John Williams conducts Seiji Ozawa’s Japan orchestra
OrchestrasThe Hollywood composer made en emotional return to Japan after a 30-year access.
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“OZAWA’S JAPAN ORCHESTRA”
The Saito Kinen is more Ozawa’s orchestra than Japan’s orchestra, it’s like Abbado’s Lucerne orchestra, it is made up of a lot of people who are friends/admirers of the conductor who fly in from other major world orchestras, notably as I can recognize some of them, the principal trumpet, flute and clarinet.
Nothing wrong with adding ringers to create an excellent performance for the audience. It would appear most of the brass, woodwinds and percussion are not of Asian descent.
Spot the superstar: Riccardo Morales, Jacques Zoon, Gabor Tarkovi. Others?
This looks like it was a while ago – last summer?
Mr. Ricardo Morales, one of the world’s premiere orchestral artists is seen here, visibly “in the zone” with the music. That fleeting moment is simply priceless. From his humble beginnings in Puerto Rico, it all comes down to moments such as these. Witness validation for his early teachers, his extraordinary family, and the lot of talented players growing-up alongside him in San Juan, many now busy themselves with international careers. Not bad for a rather small island, way out there in the Western Atlantic Ocean, surrounded, if I may say so (some readers recall this now infamous allocution), “by lots of water.”
Yes. I enjoy him a lot with the Phillies. Top player.
Does anyone know why Philadelphia Orchestra members (timpanist Don Liuzzi, clarinetist Ricardo Morales, perhaps more?) are peppered throughout the orchestra? I didn’t see anything about it in DG’s press release. Not strictly the Saito Kinen Orchestra, then. Did the concert coincide with some kind of tour?
Saito Kinen has often had a number of prominent western musicians joining them, going back to its early days. It’s a part-time festival-type orchestra, not a regular group. I assume in the early days Ozawa brought in some people he knew from his work in Boston and Chicago, in particular.
This looks to be a DG recording, not a performance from, say, the past week. Probably this was done last summer.
Ozawa always invited some members of other orchestras to join forces for “his” Saito-Kinen Orchestra. Of course John Williams’ music is very demanding – unfortunately he cannot conduct properly, but the musicians are truly exceptional, so the result is good. I remember excellent concerts under Luisi some years ago – and a fantastic “Falstaff” (rumors tell that he should have been Ozawa’s successor there).
Presumably to conduct his own music?..
John continues to inspire.In his nineties the flair is still there. This is a special orchestra founded by the late Seiji Ozawa. Among the international players who honor Seiji by participating are Don Luizzi, tympani; Riccardo Morales, clarinet and Philippe Tondre, oboe…all first chair members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Sad to say, on the DG album of Williams with Saito Kinen, the orchestra really doesn’t sound that good.
Do you perhaps mean “30-year absence” rather than “30-year access”?
Looks like The Cleveland Orchestra’s former Principal Trombone, Massimo La Rosa was also playing with them in this performance.
Ouch.
I just wish Williams would use the opportunity to conduct these fine orchestras in the (late) autumn of his career to record DIFFERENT pieces, except the exact same ones he already did in Vienna and Berlin. Who needs this release?
As well crafted and performed this music is, its one-dimensionality is a sign of our times.
Oh, please. People have forgotten all the incredibly dull recordings J.W. made with the Boston Pops. The used CD bins are littered with them.