Marin Arts & Culture MAC_Oct_Nov_2017_final | Page 11

in a smoke-filled room and come out
two hours later with the season freshly
baked. [We laugh] I certainly take a
look at what we have done in previous
seasons, and I always strive for stylistic
balance in the repertoire so that there’s
something for everybody.
MA&C: Tell me about the new principal
cellist.
A.N.: The new principal cellist, Maddie
[Madeleine Tucker], is a terrific player,
and we’re looking forward to adding
her to the family as well. She’s got a
rather unusual resume—her day job is in
tech and she came out of the blue. She
just basically unpacked her cello and sat
down—and won the position.
MA&C: What are you looking forward
to this season?
A.N.: I look forward to every season
with a great deal of excitement and
anticipation. Last season was filled with
a lot of immensely challenging pieces for
the orchestra, and I think it was a season
in which the orchestra has played better
than I’ve ever heard it play. On every
single program there was a virtuoso
piece—the Rachmaninoff, the Elgar, the
Bartok or the Mahler—four huge meaty
challenges for orchestra and they played
so beautifully. I think we are treading
on even stronger artistic ground with
every season. I am hoping to capitalize
on those gains that we made last season
and take it even to the next level.
A.N.: I’m quite sure as I’m getting older,
I’m getting better—I’m understanding
music in a wider context, year in and
year out. I just turned 55, and looking
back at 45, I’m certainly a lot better
musician than I was then, and I was a
lot better musician at 45 than I was at
35, so I’m just hoping that the upward
trajectory continues. I have no plans on
slowing down.
Music:
Concerto for Orchestra by Béla Bartók
II. Game of Pairs (Allegro scherzando)
Marin Symphony Orchestra
Alasdair Neale, conductor
January 27, 2017
MA&C: Any personal reflections on
entering your 16th season with the
Marin Symphony?
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Marin Arts & Culture