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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Calling a Musician a Chameleon is a Compliment

26 January, 1999 - 00:00

As a young man, US orchestra conductor David Andre had equal passions for
music and physics, but music got the upper hand. Now at age 59, the maestro
is Chief Conductor and Director of the California State Philharmonic. Over
the past several years he has been on extensive concert tours, including
this first visit to Ukraine to conduct Chernihiv's Philharmonic's rendition
of such US composers as Gershwin, Copland, Peck, Barber, including the
Ukrainian American composer Kusevytsky's double bass concerto (Prof. Andre
is known as a virtuoso double bas player).

He is head over ears in love with music, yet searching for unknown elements
seems to occupy a large part of his mind. In recent years David Andre has
taken part in a number of Pacific research projects. Once a plane he was
piloting crashed, fragments floating miles down to the bottom. The pilot
had spent 18 hours in the water until help arrived. The first thing he
said when safely onboard was, "Too bad my orchestra has been without me
for so long."

Journalist Valentyna Kuznetsova met with the maestro after a concert.

Q: What music do you prefer to listen to in your free time?

A: Whenever I have time to spare I enjoy silence.

Q: You seem to be in splendid shape. Does this have anything to do
with your sports?

A: Most likely it is the result of practicing music. Each and
every orchestra conductor is under heavy physical strain.

Q: No one can see your face from the audience, but your conducting
manner is fantastic, every gesture so very expressive, like an exotic dance.
Watching you is as enjoyable as listening to your music. Any comment?

A: Really? As a matter of fact, I try to keep myself from jumping
up and down when conducting. You see, the conductor's each gesture carries
a lot of information to the orchestra, but mostly every nuance is conveyed
by mimiry, body movements, you know.

Q: Mr. Andre, do you really think that Ukrainian musicians have succeeded
in putting across the specificity of American music?

A: I must say that your musicians surprised me with their subtle
awareness of the music. The Philharmonic's chamber orchestra was like a
chameleon, adapting to each new rendition so very quickly and effectively.
I enjoyed working with your Chernihiv orchestra. They played typically
American music, precisely the way every US musician understands it and
does. In general, musicians have a very special mission in this world,
promoting understanding among nations, and this concert was another proof
of this.

 

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