Allan Vogel Retires

26. May 2016 · Comments Off on Allan Vogel Retires · Categories: Retiring

I just landed here and read this news:

Oboist Allan Vogel, a member of the USC Thornton Winds & Percussion faculty, has retired as principal oboe with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) after 44 years with the ensemble. Called “an aristocrat of his instrument, an oboe virtuoso with few equals,” by the Los Angeles Times, Vogel joined LACO in 1972 and was appointed principal oboe in 1974.

An instrumental figure in LACO’s Baroque Conversations concert series, which he said had “brought me some of the most meaningful moments of my career,” Vogel was featured as a soloist at the March 24th concert, which included Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, a work he had performed with the orchestra 19 times previously.

Wow … 44 years! That’s a good long time to play in a group, don’t you think? (Of course I guess I’m nearing that as well … go figure. I began with San Jose Symphony which has since morphed into Symphony Silicon Valley in 1975.)

Steampunk by David Bruce

26. May 2016 · Comments Off on Steampunk by David Bruce · Categories: Chamber Music, Fun, Listen, live performance, Videos

Enjoy! What a fine work this is … I’d love to do it, and I’d love to have hair, makeup and clothing help like they had, too.

Recorded LIVE in concert. From Camerata Pacifica’s January 15, 2016 performance at the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, CA; David Bruce’s “Steampunk”. (For a video that includes the Artistic Director’s Steampunk introduction, click: https://youtu.be/Nqnx96cUKEE)

With Nicholas Daniel, oboe & English horn; Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinet & bass clarinet; Amy Harman, bassoon; Martin Owen, French horn; Kristin Lee, violin; Morgan O’Shaughnessey, viola; Ani Aznavoorian, cello; Tim Eckert; double bass

Costume Design by E.B. Brooks. Hair & Makeup Yulitzin Alvarez.

http://www.cameratapacifica.org. Camerata Pacifica is a chamber music ensemble based in Santa Barbara that performs a monthly series of concerts in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Marino, and Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. Founded by Adrian Spence in 1990, the group is composed of the finest performers of chamber music from around the world. The ensemble is distinctive for artistic excellence, an innovative approach to classical music and a repertoire that ranges from baroque to brand new, from familiar masterworks to works that have yet to become favorites.

News From Tanglewood

26. May 2016 · Comments Off on News From Tanglewood · Categories: Announcements, Emailed To Me

I just received an email today:

Seiji Ozawa, following advice from his doctor to postpone any plans to travel abroad at this time, has had to cancel his Tanglewood appearances this summer due to lack of physical strength.

At the end of Maestro Ozawa’s month-long stay in Europe (where he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin and the Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland in Paris) this past April, due to overwork Ozawa developed a fever which resulted in weight loss. Upon his return to Japan, Ozawa continued with another demanding period of work, which further weakened his immune system. After thorough discussions with his doctors, family, and all concerned, Maestro Ozawa has decided to follow his doctors’ advice and during the next few months primarily focus on recovering his physical strength. Ozawa, therefore, has had to reschedule his performance activities for this summer, which has unfortunately resulted in cancellation of his concerts at Tanglewood. We wish Seiji a speedy recovery and look forward to his return visit to Tanglewood in future seasons.

Quote from Seiji Ozawa
“I am very very sad and sorry that I will have to miss this summer’s Tanglewood. I miss the Ground of Tanglewood and all my old colleagues and friends. Missing being in our house in West Stockbridge and playing tennis there. I am concentrating on eating and I am gaining more body strength now. I am so much looking forward to returning to Tanglewood SOON. My young colleagues, music students of Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland will be there with you. They are so concentrated on playing Chamber music and Ensemble. I hope you will all enjoy their music-making as much as I enjoy!”

Quote from Mark Volpe, BSO Managing Director
“I know that Seiji is very disappointed not to be able to join us this summer at Tanglewood, as he was so very much looking forward to returning to the festival and working with his beloved Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Music Center, introducing us all to his treasured Swiss Academy, and reconnecting with the many audience members who have supported him so passionately over the years. All of us at the BSO will miss Seiji’s presence this summer, but we understand that he has to follow his doctors’ advice to take the time needed to recover his strength after a busy work schedule in Europe and Japan in April and early May. We wish Seiji a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to Tanglewood in future seasons.”