Ah, ’tis a small world…years ago during my film music studies at USC I remember chatting several times with a flutist who had made the finals for a position with the LA Phil – while she was still an undergrad. Fast forward 15 years and it turns out Elizabeth Rowe is not only playing principal flute with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she’s giving the American premiere of Elliott Carter‘s Flute Concerto this next week on Feb. 4, 5 and 9 (see www.bso.org for times and ticket prices). Here’s what Elliott had to say about the work:
For many years flutists have been asking for a flute concerto, yet I kept putting it off because I felt that the flute could not produce the sharp attacks that I use so frequently. But the idea of the beautiful qualities of the different registers of the instrument and the extraordinary agility attracted me more and more, so when Elena Bashkirova asked me write something for her and the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, I decided it would be a flute concerto. From mid – September, 2007 to March, 2008 ideas and notes for it fascinated me without relief.
And here’s what Elizabeth had to say, not only about the concerto but also about playing Daphnis et Chloé…for which BSO just received a Grammy:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KREz3aIGPnM[/youtube]