David
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 posted on 9-12-0909 at 05:04 PM |
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Section Leader Clarinet
I notice in the vacancies that we are looking a principal clarinet. Am I wrong or is the 3rd time in ten years this post has been required?
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erinaco
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| posted on 10-12-0909 at 01:31 PM |
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Why oh why are the CBSO looking elsewhere, when their very own Joanna Patton would do the job so brilliantly?
Promotion of Joanna to section leader - the campaign starts here!
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patrick116
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| posted on 16-12-0909 at 05:32 PM |
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I would certainly give Jo Patton my vote but the question is does she want the job?
She is a brilliant musician who always imparts an intensity of feeling to her playing and appears to enjoy her work too so maybe she is happy in her
current role?
I still have great memories of her solo part in Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony even though it must have been several years ago. It was probably the most
beautifully expressive performance of that famous melody I have heard in over 50 years of attending concerts.
If Jo wants the job I'm confident a straw poll of CBSO audience members would endorse her appointment!!
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patrick116
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| posted on 16-12-0909 at 05:51 PM |
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Just another thought - I hope that Jo isn't leaving the CBSO :-(
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swebb
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| posted on 23-12-0909 at 03:36 PM |
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I'm delighted to read such supoprtive comments about Jo - I agree that her Rach 2 was wonderful (it was in September 2008, in Andris Nelson's second
week with us).
The section leader position has been vacant twice in recent years, and it is a great strength of the CBSO that both Jo and Mark O'Brien are willing
and certainly able to sit up to fill the chair. They are both wonderful players in their own specialisms (E flat clarinet and bass clarinet) and, when
an appointment is made to the section leader position, we will have a very strong clarinet section.
Patrick - Jo is very much still a member of the CBSO!
Simon
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patrick116
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| posted on 13-1-1010 at 07:14 PM |
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Thanks Simon
I am delighted to hear that Jo Patton is not leaving the CBSO even though she was not listed in today's programme for the Brahms/Sibelius concert
which is repeated tomorrow.
Great performance again today, but a lower attendance than normal, which I understand was due to the weather as more tickets had been sold than were
actually used.
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patrick116
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| posted on 10-5-1010 at 05:59 PM |
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Just to add to this thread - I understand that a new Principal Clarinet has now been appointed and that both Mark O'Brien and Jo Patton were
consulted about this appointment.
As Simon mentioned there is a desire to add to the existing excellent clarinet section and Mike and Jo were keen to find an additional Principal with
whom they were both comfortable with which seems to be the result.
Seems that Jo isn't aware of her "Forum fan club" maybe she will find out how much her work is valued by the forum (hint to Simon!!).
Mark is sadly out of action, at present, due to a back injury. Get well soon Mark :-)
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RichardBratby
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| posted on 11-5-1010 at 11:41 AM |
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Patrick116 - I've told Jo about her forum fan club, don't worry! Yes, she's a terrific player, and has been ever since she and I were both members
of the Wirral Youth Orchestra and Merseyside Youth Orchestra (Rattle's old band...and Jackie Hartley's...and Annie Oakley's..) together back in the
early 1990s.
Of course, the CBSO has long had a clarinet section of 3 players, so we're not so much adding to the section as bringing it back up to strength.
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patrick116
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| posted on 11-5-1010 at 06:34 PM |
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Thanks, Richard, I'm sure Jo will be pleased to know how much she is appreciated. We are very lucky to have so many talented musicians in the CBSO of
which Jo is one of many, just so the others don't feel left out!
Hadn't realised you were a Wirral lad, Jo mentioned she was from there, and my family were from Chester - small world eh? :-)
So why aren't you playing now you must be good to have been in the Wirral Y.O. ?
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RichardBratby
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| posted on 12-5-1010 at 04:28 PM |
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Thanks Patrick, but if I was ever "good" on the cello (definitely a relative term in my case) it was never Jo Patton-level good!
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patrick116
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| posted on 13-5-1010 at 06:05 PM |
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Such modesty, Richard! At least Jo didn't have a huge cello to carry around so you were at some disadvantage! I agree, however, that the level of so
many of the CBSO players is much more than merely good!
Going slightly "off topic", but not worth a new thread, have you had any contact, in your current role, with the Festival Drayton Centre in Market
Drayton?
Richard Jenkinson and his wife performed here a few months ago to a full house of around 200 and were very well received.
This centre was refurbished in 2004 and is now very modern with superb acoustics in the main hall, a good stage and lighting system and a wonderful
mini-grand piano too! A "green room" is currently under construction as funds were not available for this in 2004.
I wondered if some of the CBSO ensembles would perform here and if you have not had contact with the Centre they can be contacted on 01630 654 444 or
by e-mail at info@festivaldraytoncentre.com their website is:- www.festivaldraytoncentre.com.
