ClarinetFest: Day 1

ClarinetFest 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska has begun! 

We both arrived Wednesday evening, so if you have comments about activities earlier in the day feel free to comment below.  And if you see us around the festival, we hope you'll come up and say hi!  Here's a picture of us outside one of the venues on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

 I (Rachel) arrived just in time for the nightly reception at the Embassy Suites.  The hotel is kind enough to provide a free reception with drinks and snacks for all ClarinetFest goers, not just those staying in their hotel.  I had a chance to catch up with some old friend from Michigan State, and make some new ones too!

The evening concert I attended featured the Italian clarinetist Antonio Tinelli, whose program included pieces by Nino Rota as well as an arrangement of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for clarinet and piano.  He won the crowd over with his commentary in between pieces, starting off by saying in his thick Italian accent: "My American is terrible... my English... also terrible!"

Tinelli had a beautiful pianissimo sound, though it was drowned out by the piano at times.  Aside from a few intonation issues in the altissimo register, Tinelli's performance was charming and full of personality.  In the Gershwin, which was arranged by Timofei Dokshizer, these Italian players played in a confident, bluesy American style.

I ran into conference host Diane Barger and her artistic team (pictured below) at the concert.  If you see them, be sure to thank them for organizing what is turning out to be an incredibly successful and enjoyable ClarinetFest!

 

Check back for more daily updates.  For live information updated throughout the day, follow us on Twitter: @clarinetcache.