without replacing that person with a new player! I’m guessing that some orchestras are turning the three player sections (2 oboes and an English hornist, for instance) into two player sections. It’s sad to see this happening.

I’m sure I still have errors on the page. I will gladly accept any emails correcting me, or adding to my orchestra list.

Now I’ll have to get to the other pages listed on my Double Reed Musicians page.

But for now these tired hands need a rest.
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