It would be great to hear any one of the CBSO ensembles here and save me travelling to Birmingham too :-)
Regards.
Patrick
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RichardBratby
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| posted on 14-5-1010 at 10:56 AM |
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Patrick116 - actually, one of our groups has performed at the Market Drayton Festival Centre under our auspices: the Little Big Time Band played there
in 2005 and 2006. As I recall, they spoke highly of the venue; the problem, from our perspective is that the distance from Birmingham makes the
transport costs for a whole ensemble prohibitive - so we can't promote or co-promote there.
But if someone wanted to book a CBSO ensemble to perform there again, I'm sure we'd be there like a shot.
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patrick116
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| posted on 14-5-1010 at 04:26 PM |
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Thanks for the information, Richard, though we are actually only 48 miles from SH!
Maybe this is something I will get to discuss with you personally in a different context. The Festival Centre certainly does seem to be trying to
bring more live music, of all types, to the Centre.
I don't know how I missed the Little Big Time Band's previous appearances as I am on the Centre's mailing list - my loss though I did hear "El
Ultimo Tango" at Shifnal last Saturday!
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patrick116
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| posted on 17-5-1010 at 12:14 PM |
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If you receive the CBSO MusicStand magazine you will have seen that the new Clarinet Section Leader is Robert Plane, formerly of the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), who will join the CBSO in September.
By a strange coincidence BBC NOW were my "local" orchestra before I moved to this area in 2004. They are a good orchestra so I'm sure that Robert
will be a great addition to the CBSO. Good luck to him on his new post.
Erinaco - The Jo Patton "fan club" is still alive and Mark O'Brien should also be acknowledged too as they both excel in their chosen specialist
roles. This addition, I understand, is welcomed by all to strengthen the clarinet section back to 3 players as mentioned by Richard Bratby earlier :-)
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brucknerian
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| posted on 19-5-1010 at 12:40 PM |
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Well, rather better than just 'good', I'd venture to suggest! I have CDs of Robert Plane playing the Finzi Clarinet Concerto and various chamber
works, and he strikes my (admittedly amateur) ear as a first-rate virtuoso and really sensitive musician. He's a real coup for the CBSO!
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patrick116
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| posted on 19-5-1010 at 06:50 PM |
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Brucknerian - I won't disagree with you as I haven't heard the BBC NOW for 6 years and am not sure if Robert Plane was a member then or not and I
think you slightly misundertood my description.
My comments about BBC NOW being "a good" orchestra" were only meant to be a generalised comment about the BBC NOW, but in a positive way and not
related to any particular member.
I am sure that your "musical ear" is sound and it is good to know that you have heard Robert performing and were very impressed.
I entirely agree that this is a good appointment both in adding a 3rd clarinet and your knowledgeable comments about Robert's talent just make this
appointment sound even more exciting.
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patrick116
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| posted on 30-7-1010 at 01:54 PM |
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Hi Brucknerian - I don't know if you were at Wednesday's SH CBSO concert (28/7) or watched/attended last nights Prom concert but the new clarinet
section leader Robert Plane was playing even though he doesn't officially start until September.
You previously wrote about Robert as " rather better than just 'good', I'd venture to suggest! I have CDs of Robert Plane playing the Finzi
Clarinet Concerto and various chamber works, and he strikes my (admittedly amateur) ear as a first-rate virtuoso and really sensitive musician. He's
a real coup for the CBSO"!
Having heard him on Wednesday I can confirm that your rating of Robert's ability was indeed fully justified :-) He also seems to have quickly formed
a great rapport with Jo Patton so the future looks great for this section.
I managed a quick chat with him, at the interval, and he was full of praise for Jo's help in making him feel welcome and they certainly played in
total unison with some especially beautiful playing in the Dvorak #9.
May I suggest that "your ear" (musically speaking) is indeed in fine fettle!
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brucknerian
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| posted on 13-8-1010 at 09:16 PM |
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That's most kind, Patrick (especially since the only positive quality that I'm sure my ear possesses is enthusiasm!). I haven't yet heard Robert
Plane with the CBSO, but have no difficulty in believing that your reaction to him is justified. We have riches indeed in that section, with someone
as principal who is of international soloist calibre, and a second clarinettist who's capable of filling pretty much any principal's chair on the
planet. Am now looking forward to hearing the new bassoonist too...
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patrick116
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| posted on 14-8-1010 at 07:16 PM |
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Hi Brucknerian
Just been reading in MUSICSTAND that Robert Plane and Gretha Tuls (bassoon) both took part in the March tour in Germany so already have had "The
Andris experience" and both seemed impressed!
Good to see the CBSO attracting such talented new members always a healthy sign of a quality orchestra. Next season looks like being very good indeed!
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