Harsh, yes---but called for

After reading my review in NUVO today to my family, I heard nearly simultaneously from all of them, "You're really harsh." I also got something similar from a few other people too, but oh well. I call it like I hear it.

Here's the deal, plain and simple: this orchestra is progressing in amazing leaps and bounds under Mario's direction. However, one section is not at all: the cellos. My review was edited quite a bit (I think--and hope--more for space than anything else) because I also pointed out that the cellos choked during a prominent soli section in the Nielsen, and I also said what I stated above, that they are NOT progressing with everyone else. In fact, I said they were holding the orchestra back. But it didn't make it in, unfortunately. What I wrote though, was called for.

What will it take for this section to improve? I used to wonder that about the ISO violins, but no more. Under Mario's direction and Zach DePue and Alexander Kerr leadership, the violins are sounding great! It's amazing what they've done with the section, and they are to be commended. Also, the rest of the section are to be commended too--they haven't all stayed where they were---people are actually sounding like they are up to the challenge, and have spent the extra time in the practice room.

I can't ever say that about the cellos though. I can say that I see cellists fake their way through parts, and they have poor intonation as a section, and have no concept how to play well with the basses. Anything in the upper register is something a listener would rather forget, and this goes on pretty much.....week after week. Obviously some weeks it's more obvious than others, but my complaints are pretty much consistent--it's always the cellos that tend to put dampers on performances, so to speak.

I wonder how the cellos walk off the stage after each performance and just accept how they play. To me I don't seem to hear "We can't mess up like we did that one week" in their playing. It doesn't sound like people have spent time in the practice room. Maybe some people do, but it only takes a few, and sometimes only one person, to ruin it all.

And speaking of one person---much blame has to lie with Arkady Orlovsky, the principal cellist. I have never heard a moving and well played solo from him. I instead have heard loud, harsh playing with vibrato for vibrato's sake, and never do I hear music from him. It's just like loud cello playing, and nothing more. No wonder this section doesn't push themselves to improve. If their principal doesn't, why would they? If he is content with mediocre playing, then the rest of the section will be of course. It simply makes sense.

Rumor has it that he will be retiring with a year or so, and whoever replaces him has an amazing opportunity to turn this section around. I look forward to the day I am praising the cellos left and right. I don't like saying what I said about the cellos---it is never pleasant to write negative things about people. Somewhere down the line, someone will be rather upset with me. I have to call it like I see it though, no matter what someone might think of me as a result, or how unhappy I might make them.

I also wrote what I wrote because despite socking the cello section, or the orchestra as a whole, I care about the ISO. I want them to continue progressing and growing, as do many others I'm sure. I would be doing them a disservice if I did not point out what is preventing them from progressing and growing even more.