“For the first time since 2012, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra is searching for a concertmaster,” writes Janelle Gelfand in Sunday’s (7/16) Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio). “ ‘For the conductor, the concertmaster is the most important sound link to the orchestra,’ said Eckart Preu, newly-appointed music director of the orchestra…. An international search has winnowed the field down to the final four.” They are Gerald Itzkoff, Amy Kiradjieff, Janet Carpenter, and Mateusz Wolski. “Each will ‘audition’ before the audience during a week of the orchestra’s Summermusik festival, August 5-27.… The concertmaster works closely with the conductor to communicate his or her vision of the music to the players, ‘tunes’ the orchestra before concerts and makes sure the orchestra sections are unified. In addition, he or she must be able to perform as a soloist. The concertmaster can even influence the sound quality of an orchestra, whether it is rich and lyrical or lean, Preu says. ‘Translating the ideas and gestures of a conductor is a tremendous and special skill that will impact the overall sound and experience,’ he said. ‘Observing this dynamic relationship of concertmaster, orchestra and conductor will provide an additional and intriguing component to this summer’s festival.’ ”
Posted July 18, 2017
