6 new players in Boston Symphony, but still no concertmaster
NewsBoston has named violinists Jenny Ahn (pictured), Sophie Wang and Takumi Taguchi; clarinetists Christopher Elchico and Andrew Sandwick; and cellist Will Chow as members of the orchestra. Three of them have been deputising regularly through the past season.
The concertmaster search is likely to be a long one.
Joseph Silverstein, a longtime concertmaster of the BSO, drew a chuckle when lecturing at one of musicologist Leonard Altman’s Tanglewood classes I attended sporting a blue and white T-shirt stating, “Band available for Bar Mitzvahs and Weddings.”
Glad the orchestra is filling openings. Some orchestras like the Met have about 15 open seats but management is not looking to fill those anytime soon.
Having the luxury of a superb leader like Ms. Smirnova enables the BSO to take its time finding a successor worthy of inheriting the chair previously occupied by Messrs. Lowe and Silverstein.
Actually, Tamara did not perform with the BSO for most of the last season. No word as to why.
nor this season
I’m sure they are all talented. Good for the BSO.
The Boston Symphony proudly announced 7 new members, including an Assistant Librarian. I’m curious why you went to lengths to exclude them.
Iam sure in Israel they could find a good concertmaster
Who would wish to work abroad.
When the late Joey Silverstein joined the Boston Symphony’s second violins in the 1950s and soon became concertmaster, Yiddish expressions and jokes were the lingua franca of the orchestra, and goys listened up quick. Times change. I wonder in this age of the smart phone if the musicians still pass time off stage communally by playing belotte, a card game anyone could join as there were no partners.
I know you think that we “goyim” are bumbling idiots, but we know that that is a derogatory and derisive term. Try to sort out your anti-Gentile sentiments.
I agree it is a terrible word. It should be
Gentile. Or non jewish
Why not try some one within the first Violin Session? Tatjana Demitriades? She is a exzellent violinist and great musician.
I’m sure they’re having auditions open to anyone, in addition to head-hunting around the world.
Move Alexander Velinzon to the first chair!!!
The Boston Symphony has had just *three* concertmasters—Richard Burgin, Joseph Silverstein, and Malcolm Lowe—over the past 100 years. The organization takes this position seriously, and it’s not just a seat to be filled by an adequate violinist. It will take as long as it needs to to get the next long-term leader.
I believe the BSO has the largest endowment of any orchestra, over $450 million. The can afford to replace people.
As for the concertmaster, there are 2 ways to go about this. Interview lots of people who want the job, maybe hire someone at another orchestra or hire someone who is very established but wants stability.
But my preference would be to take your time and hire someone very young but talented and who can grow with the job. Think long-term.
The first method above is more traditional.
The BSO isn’t an orchestra a concertmaster ‘grows’ with, it’s a world class orchestra who has every right to demand a concertmaster of extraordinary musicianship and gravitas as the leader of the orchestra.