Suffering orchestras (2): Ecuador
OrchestrasRemember the Guayaquil symphonny orchestra which used to give major premieres until its conductor was fired?
Well, the new baton has no conducting experience. He needed two weeks of rehearsals to learn Brahms first symphony, the musicians tell us.
‘We have gone from performing with world class soloists to having water leaks over the soloist during the February 2nd concert (proudly posted on the orchestra´s instagram stories). With neither management, nor conductor, caring for the wellbeing of the audience and orchestra, who feared damage to their instruments.
‘Ecuador changed government in late November… Any report Slipped Disc can produce out of this information would be highly valuable in publicising (pictured) management´s real track record.’
Ecuador is having very serious problems now. Essentially there is a major insurgency by what amounts to organized crime gangs and by cracking down so hard the government may be putting democracy in jeopardy.
The government has started to raise taxes but in the short and medium term I am certain that the arts will be a very low priority.
It’s too bad because, as I say in another post, music can bring some order, stability and unity in a society without fear of it turning to dictatorship or facism.
“Essentially there is a major insurgency by what amounts to organized crime gangs and by cracking down so hard the government may be putting democracy in jeopardy.”
If there is presently a major insurgency by criminal gangs, how can you possibly worry about “putting democracy in jeopardy,” or “dictatorship or facism”? You seem to support the gangs.
I live in a country which was not founded as a democracy, and has never been one. A democracy is an awful thing. So is gang rule, which we now have in NYC, where I live.
“…He needed two weeks of rehearsals to learn Brahms first symphony…”
I’m reminded of the story about how Georg Solti ran out of rehearsal time before a concert, so he told the orchestra, “well, you all know the Brahms symphony… just follow me and we’ll be fine.”
A newly-hired trumpet player cried out, “But Maestro, I’ve never played this symphony before!”
“You’ll love it!”, Solti replied.
I heard that story at summer orchestra camp 45 years ago so it must be true.
That was Beecham, not Solti.
This is no true. Iñigo Pirfano has acredited experience as conductor.
https://www.pirfano.com/#temas