By Daniel Hathaway
IN THIS EDITION:
. Pinafore sets sail only twice more in Wooster, :beta collective performs at Cain Park
. Oberlin Cooper Competition Pianists named, Les Délices announces 15th season, Cleveland Orchestra invites subscriptions to Severance in Recital series
. Almanac recalls oboist de Lancie’s wartime visits to Richard Strauss
HAPPENING TODAY:
It’s the final production week of the summer for Ohio Light Opera. Today at 2pm the curtain at Freedlander Theatre at the College of Wooster will rise on the next-to-last performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore or The Lass That Loved a Sailor.
And at 7pm, Local 4 Music Fund will present :beta collective (pictured: Chris Anderson, trombone, Chris Coles, alto sax, tenor sax, vocoder, Brad Wagner, soprano sax, tenor sax, bass clarinet, Theron Brown, keys, melodica, Will Wedmedyk, vibraphone, Aidan Plank, bass, Anthony Taddeo, drums & DB, guitar, compositions & programming) in the Alma Theater at Cain Park.
NEWS BRIEFS:
The Oberlin Cooper Competition has announced the 20 young pianists who will participate in this summer’s competition rounds from July 31-August 2 in Warner Concert Hall at Oberlin Conservatory. Three will ultimately play full concertos in a final round with David Robertson and The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Music Center on Friday, August 4. Click here to view their biographies and repertoire lists. All rounds will be video-streamed live.
Les Délices has announced details of its 15th Anniversary Season. Read the press release here.
The Cleveland Orchestra will present four recitals next season featuring intimate performances by world-renowned musicians. The lineup: pianist Marc-André Hamelin (November 19); a trio of pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma (February 1); pianist Yefim Bronfman (March 10); and pianist Evgeny Kissin and baritone Matthias Goerne (April 14). Subscriptions to the full series are now available, and single tickets will go on sale in early August.
ALMANAC FOR JULY 25:
By Jarrett Hoffman
Born in Berkeley, CA on this date in 1921, oboist John de Lancie is well-known for his 30-year tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra. However, his path to get there was not without detours — while serving as principal of the Pittsburgh Symphony, he was drafted into the army during World War II.
While in Germany, de Lancie repeatedly visited Richard Strauss in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and suggested the composer write an oboe concerto. Strauss initially refused, but published one soon after, which is widely regarded as one of the best solo oboe works of the 20th century. The autograph of the score bears the inscription “Oboe Concerto – 1945 – suggested by an American soldier.” Read more about that story here.
After returning to America, de Lancie joined Philadelphia as second oboe and succeeded Marcel Tabuteau — his former teacher — as principal when Tabuteau retired. He remained in that position for 23 years, from 1954 to 1977, before passing off the seat to his student Richard Woodhams — extending the Tabuteau oboe lineage into the next generation.
