Went to
the Pacific Symphony concert on a Saturday earlier this month.
The Saturday performance will
broadcast on KUSC on Sunday, February 28 at 7 PM (PST).
Carl St.Clair conducted Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 with Conrad Tao, and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony.
In Alan Chapman's absence, assistant conductor Roger Kalia gave the pre-concert talk.
He interviewed principal oboist Jessica Pearlman and Conrad Tao.
Jessica debuted the symphony way back when Midori played Tchaikovsky. I remember because we sat next to her dad. He was so proud and relieved that she got a full time job. :)
They talked about the auditioning practice of orchestras, which was quite interesting. A tip for those pursuing a musical career: during a blind audition, don't make a sound unless asked to, don't even talk, because that is going to give them some impressions, which may work against you.
And Conrad Tao first came as a substitute for Yuja Wang, playing the Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. He said he liked these sub-gigs, because it gives him this sense of control. (Kind of evil-ish. :))
I think he has returned to the symphony every year since then. He was so young back then, but now he's grown a beard!
