Karin Bliznik – Stories from Backstage

Postcard Thursday

Jeffrey Strong of the St. Louis Symphony trumpet section takes us on a hiking trip in California mountain country.

“My wife Maggie and I took a 20-day road trip with our dog, Archer, to California this summer and spent about a week hiking in Mammoth Lakes. We had stops in Santa Fe, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Denver. It was great to see so much of our beautiful country, and we met some great people along the way.

Maggie by a creek — Maggie & Archer by a high-mountain creek

“I’m currently spending my time training for the upcoming MO Cowbell Half Marathon, which takes place in St. Charles, and getting my music ready for the orchestra season to come.

Shoes in training for MO Marathon — Shoes in training for MO Half Marathon

“We are playing a lot of Beethoven this year, so I’ve been re-reading Lockwood’s books, Beethoven Symphonies: An Artistic Vision and Beethoven: The Music and the Life. I include a picture of our new kitten, Tiger, checking out the September repertoire on my white board.

Tiger checks Jeff's practice scheudle — Tiger checks Jeff’s music schedule

“I’m very excited for this season, especially the September 23 concert when Karin Bliznik and I get to play Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major. This season should be a blast! (Pun definitely intended.)”

Next Postcard Thursday: violist Chris Tantillo.

A Trip to Affton

Members of the St. Louis Symphony brass made a visit to Bayless School in Affton, Missouri, to sit in with young musicians and to play a concert. Video intern Nicola Muscroft and Symphony staff member Zach Schimpf made the trip down with Director of Community Programs Maureen Byrne and the Symphony musicians. Nicola created this mini-documentary out of the experience. The musicians are Principal Trumpet Karin Bliznik, Associate Principal Trombone Amanda Stewart, Julie Thayer on horn, Jeffrey Strong on trumpet, and Gerry Pagano on bass trombone.

Before Mahler, During Mahler

During the rehearsal break for Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 I strolled the stage and took notice of the elegant device holding a double bass together:

I also saw David Halen’s violin set on a table with Vivaldi music near his chair:

Table and violin — Table, Vivaldi, and violin

And before the Mahler 4 began, on Wednesday members of the St. Louis Symphony brass visited Brittany Woods Middle School. Even with a David Robertson program to practice this week, the brass took time out to share some musical knowledge with young people:

Left to right: Lucy Mosier, Orchestra Director @ University City High; Gerard Pagano, bass trombone; Amanda Stewart, Associate Principal Trombone; Jeffrey Stone, trumpet; Roger Kaza, Principal Horn; Karin Bliznik, Principal Trumpet; Rob Giles, Band Director @ Brittany Woods Middle School — Left to right: Lucy Mosier, Orchestra Director @ University City High; Gerard Pagano, bass trombone; Amanda Stewart, Associate Principal Trombone; Jeffrey Strong, trumpet; Roger Kaza, Principal Horn; Karin Bliznik, Principal Trumpet; Rob Giles, Band Director @ Brittany Woods Middle School

Flying Home

The St. Louis Symphony flies home Wednesday evening from a highly successful California tour–and not only because of the food the musicians found. A few blurbs to flaunt: Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle on the Messiaen: “a brilliant and vividly colored performance”; Georgia Rowe of San Jose Mercury News on both programs (Adams-Mahler & Messiaen) in Berkeley: “Best of 2016? It’s already on my list”; and Timothy Mangan of the Orange County Register on the Mahler 5 at Soka University: “a distinguished and communicative performance.” Principal Horn Roger Kaza and Principal Trumpet Karin Bliznik both received numerous shout outs from the California press. There will be more reviews to come, which you can read in their entirety here: click.

I reached Principal Timpani Shannon Wood at LAX. “Last night went really well,” he said in what sounded like an understatement. Shannon said Resident Conductor Steven Jarvi, who was in the hall, told him, “It was the most exciting and clearest to hear of all the Messiaen concerts. Part of that is the clarity of Disney Hall,” Shannon said. “There’s lots of space and it’s such a beautiful hall.”

