Concertmaster makes the nightly news

Concertmaster makes the nightly news

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norman lebrecht

June 30, 2014

Glenn Dicterow’s farewell performance at the front of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra made it onto America’s screens. Respect.

That’s what he talked about. Then Alan Gilbert weighed in and contradicted him. Watch here.
dicterow bernstein

Comments

  • Petros Linardos says:

    Alan Gilbert contradicted Dicterow not on respect, but on perfection. Dicterow said it’s impossible to achieve perfection. Gilbert was quoted saying that “Not only is perfection possible, but Dicterow regularly achieved it.” I think Gilbert was trying to praise Dicterow.

    • Robert Fitzpatrick says:

      Agreed. Gilbert was quoted in what sounded like high praise for his concertmaster.

      Respect is ongoing. Perfection is ephemeral at best, and never achievable at worst. But every performer relishes those very rare moments when it happens and the best don’t need anyone to signal that fleeting instant. Dicterow was speaking globally about perfection and, I agree, ongoing perfection isn’t possible, but momentary apparitions do occur.

      Congrats to him on a great tenure.

  • Harold Braun says:

    He certainly was THE perfect concertmaster.A true role model!

  • Michael Schaffer says:

    I heard Dicterow play the solo in Scheherazade maybe 2 years or so ago (with Gilbert conducting), and it was very solid, although there were some intonation problems and some scratchiness here and there, but not particularly “outstanding” – just very solid overall. Certainly not “perfect”.
    FWIW, the best Scheherazade solo I have heard live was with Guy Braunstein and the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Oramo a few years ago. And that was really outstanding, technically and musically,

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