Jonathan Crow.
If Toronto Symphony Orchestra music director Peter Oundjian hadn’t become a musician, he’d probably be a talk show host on television. Even after conducting a big program on Thursday night, he easily slipped into “interview mode” – chatting from the stage with the TSO’s new concertmaster, Jonathan Crow, for the benefit of people who stayed to learn more about him.
The concert that preceded this little interview was one of the best I’ve ever heard the TSO play. (You can read my Globe and Mail review here.) And it featured Crow in a soloistic role, performing Beethoven’s Romance No. 2 in F Major.
The concert that preceded this little interview was one of the best I’ve ever heard the TSO play. (You can read my Globe and Mail review here.) And it featured Crow in a soloistic role, performing Beethoven’s Romance No. 2 in F Major.
So who is this strikingly tall young man who wields a fiddle so well? He’s originally from Prince George, British Columbia. He went off to Montreal to study music and mathematics at McGill University. There, he made such rapid musical progress that he ditched math, and joined the Montreal Symphony Orchestra while still a student.
A little Q&A session with Oundjian revealed further details.
What’s on his Ipod? He doesn’t own one, but he likes all kinds of music.
How did his parents get him to practice? They didn’t force him, but told him that if he wanted to have fun making music with other people, he’d have to do the work.
What’s his favourite part of Toronto? He hasn’t really seen the whole city yet, but the natives seem to be friendly.
What’s the value of the 1738 Guarneri del Gesu violin that he’s been loaned to play? He says he doesn’t know, but he’s sure it’s more than he could ever afford.
Who was the better violinist – Kreisler or Milstein? Menuhin.
As well, Crow talked a little bit about his chamber group, the New Orford Quartet, which like the (former) Orford Quartet, got its start at Quebec’s Orford Art Centre. Crow was quick to point out that his two-year-old ensemble enjoys the support and encouragement of the original Orford players in its use of the Orford name.
© Colin Eatock 2011
A little Q&A session with Oundjian revealed further details.
What’s on his Ipod? He doesn’t own one, but he likes all kinds of music.
How did his parents get him to practice? They didn’t force him, but told him that if he wanted to have fun making music with other people, he’d have to do the work.
What’s his favourite part of Toronto? He hasn’t really seen the whole city yet, but the natives seem to be friendly.
What’s the value of the 1738 Guarneri del Gesu violin that he’s been loaned to play? He says he doesn’t know, but he’s sure it’s more than he could ever afford.
Who was the better violinist – Kreisler or Milstein? Menuhin.
As well, Crow talked a little bit about his chamber group, the New Orford Quartet, which like the (former) Orford Quartet, got its start at Quebec’s Orford Art Centre. Crow was quick to point out that his two-year-old ensemble enjoys the support and encouragement of the original Orford players in its use of the Orford name.
© Colin Eatock 2011
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