Quartet Plus One

Solo clarinetist Charles Neidich will open the 2001 Princeton University Concerts series with the American String Quartet.

By: Susan Van Dongen
   As the first-ever Fulbright scholar to study in the Soviet Union, musician Charles Neidich went abroad armed with information about his host country’s history, culture, politics and traditions. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to ask for change for a ruble, which made getting around on the Moscow subway system rather challenging.

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Solo clarinetist


Charles Neidich will open the 2001 Princeton University Concerts series
with the American String Quartet.

   Plus, the Cold War was still on and the Soviet government seemed less than forthcoming about providing Americans with certain information — like exactly where everything was, for example.
   "I remember I had to go to the Ministry of Culture in the middle of Moscow," he says. "The map was so confusing because the major streets weren’t on it. It was really nuts. But I learned the ropes very quickly once I got there and got my bearings."
   Twenty-five years later, Mr. Neidich is a musical ambassador to Russia and many other countries around the world. As one of few classical clarinetists who maintains a solo performance career, he’s played at the London Proms with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in Zurich and Tokyo with the Yomiuri Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
   Mr. Neidich will make a guest appearance with the American String Quartet, the group that will open the 2001-2002 Princeton University Concerts season Sept. 20 at Richardson Auditorium. The program includes works by Haydn, Brahms and Mozart.
   It is hard enough to launch a career as a solo clarinetist. The humble instrument is often upstaged by the violin, piano and even the flute. Mr. Neidich never had any doubts about his goal, though.
   "There was never any question I would be a musician," he says. "It was decided from the beginning. It’s in my genes. My father was a clarinetist and my mother was a pianist, and both taught music in New York City."
   Following home-grown lessons with his parents, Mr. Neidich studied with famed clarinet pedagogue Leon Russianoff. When it came time for college, however, his family encouraged him to broaden his background with a liberal arts degree instead of four years at a conservatory.
   "Because my parents were musicians, they wanted me to get an education outside of music," Mr. Neidich says. "Music performance is so all consuming, it’s a good idea to study other things if you have the opportunity. I was able to go to Yale and get my degree in anthropology, which tied in really well since many of the courses had to do with world music."

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The American String Quartet (below, from left): David Geber, Peter Winograd, Laurie Carney and Daniel Avshalomov.

   After graduating cum laude, in 1975 he went to the USSR on a Fulbright scholarship, where he attended the Moscow Conservatory. Mr. Neidich, who is on the faculties of the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music and SUNY at Stony Brook, says he was surprised to discover quite a different technique in teaching music performance in the USSR.
   "There was a lot of emphasis on memorization, whereas in the U.S. the emphasis is on sight reading," he says. "Memorization is just more of a tradition in Russia. When you memorize a piece, you learn it extremely well. But without strong reading skills, it’s harder for a musician to jump into a concert at the last minute. I learned a lot of repertoire and played a lot of concerts. I also went to many, many concerts. They have a wonderful, vibrant music scene there."
   One of less than a handful of solo classical clarinetists in world, Mr. Neidich has focused on opening up new repertoire and championing the versatility of the instrument.
   "Even though there isn’t a large body of classical music written for the clarinet — for example, Beethoven or Mozart sonatas — there’s plenty of music out there for it, between classical, jazz and folk," he says. "The clarinet is not dying of a lonely heart."
   The American String Quartet — Peter Winograd, Laurie Carney, Daniel Avshalomv and David Geber — was formed at Juilliard in 1974. They are quartet-in-residence at the Manhattan School of Music and have been the resident quartet at the Aspen (Colorado) Music Festival since 1974. Noted for activities on college campuses, the group celebrated its 25th anniversary by touring in all 50 states.
Princeton University Concerts opens its 2001-2002 season with the American
String Quartet, featuring solo clarinetist Charles Neidich Sept.
20, 8 p.m. The program features works by Mozart, Brahms and Haydn. The
Takacs String Quartet will perform Oct. 11, with a program including Beethoven’s
"Harp" Quartet. Harpsichordist Richard Egarr and violinist Andrew
Manze will join talents for an evening of Baroque music, Oct. 25. Pianist
Alan Feinberg will perform a rarely heard work by Richard Strauss, "Melodrama
for Piano and Speaker," with spoken word by Nathan Randall, Jan. 17,
2002. Paul Hillier will direct the renowned Theatre of Voices in
an evening of vocal music, Feb. 28. Welsh harpist Catrin Finch will give a
recital spotlighting her original music, March 14. Venetian Extravaganza features
a stellar ensemble of musicians performing chamber music from the 17th century,
April 4. The American String Quartet closes the PUC’s season May 16,
with guest Michael Tree and David Soyer of the Guarneri String
Quartet. All concerts are held at 8 p.m. Richardson Auditorium is on the
Princeton University campus. Tickets cost $19-$29; $2 for students. Subscriptions:
$40-$199. For information, call (609) 258-5000.