Scrupulously Prepared for Slatkin
Visiting conductor Leonard Slatkin found an NEC orchestra who were “nearly the equals of their counterparts across the street at Symphony Hall.”
Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin visited NEC to open the orchestra season with an all-American program. Returning home to Detroit, he described the visit in his blog:
To end the month, I headed to Boston. Last year I received an honorary doctorate from the New England Conservatory. Each season I try to visit one music school as both a conductor and teacher for a week. David Loebel had scrupulously prepared the orchestra in a very demanding program of American music. It must be remembered that Boston has been a leading champion of composers from this country.
With works from Bernstein, yours truly, Piston and Schuman, the orchestra showed themselves nearly the equals of their counterparts across the street at Symphony Hall. Wonderful string sound, great solo and ensemble playing from the winds, and inventive percussion permeated the few days we spent together. There is no question that with this kind of talent, music will be in good hands in the future. The question is, will we be able to create a public that values what we do?
Our Instagram correspondent, strategically placed in the Jordan Hall balcony, was able to document the exuberance contained in this performance:
And you don't have to take anyone's word for it. Listen to this concert at NEC's InstantEncore channel.
David Loebel had scrupulously prepared the orchestra in a very demanding program of American music.