Boston Symphony Bassist James Orleans Blames Orchestral Malaise on Musicians' Lack of Professional Demeanor
In a recent blog entry on ArtsJournal, James Orleans, who played double bass for the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 2018, examines the challenges confronting orchestras in the United States. He emphasizes that the problems extend beyond conductors to include musicians' inadequate stage presence, unlike that of theater performers. Orleans references conductor Kenneth Woods, who highlighted the 'orchestra gap' in a podcast with Joe Horowitz, and William Henry Curry, who cautioned against placing blame solely on conductors. He recalls Seiji Ozawa's analogy of American orchestras as 'department stores.' Orleans points out that NEA grants peaked at $330,000 in 1992 but plummeted to roughly $40,000 last year, predicting a reduction in orchestras. He encourages musicians to cultivate intrinsic motivation rather than depending on conductors.
Key facts
- James Orleans was a member of the Boston Symphony double bass section from 1983 to 2018.
- Orleans argues that orchestral malaise comes from a lack of professional stage demeanor among musicians.
- He compares musicians unfavorably to stage actors who put their reputations on the line.
- Conductors Kenneth Woods and William Henry Curry are cited in the discussion.
- Seiji Ozawa compared American orchestras to department stores in an interview in Japan.
- NEA grants to top orchestras peaked at $330K in 1992 (~$800K today) and fell to $40K last year.
- Orleans predicts a precipitious culling of orchestras due to decades of declining support.
- He posted additional advice on Norman Lebrecht's Slipped Disc, urging musicians to play with self-generated involvement.
- A commenter agreed that conservatory training instills a 'blank slate' mentality.
Entities
Artists
- James Orleans
- Joe Horowitz
- Kenneth Woods
- William Henry Curry
- Seiji Ozawa
- Norman Lebrecht
- Chris Eagle Hawk
Institutions
- Boston Symphony Orchestra
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- Ford Foundation
- The New York Times
- Slipped Disc
Locations
- United States
- Japan