Shannon had an especially busy day on Tuesday, giving master classes and lessons for five hours at USC, then rehearsal, a break before the show and then From the Canyons to the Stars.

Shannon commented on the bonding experience the musicians have while on tour. Like most St. Louisans, the orchestra lives all over the city and the region, so opportunities to come together away from the stage are not entirely common. “It was my first California tour with the orchestra,” Shannon said, “and it was a really great opportunity to talk with people I normally don’t talk with. Robertson was hanging out with us after the concerts too.”

And then there was the food. “Out here you can have any cuisine you want, and quality cuisine,” Shannon said. “Dim sum, shabu-shabu, which comes with a big pot–you choose your broth and then you choose your ingredients and you cook it. I had Korean barbecue with a timpanist from the L.A. Phil.”

Shannon summed up the California Tour: “Great music, bonding, great food, seeing old friends, being in a geographically wonderous place.” Plus time for Shannon and Principal Flute Mark Sparks to visit a vineyard near Sonoma. Here are some of Shannon Wood’s photos:

Postcard Thursday – End of Summer Edition

Principal Trumpet Karin Bliznik sends the final Postcard Thursday of the summer.

“Hello from the Cape of Massachusetts!”

“After almost six weeks of traveling, teaching, and performing around Aspen, Santa Fe, and out at Tanglewood in the Berkshires, I finally found some time for a little R&R with family on the Cape, only about a 45-minute drive from the house I grew up in.”

“Here are a few photos from Chatham, Harwich, and Dennis Port, Massachusetts. Pictured are my partner Chloé Evans and my mom and dad, Tim and Marie Bliznik, who couldn’t be more excited to start listening again to those St. Louis Public Radio Saturday night broadcasts live from Powell Hall!”

“Oh, and what would a trip to Boston be without a good ol’ cup of clam chowdah?”

“Chee-ahs! (Cheers! in Cape-speak)”

Karin

Top Five Hot Picks

With single tickets on sale as of Monday for the 2015-2016 St. Louis Symphony season, it’s a good time to unveil the musicians’ Top Five Hot Picks. You’ll see more about the Top Five and the musicians picks through various marketing initiatives over the days and weeks to come, but let’s get the party started. More than 50 musicians responded this summer to my call for hot picks, which is not only a record, but it reflects the good vibes they have for the upcoming season.

Karin Bliznik blows the clouds away. She plays the trumpet solo that begins Mahler's Symphony No. 5. — Karin Bliznik blows the clouds away. She plays the trumpet solo that begins Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in January.

1) Mahler 5. January 22-23. David Robertson conductor; Timothy McAllister, saxophone. JOHN ADAMS Saxophone Concerto & MAHLER Symphony No. 5.

Susanna Phillips returns to Powell Hall for the first time since her riveting performance in Britten's "Peter Grimes." — Susanna Phillips returns to Powell Hall for the first time since her riveting performance in Britten’s “Peter Grimes.”

2) Mahler 4. April 2-3. David Robertson, conductor; Susanna Phillips, soprano. RAVEL Mother Goose Suite, VIVIER Lonely Child & MAHLER Symphony No. 4.

Symphony Principal Cello Daniel Lee plays the mad knight in Strauss' "Don Quixote." — Symphony Principal Cello Daniel Lee plays the mad knight in Strauss’ “Don Quixote.”

3) All-Strauss. September 25-26. David Robertson, conductor; Karita Mattila, soprano; Daniel Lee, cello; Beth Guterman Chu, viola. RICHARD STRAUSS Don Quixote, Macbeth & Final Scene from Capriccio.

David Robertson brings down the storm in Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony. — David Robertson brings down the storm in Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony.

4) Beethoven 6. November 13-15. David Robertson, conductor; Christine Goerke, soprano. BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” WEBERN Six Pieces for Orchestra, op. 6, & RICHARD STRAUSS Four Last Songs.

Eric Owens is one of the hottest singers on the planet. He sings both Wagner and Beethoven in October.

5) Beethoven 9. October 9-11. Markus Stenz, conductor; Heidi Melton, soprano; Thomas Cooley, tenor; Eric Owens, bass-baritone; St. Louis Symphony Chorus; Amy Kaiser, director. WAGNER Selections from Parsifal & BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9.

