Letters to the Editor
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‘Confident, Stylish & Musical’
Jay Nordlinger’s review of the Carnegie Hall concert by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, while lauding the soloists who appeared with the orchestra, noted that the orchestra itself was what he called “a riderless horse, meaning it has no conductor — and sometimes the group suffers for it. … At times, the Orpheus played with freedom and excellence. And at others, they played indifferently, drably” [Arts&Letters, “Confident, Stylish & Musical,” February 8, 2007].
The review reminded me of my reaction to a concert by this otherwise talented and hard-working leaderless group several years ago at Avery Fisher Hall.
After watching the designated directors of each selection distractingly throwing their heads around in an effort to conduct without the use of any hands, I commented: “The Orpheus proves that a chamber orchestra, like a street car, needs a conductor.”
Mr. Nordlinger critically appears to have come to the same conclusion.
AVRUM HYMAN
Bronx, N.Y.
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