Davies Symphony Hall, SF
Photo by Lisa Hirsch
October, 2023
San Francisco Symphony sent word the other week about two year-end retirements: Yukiko Kurakata, section first violinist, after 30 years in the orchestra, and Robert Ward, principal French horn, after 43 years.
Kurakata has had a distinguished career as a performer and teacher. Ward joined the orchestra in 1980 as associate principal horn, following stints in the Atlantic Symphony of Halifax and the Denver Symphony. He was named principal horn in 2007, after an inexplicably long period as acting principal. He is a great player with a beautiful sound and I will miss him a great deal.
Elsewhere: Emily Wilson interviews Robert Ward at SFCV.
12 comments:
I will miss Robert Ward's playing, as well. The first SFS concert I heard as a student was Mahler's 6th, just after 9/11. It was spectacular and moving, thanks in part to Ward's beautiful contributions.
I heard David Cooper, former principal of Chicago, was offered the lead horn job, but I don't know if he has accepted it now that he is associate principal in LA. Have you heard anything about this?
I have heard nothing about an offer to David Cooper, which doesn't mean an offer hasn't been made. Did he do a trial week? I have been watching the principal horn seat like a hawk and only spotted Mark Almond.
I was told David and Mark both did trial weeks. David's was apparently during the week of 10/13. Was that the Strauss Eine Alpensinfonie concert? SF would be would be fortunate to have either of them as principal!
That was the week of the Hillborg piano concerto, with Ax, and LvB 2. Mark Almond played principle horn that week.
Oops! I just checked my correspondences and you are correct, of course. Apparently, David played a week prior to that, but I don't know which one. I haven't been in attendance this fall. Do you know who played on the Strauss program? That would certainly be an appropriate trial concert.
I thought it was Ward, but hmm I will ask SFS Communications.
Salonen gave a lovely tribute to Ward after intermission at Saturday's concert. We have been so lucky to hear him all these years.
Oh, I'm so sorry that I missed that. I was at the Friday performance and almost got a ticket to see it again - I loved Breathing Forests so much.
Breathing Forests was fantastic!
SFS confirms that Cooper played the Alpine Symphony concert. Can't believe I didn't catch that.
I've been checking David's Instagram page and the SFS press releases once every several days to see if anything has been announced. The suspense is driving me crazy!
I will post the press release as soon as I receive it!
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