Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Christopher Seaman and Tan Dun

Orchestras work with a wide range of conductors. In the database attached to this website I have listed the conductors I have worked with over the year - its not complete, just the ones I could remember and those worthy of mention. And that list now stands at 134. I have been lucky enough to work with some great musicians, including:-




JohnAdams
VladimirAshkenazy
ChristianBadea
RichardBonynge
NicholasBraithwaite
JohnCorigliano
AndrewDavies
CarlDavies
TanDun
MarkElder
JohannesFritzsch
TonyHalstead
VernonHandley
RichardHickox
ChristopherHogwood
ElgarHowarth
SebastianLang-Lessing
AndrewLitton
CharlesMackerras
AndrewManze
RogerNorrington
ChristopherSeaman
EnShao
MuhaiTang
YuriTemirkanov
RobinTicciati
Yan PascalTortelier
GuillaumeTourniaire
AntonyWalker
MarkWigglesworth
DavidWillcocks
JohnWilson
SimoneYoung
DavidZinman

Recently I worked with two great musicians on this list. Once more I had the pleasure of playing in the orchestra for the Symphony Services Australia conductor training program, directed remarkable Christopher Seaman. I have done these sessions for a few years now, with several bands, but I never tire of them. Christopher is sharp, witty and insightful. His handling of the conductors and the orchestra is amazing. I learn so much each session I do.

And a completely different musician for whom I have equal respect is Tan Dun. I did a week with MSO directed by TD, doing some of his own music, some more chinese influenced stuff and some western hits such as the Mendlessohn fiddle concerto and five movements from Romeo and Juliet. I love his much - the Pipa concerto is tricky, challenging but hugely rewarding to play. It includes sections where the strings had to scream "Yao" randomly! And another piece required us to sing a tricky melody whilst playing another line!! Tan is due to write a bass concerto this year, commissioned by five orchestras who will perform it in 2015, including the Liverpool Phil and Tasmanian Symphony, where the soloist will be principal bass Stuart Thomson. I cant wait - its wonderful to have such a high profile conductor writing a bass concerto. Itll be fun.