New principal trumpet berlin phil

monke · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:29 pm Post subject:

Hi all,

the berlin phil has a new (second) principal trumpet. It is Garbor Tarkövi. The audition was today.

valvepimp · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:35 pm Post subject:

Mazel Tov !
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trumpetmike · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:43 pm Post subject:

The audition was today and they have announced already?

Wow, that is what I call fast!!

That guy must really have made an impression!

Most orchestras have many rounds, trials and even then won't announce for ages - nice one Berlin!

romey1 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Posts: 797

Did they let any Americans come and audition?

romey

Zaphod · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 5:15 am Post subject:

Gábor Tarkövi is Hungarian - why do you think there were no Americans allowed???

romey1 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Posts: 797

I have heard that it is very difficult for an American, even if they already have a big job here in the states, to get into a Berlin Phil audition. I have heard this from several reliable sources. Were there any Americans at this audition/in the finals?

just curious,

romey

6pk · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:11 am Post subject:

from my experience of working round europe the Berlin Phil are pretty open, they just want the best. However they are very much into the rotary valve tradition (and son are Hungary)and even if we can play them I think its fair to say it takes a while to learn the style and approach. So the Germans would probably be more open to Americans if they really couldn't find anyone thats aware of their way of playing. To be honest its a whole different ball game, different instrument, personnally I love playing rotary, but under pressure I know I'm much happier with my Piston C. Saying that there are a few American players in Germany I;ve met, sound great, but they all studied there first before they won their jobs.

trumpetmike · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:13 am Post subject:

I don't think it's anything personal against the Americans.

The German style of trumpet playing is very different to that in many other countries.

If someone had turned up for the Chicago audition and played everything in a very European way, they wouldn't have got the job. Each country has its own sound, an orchestra of the quality of the Berlin Phil will not just take the best players, it will be the best players that will fit in with their orchestra.

If an American had auditioned and played in a style which fitted in with the orchestra, I am sure the would have been considered.

MrClean · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:31 am Post subject:

Actually, Mike, the last two guys standing in Chicago are both European players...

john32 · Regular Member Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 35

There was one american that i know of that was in the audition. He also is a professor in Berlin.

valvepimp · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:39 am Post subject:

How's the pay in the Berlin Phil? Can a principal trumpet player earn enough to maintain an arsenal of rotary instruments and still have enough left over for beer and schnitzel?
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trumpetmike · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:26 am Post subject:

MrClean
I completely forget about who had been shortlisted for Chicago - I guess it's the delay in actually appointing someone, the mind loses track so quickly!

Even so, I doubt they would have gone in there and played the same as for the Berlin Phil. Or at least, if they had, I wonder if they would have go through?

tromba mann · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 12:47 pm Post subject:

I think if Barenboim could turn the CSO into a European orchestra, he would.

pitchlevel · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 1:09 pm Post subject:

this is pure hearsay and slightly OT, but its a nice story anyway. a friend of mine who lives in NY just told me that he recently had a conversation with Dave Krauss, principal at the MET (they maintain 2 per instrument), and Dave told him that Balasz (current finalist in chicago and last years winner at the MET who left after 2 weeks) played such a strong final audition that there was no doubt who the winner was. beautiful sparkling sound, rock solid rhythm, everything you´d expect of a MET audition winner. it was only afterwards that they found out he had played the entire thing on a rotary trumpet. go figure.

kzem · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 5:44 pm Post subject:

Actually, I just read an article in the Chicago Sun-Times about three violin players who just won spots in the CSO. Barenboim was quoted as saying he wanted to find string players with a "more European sound". I wonder if that's what he was listening for in the trumpets as well-

Kurt Z

trumpetmike · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 1:05 am Post subject:

Maybe you guys are just seeing the light

_Clarino · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

DO you think the new CSO principal will use a Bb? Will he force his section to do the same? Could be a problem if Bud objects.
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MrClean · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:29 am Post subject:

Bud has absolutely zero say in the matter - he doesn't work there anymore...

trumpetmike · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 3:42 pm Post subject:

Not just Bb trumpets, how about going the whole hog - rotary valves anybody??

FT · New Member Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 8

Actually, Bud still plays with the orchestra quite a bit. And given the fact that he has many friends in high places in the orchestra, I sincerely doubt that he has zero say in the matter.