Via the Guardian
“But there’s something missing in our orchestral culture, at least according to many musicians based in Europe: a vital spark of intensity and engagement. British orchestras have an unimpeach-able reputation for speed and accuracy. Talking to Simon Rattle ahead of his London residency with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, he told me that one of the principal players in Berlin had a stint as a section leader at one of London’s orchestras. He was amazed at the brilliance of the British musicians in the first rehearsal of a complex piece by Bartók.”
Interesting article. I think that we could learn something from the world of recording, where we do everything digital. They have plugins that add warmth and analog qualities to recordings. Perhaps a little imperfection would be a good thing in an orchestra?