On Thursday’s (9/19) Huffington Post, Leonard Slatkin, music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, writes, “If it is September, then that can only mean one thing: concerts are up and running again. Most orchestras in the United States take large chunks of time off in the summer, with several participating in music festivals that wrap up in the early part of August. In many cases, several musicians take off early to play in other organizations, just to recharge the musical batteries. After a long season of music making, the break is needed. A first rehearsal is always something of a catch up time. Musicians who have not seen each other in months, much less play together, are excited to hear about what their colleagues have been up to. … The majority of the classic repertoire requires time together. Not that the players are rusty but between time off and making music with others, it is important to reestablish the home connections. … Although we are five years past the great economic downturn, there are still enormous obstacles for the majority of symphony orchestras in America. And we continue to have some orchestras that are going through very difficult labor strife. … So we wish all of our orchestral brethren the very best as this new season begins.”
Posted September 20, 2013
