Double Bass Bluebeard's Castle

[CaseyVancouver]

I remember a friend saying that Wozzeck was one of the hardest operas he had ever played because "you can't tell when you hit a wrong note".

Thanks
Looks like someone could write their music phd dissertation on the score

I grabbed the bass part for a reading exercise
here’s a bit

 

[Calvin Marks]

I remember a friend saying that Wozzeck was one of the hardest operas he had ever played because "you can't tell when you hit a wrong note".

Beautiful music though.

 

[Calvin Marks]

I’m finding that the current strings I have on are glorious for any pizz in opera.
In quiet moments the bass pizz really delivers through the whole orchestra.
Could not imagine a better sound. Plus they are very decent for arco.

E Spiro Stark
A Original Flexocor
D & G Flexocor Deluxe

That's the best combo out there.

 

[Paps]

Thanks
Looks like someone could write their music phd dissertation on the score

I grabbed the bass part for a reading exercise
here’s a bit

View attachment 5065745

Nasty! At least it's not overly fast.

 

[LouisF]

Two things:
1) We saw the LA Phil (9 basses) last night play Miraculous Mandarin, Petrushka, and a new piece, equally challenging, by Salonnen, who conducted. Good lord what a workout and that section was BRILLIANT.

2) I've stage directed (my day job) more operas than I've played, so I'm pretty familiar with the repertoire. The community orchestra where I'm principal is doing an "opera gala" in June (mostly Italian and a bit if Bizet) -- and of course we haven't seen the singers yet.

I took a sectional with the team and basically "sang through" the pauses where there would be rubatos or fermatas etc -- it just looks like a couple of pizz notes every now and then but you have to be on your toes; it becomes second nature after a while.

3) (I know I said 2, but..) Earlier this week we saw the LA Opera do Verdi's Otello - THAT section nailed it -- especially in the DB solo/soli that begins the final scene!

 

[ILIA]

I remember a friend saying that Wozzeck was one of the hardest operas he had ever played because "you can't tell when you hit a wrong note".

I wish.

That Wozzeck bass part is one of the most brilliantly exposed bass parts out there. Hit a wrong, out-of-tune, or out-of-time note in one of those many exposed passages and you will draw the ire of singers, a conductor, and/or another musician.

You might think the audience is too dumb to hear wrong notes, but don't be surprised if a good chunk of the audience-goers know the music like they know their spouse. The audience members that count will know if you f**ked up.

Don't play Wozzeck unless you're tenured and if you can hear standard issue tonality. Otherwise, stick to the steady-paycheck zone of Mozart, Verdi, etc. operas.

 

[Paps]

A friend once told me that when playing in opera, you and the conductor must follow the singers.

He told me they completed a rehearsal and before the next rehearsal the conductor suggested to the soprano:

"Why dont we play the first bar in 3/4 the next in 6/8, the third in 7/4 and then change key in the forth and play it in 5/3?"

The soprano replied saying:
"What?, I couldn't possibly do that, that's too much to ask for!"

To which the conductor replied:
"Well, that's what you did last night!"