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Magical Musical Halloween
Oct 26, 2013 Verizon HallEnter the enchanted world of classical music as The Philadelphia Orchestra performs your magical musical favorites.
Ravel and Debussy
Oct 24, 2013 Verizon HallA French evening of exotic, colorful music complete with a trip to Spain and a visit to the land of Greek mythology.
Musician Behind the Scenes - September 2013
Richard Woodhams Principal Oboe
Each month in the Orchestra’s Playbill, we are featuring one musician in a question-and-answer segment. Below is that feature in its entirety.
Where were you born? Palo Alto, CA.
What piece of music could you play over and over again? Gurrelieder by Arnold Schoenberg.
What is your most treasured possession? A good oboe reed to play great music upon.
What’s your favorite Philadelphia restaurant? Right now, Su Xing House on Sansom St.
Tell us about your instrument. I change instruments frequently, but my current oboe was made in England of Cocobolo wood.
What’s in your instrument case? Cigarette papers; a small screwdriver; a single-edge razor blade, and a small vial of grease. Sounds bad, but these are tools of the trade common to all oboists.
If you could ask one composer one question what would it be? I would ask the great J.S. Bach, my favorite composer, to air his views on family planning.
What piece of music never fails to move you? Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Debussy. Many others as well!
When did you join the Orchestra? September 1977.
Do you play any other instruments? No, not yet.
What’s your favorite type of food? Mostly Asian.
What books are on your nightstand? The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs and Roughing It by Mark Twain. Also, Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse.
Is there a piece of music that isn’t in the standard orchestral repertoire that should be? Das Paradies und die Peri by Robert Schumann.
What’s the last recording you purchased? CD or download? The Jazz Messengers, a CD. I like to listen to vintage jazz for the incomparable musicianship of the performers.
When was the first time you heard The Philadelphia Orchestra? In San Francisco in 1963; Brahms's First Symphony with Eugene Ormandy.
Other than Verizon Hall, where is your favorite place to perform? Symphony Hall in Boston.
Read other "Musicians Behind the Scenes" Playbill features:
October 2012 - Concertmaster David Kim
November 2012 - Acting Associate Principal Cello Yumi Kendall
December 2012 - Violinist Miyo Curnow
January 2013 - Violist Judy Geist
February 2013 - Principal Trumpet David Bilger
