Posted by venting on September 27, 2003 at 00:35:37:
In Reply to: Re: Chicago Winner posted by craziness on September 27, 2003 at 00:05:05:
This whole deal with there not being a suitable replacement for such and such a person is starting to become ridiculous... can we expect to find someone who can do everything and more that Bud Herseth did in Chicago? Or, for that matter, can we find another John Mack for Cleveland, another Joseph de Pasquale for Philly, or another Chester Schmitz for Boston? No, of course not. These people and so many other legends in orchestras did some things so damn well that nobody will ever be able to do them that well again. Ever.
But the point is, it seems that a lot of people have missed out on jobs because such and such a person on a committee was looking for 'the perfect replacement'. Sure, maybe nobody played as well as they could have at the audition... and if that's the case, don't choose a winner; have another round. But if someone plays so damn well that they clearly deserve the job and they perform very well in the orchestra, even if they aren't 'the replacement,' let them have the job! Various nuances in orchestral playing take years and years to develop, and each new musician is going to, over time, develop things in their playing that nobody else will be able to do. Ever. Then THEY'LL be the legends. But it takes time... and sometimes these people who clearly deserve the job need to be given a chance.