None pass second round in Vienna Philharmonic audition

None pass second round in Vienna Philharmonic audition

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norman lebrecht

March 18, 2016

The orchestra auditioned yesterday for a tutti second violins seat, we hear.

Two women and a man made it to the second round, but the audition was called off when it was felt that they were not compatible with the sound quality the orchestra was seeking.

vienna phil audition2

Comments

  • Bviolistic says:

    There was only one position free yesterday. The audition will most likely be repeated in December of this year

  • Björn Carlén says:

    You’re talking about the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, aren’t you, Mr Lebrecht?

  • David Boxwell says:

    “not compatible with the sound quality the orchestra was seeking”.

    Coded language for ????

    • Stereo says:

      Not good enough!

      • Arthur Serating says:

        Well said. But, why wouldn’t they have been able to have a larger pool of people to choose from?

        • Bviolinistic says:

          A large number of contestants were invited and played the first round ; sadly on the day, nobody played well enough.

        • Holly Golightly says:

          If you continue to ask questions I’m sure you’ll find reasons why the orchestra is at fault!!

          • Bviolinistic says:

            In a situation like this it is most upsetting for the orchestra when nobody is appointed. Nobody wishes to spend 6 or 7 hours listening to potential candidates only to call it off, however sometimes that is what happens.

  • Emanuel Borok says:

    That orchestra has a unique sound and just excellent violin players is half the story. Their sound needs to match the great sound of this special orchestra.
    They have tradition. The sound and style of playing are the elements of their trsdition.
    Let them keep it and do as they see fit.
    No orchestra in the world sounds like this. Vienna is unique!!!

    • Milka says:

      What baloney !!!

      • Emile Subirana says:

        BOROK is absolutely right.

      • Bviolinistic says:

        Why, Milka?

        • M2N2K says:

          You must be new to this blog if you were not aware yet that milka is a far greater expert on orchestral string sound (among many other things) than a person who has merely been a highly respected concertmaster with some of world’s great orchestras for four decades. Now that you can see and admire milka’s supreme eloquence and unassailable power of logical reasoning, you know whom to believe and trust in this conversation.

          • Bviolinistic says:

            I see! Thank you for the heads up!

          • Milka says:

            Surely you are not referring to the pedestrian violin player above……

          • M2N2K says:

            No, milka, I was referring to a highly accomplished orchestral musician above.

          • MILKA says:

            It seems we are referring to one and the same fiddle player , I suspect
            that my knowledge and standards of what makes the difference
            between a fiddle player and violinist are not the same as your modest requirements .
            Now that I know what you view as highly accomplished I understand your limitations
            to understanding the art of violin playing .

          • M2N2K says:

            No, milka, in your verbal contortions that you make in order to avoid any semblance of a reasoned discussion of relevant issue, you are showing your severe limitations in reading comprehension. Nowhere did I say or imply anything about my opinion of EB’s violin playing. The relevant point here is his outstanding accomplishments as a concertmaster of fine orchestras and therefore his understanding of orchestral string playing based on four decades of experience. You, on the other hand, have not demonstrated any proof of either a high level of instrumental playing ability or any level at all of accomplishments as an orchestral leader, i.e. Concertmaster. Therefore the difference in the value of his opinion on this subject and that of yours is obvious to any intelligent reader.

  • Brent Hudson says:

    I’ve always heard they’re very fussy over there . . .

    • Sue says:

      As somebody who has heard the orchestra many times at the Musikverein I can testify to their superb playing and beautiful string tones. Sometimes 3 or 4 of them were on the same U4 train as me after a performance.

  • cherrera says:

    I thought half of the musicians are professors, didn’t they think to encourage their best students to audition and wouldn’t they know what kind of sound they had?

    • Bviolinistic says:

      Of course students of teachers in the orchestra were amongst the candidates ; it is still necessary to play an excellent audition on the day. Unfortunately on Thursday last week, that did not occur.

  • Bviolinistic says:

    Milka, I begin to understand what M2N2K says about you… If you have time, would you be gracious enough to answer my question as to why you think that what my esteemed colleague, Emanuel Borok, says about the VPO and Vienna is “baloney”?
    “That orchestra has a unique sound and just excellent violin players is half the story. Their sound needs to match the great sound of this special orchestra.
    They have tradition. The sound and style of playing are the elements of their trsdition.
    Let them keep it and do as they see fit.
    No orchestra in the world sounds like this. Vienna is unique!!!”
    Or perhaps I have misunderstood and you were referring to me? Thank you.

    • Milka says:

      Since you subscribe to & understand comments coming from M2N2k and Mr. Borok
      being an esteemed colleague why in the world would you subject yourself to being better
      educated than you are now .Mr. Boroks’ abilities have brought him to where he is
      to-day and you are comfortable with M2N2K, lets leave it at that .
      Why would I refer to you ? One could try to educate but it would serve little purpose.

  • M2N2K says:

    When “observations” are nothing more than unsubstantiated negative dismissals – essentially simple put-downs – they are not any different from mere insults and therefore worthless as contributions to any discussion.

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