Farewell to London’s #1 clarinet
mainThe London Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Clarinet, Andrew Marriner, will play his last concert with the orchestra on Tuesday.
It will mark the end of two eras.
Andrew, 65, joined the LSO in 1977 and has been principal clarinet since 1986.
His father, Neville, played violin in the orchestra from 1939 and was principal second violin from 1954 to 1969.
Father and son together span eight decades of the LSO’s life.
Has any pair managed longer?
Congrats to both. I’ve always enjoyed the lovely approach of the LSO, and Saint Martin in the Fields, as well.
Time flies! Both such incredible musicians. The cunning little Vixen will wave its tail as a farewell after its premiere in 1924.
I wonder why he’s stopping. I shouldn’t think there is an age limit in London orchestras. A first-rate player that I hope to see go on doing chamber music, teaching and doing solo work.
Apparently the LSO has a retirement age, unlike the other self governing London orchestras. Surely it shouldn’t apply as the musicians are deemed self employed status! Funny happenings at the Barbican…
Maybe he has other things he wants to do. Or he wants to stop, as Darcey Bussell said, before people start suggesting he ought to.
Not everybody wants to carry on for ever. Some of us have hobbies we like to spend more time doing.
Did Mikhail and Vitaly Buyanovsky also span around 8 decades of the Leningrad Philharmonic’s history?
“Has any pair managed longer?”
Andreas Blau, former Principal Flute of the Berliner Philharmoniker, and his father Johannes Blau, who played in the 1st Violins have 81 years between them. They shared the stage during 14 of those years.
wow!
London’s #1 clarinet? Intonation issues, maybe.
If it means “number one”, not all of us would agree, Norman. Still darn fine though!
So who would be your number one?
He’s still playing brilliantly, but would probably hate to eventually get a DCM letter, joked about by many, and infamous in the LSO.
Don’t Come Monday.
Here’s to a wonderful and musical retirement.