Oboist has to dress as a bird to play this concerto

Oboist has to dress as a bird to play this concerto

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norman lebrecht

May 09, 2017

The Royal Northern Sinfonia’s principal oboe Steven Hudson found himself required to don a bird mask in order to play Ross Edwards’ concerto, Bird Spirit Dreaming, in Gateshead this week.

The work was premiered in Sydney in 2002 by Diana Doherty, with Lorin Maazel conducting.

Comments

  • Pianofortissimo says:

    Nothing new or remarkable. Stockhausen, for example, used to ask his soloists for things far more annoying than dressing in a bird costume.

  • herrera says:

    Classical musicians normally dress as penguins, a bird’s a bird.

  • Itsjtime says:

    Why must the oboe always sound like an angry, irritated awfully ugly bird.
    Bravo to this man for his daring and technical prowess….
    Composers and oboist alike should take note of the following.

    Berlioz:
    . The oboe is principally a melodic instrument; it has a rustic character, full of tenderness, I would say even of shyness.

    *** It can also convey a degree of agitation, but one must be careful not to intensify this to cries of passion, to vehement outbursts of anger, threats or heroism: its thin, bitter-sweet tones then become feeble and altogether grotesque.(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

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