February 23, 2000

The Schedule

See here.

Redwood Symphony Influences SF Symphony Program

Redwood Symphony old-timers may recall our 1992 performance of Samuel Barber's Capricorn Concerto, with flautist Patti Harrell, oboist Peter Stahl and trumpeter Bruce Dresser. In preparation for that concert, Peter took a lesson from San Francisco Symphony principal oboist William Bennett. Bennett had not seen the concerto before, and was delighted with its quirky rhythms and variety of moods. "I'll have to talk to [principal trumpet] Glenn [Fischthal] about this," Bennett remarked.

Well, it took eight years, but the Capricorn Concerto has finally appeared in a San Francisco Symphony concert. Bennett, Fischthal and principal flautist Paul Renzi played the concerto under guest conductor Jeffrey Kahane February 2, 4 and 5. After the Feb. 4 performance, Bennett joked that Peter “taught me everything I know about the piece.” (Peter's response: 'Yeah, right.")

Congratulations to Redwood Symphony for leading a major orchestra to discover a neglected gem of twentieth-century American music.

Directions to College of Notre Dame

1540 Ralston Avenue, Belmont

From 101: Take the Ralston Avenue (Belmont) exit, going west. Cross El Camino. Just past the College of Notre Dame entrance on the right is the entrance to Notre Dame High School; enter there for the Theatre.
From 280: Exit onto 92 going east. Almost immediately, take the Ralston Avenue exit. Follow Ralston past Alameda de las Pulgas and look for Notre Dame High School on the left.

New info — there's a detour on Ralston at El Camino. You may wish to exit at Holly (if you're coming south) or Hillsdale (if your going north) instead of Ralston. Even better, take 280!

Porgy Policy Reminder

--Eric Kujawsky, Music Director

I need to hear from anyone who is not planning to play the next set (Porgy and Bess.)

As I stated in a note to the orchestra (dated 11/23/99), there will be a very strict attendance standard for this set, owing to the opera's length and difficulty. (Please refer to that note for a detailed explanation.) The policy for the Porgy set is that orchestra personnel are requested to sit this one out if:

They can't guarantee no more than one absence. Ideally, there will be no absences. Also, every musician must be able to make both dress rehearsals (April 12 and 14). A person who misses more than one rehearsal is very likely to be asked to withdraw.
They are habitually more than 10 minutes late to rehearsal.

The rehearsal schedule is:

March 1: Act I
March 8: Act II
March 15: Act III
March 22: Act I
March 29: Act II
April 5: Act III
April 12: (1st dress) Acts I and part of II
Friday, April 14: (2nd dress) complete Act II, Act III

Performances are Saturday night, April 15, at 8:00 P.M. and Sunday afternoon, April 16, at 3:00 P.M.

Please be honest with yourself and me about whether you can rise to this standard. We will no doubt have a reduced string section; to dismiss even one person because s/he miscalculated will be detrimental to the performance. Replacing a wind player would likewise be bad news.

Please respond ASAP.

CND Facilities

A reminder -- the backstage/warm-up areas at College of Notre Dame are smaller than what we're used to at Cañada College.

Wanted -- A Violin

We would very much like to purchase a $4500-$6000 violin for our 16 year old daughter who has been playing 10 years. We live in San Carlos and would want her to try it first. Perhaps one of your members has one to sell. Guy & Carol Lee. Home phone: 650-591-4634. Carol's work: 650-594-1484.

Violin Players Needed

Due to a scheduling conflict between the Hewlett-Packard Symphony Orchestra and Master Sinfonia, the HPSO's "Friends and Family" concert may take place without the orchestra's regular concertmaster and at least one other member of the violin section.

Volunteers from RWS who could play this concert on May 19th (6:30 P.M. in Cupertino) and attend at least one rehearsal (typically Mondays either at noon or 6:30 P.M.) would be greatly appreciated. Please see HPSO principal conductor George Yefchak (oboe) for more information.

Concert

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra will perform at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 26. The concert will feature Joachin Rodrigo's famous Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar (Lawrence Ferrara, soloist) and Pablo de Sarasate's Carmen Suite (Lana Lee, violin) in addition to the Elgar Serenade for Strings and the Handel Concerto Grosso in G major, Op. 6 No. 1.

This is a Web version of text from the newsletter "Redwood Symphony Notepad" which is distributed to members of the Redwood Symphony at rehearsals. The newsletter and this online version are edited by George Yefchak.

Return to the Notepad Index