“Richard Woodhams retired from the Philadelphia Orchestra last season, and Saturday night he returned—not as principal oboist, but as soloist,” writes Peter Dobrin in Monday’s (6/17) Philadelphia Inquirer. “Three other wind players joined him in the spotlight at Verizon Hall for the Mozart Sinfonia concertante, K. 297b…. This little postscript from Woodhams had a significance that reverberated beyond the confines of the one piece… The audience ovation came like a gust of appreciation gathering energy over four decades. What’s more, Woodhams once again reminded the orchestra exactly what’s at stake in terms of choosing a successor. He had been principal oboist since 1977 (Eugene Ormandy was music director) and arrived with lineage, having studied with his predecessor in the post, John de Lancie, who had studied with his predecessor, Marcel Tabuteau. It’s a smart thing that the orchestra has spent the last 20 months since Woodhams’ public announcement of retirement trying out players … All of the soloists played beautifully and with personality: Woodhams, clarinetist Ricardo Morales, bassoonist Daniel Matsukawa, and hornist Jennifer Montone.” Also on the program, led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, were Masquerade by Anna Clyne and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1.
Posted June 18, 2019