Get ’em while they’re hot!

Summer Lake Views

Principal Trumpet Karin Bliznik has already made her way back to the Aspen Music Festival and School from Tanglewood, but she shares last glimpses of what is known as the Stockbridge Bowl, near Tanglewood, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Stockbridge Bowl through the trees — Stockbridge Bowl over the hills and through the trees

Bliznik is a member of the artist-faculty at Aspen, as are fellow St. Louis Symphony musicians David Halen, Mark Sparks, Tom Stubbs and Beth Guterman Chu.

Magical Trumpets

Where are your St. Louis Symphony musicians this summer? On an East Coast vibe this week, with cellist Alvin McCall beginning performances with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center in NYC, and Principal Trumpet Karin Bliznik at the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Bliznik sent me a link to the NY Times review of the world premiere of the late Gunther Schuller’s “Magical Trumpets.” The eminent composer, conductor, jazz historian and horn player passed away in Boston in June. Bliznik performed the piece with members of the Boston Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center [TMC] trumpet sections. Bliznik was one of two former Tanglewood students in the ensemble.

The premiere of Gunther Schuller's "Magical Trumpets" at Tanglewood. The St. Louis' Karin Bliznik in the middle of the oval. — The premiere of Gunther Schuller’s “Magical Trumpets” at Tanglewood. The St. Louis Symphony’s Karin Bliznik at the center of the players. Photo credit: Hilary Scott

Times critic Vivien Schweitzer writes: “[Schuller] created the term ‘third stream’ to indicate music that incorporated both classical and jazz, such as some of his own scores, like ‘Magical Trumpets.’ It had its premiere on Thursday at Tanglewood, conducted by Jonathan Berman….

“Mr. Schuller, who often composed for unusual instrumentation, scored ‘Magical Trumpets’ for 12 brass in eight different keys. The work certainly proved enchanting, with the varied timbres of the instruments wielded to ear-catching effect and a creative use of mutes providing additional texture. At one point the musicians evoked the sound of a jazz band guitarist.”

Bliznik told me “Gunther was very involved in TMC and the Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood. ‘Magical Trumpets’ was very cool. It’s possibly the last piece he composed, so it felt like a historic moment.”

For the full review: click.

Trumpet Support

You don’t need to be in the trumpet section to appreciate the trumpet highlights that may be heard in the upcoming 1516 concert season. First violinist Jessica Cheng had this to say about the trumpet solo that opens Mahler’s Symphony No. 5:

“Mahler 5 was the first symphony I played on my first subscription concert here 6 years ago, and at that time Susan Slaughter played the opening notes and blew me away. That was when I knew I was part of something really special. And this time, so many new faces have entered the orchestra since that day, and Karin [Bliznik] is playing the opening notes, and I’m sure I’ll be just as blown away.”

Trumpet Call

Associate Principal Trumpet Tom Drake, in answer to a request for his “hot picks” for 1516, informed me that this a very “trumpet interesting” season coming up at Powell Hall. He suggested I poll the trumpet section. So I did.

Karin Bliznik opens Mahler's Symphony No. 5 with her trumpet solo, a highlight of this "trumpet interesting" season. — Karin Bliznik opens Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 with her trumpet solo, a highlight of this “trumpet interesting” season.

1) Mahler 5. Unanimous. (Principal Karin Bliznik, Associate Tom Drake, Jeffrey Strong, who joins the section in 1516, and Mike Walk). The Symphony opens with Bliznik playing a transcendent solo.

2-Tie) Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote. Flutter-tonguing may enter your vocabulary.

2-Tie) The Planets. Jupiter the Bringer of Jollity. Sweet trumpet dreams were made of these.

Other top picks among the section: Selections from Prokofiev’s Cinderella & Romeo & Juliet, and his Symphony No. 3; Selections from Wagner’s Parsifal; Gershwin’s An American in Paris; Messiaen’s From the Canyons to the Stars; Mahler 4; and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, orchestrated by Ravel.