A conductor who keeps his word

Donuts. Krispy Kreme donuts were waiting for the Juilliard orchestra after their concert on Friday night. Why? Well, it actually goes back to November, when the orchestra had the very first reading of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.  The first time through, the Danse Sacrale provoked a series of giggles as one person after another committed the ultimate crime: playing during a rest. Though it is far from the most difficult aspect of the work, it is definitely a tricky spot and requires a high level of focus. On our second try through the section, Mr. Gilbert said “If we can get through this section without anybody playing in a rest, I’ll give the orchestra a treat…I’ll buy donuts for everyone!” Unfortunately, within a few measures, all hope was lost with an unmistakable wrong entrance from a horn. Giggles burst out again.

Laughter was not uncommon during the series of rehearsals with Mr. Gilbert, rehearsals for a program that also included Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and Christopher Rouse’s Violin Concerto, performed by Fabiola Kim. This being my first time playing under his baton, I was pleasantly surprised with the high level of respect that he treated to us as students. I equally enjoyed the surprise visits of members of the New York Philharmonic to join in our rehearsals. I could tell from the very beginning that he expected a good concert and I felt that the orchestra wished for the same.

About a week before the concert I remember distinctly when Mr. Gilbert described feeling that the orchestra was viewing the Rite of Spring “as a mountain”. Yes, we could play the music, but rather than stare up in awe of difficulty (or awesomeness) we needed to feel as if we were sitting on top of that Rite-of-spring-mountain, conquering it. However, it would take a lot of work to get to that point. Yes, we could play the music, but it just didn’t feel quite right. Transitions were shaky and tempos were uncomfortably falling behind or forward.

I’ve always been impressed by the way that Mr. Gilbert can carry the music through his whole body, and this concert was no exception. The Ravel created a magical beginning and the Rouse was a powerful and thrilling end to the first half, with an excellent solo performance from Fabiola Kim. Then it came—Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. The first kiss of the Earth by the solo bassoon found me holding my breath. However, as principal bassoonist Brent Foster beautifully ended his first phrase, I realized we had climbed the mountain. For the next half hour, I experienced one of the most special musical moments of my life. The orchestra had finally come together to be one living, breathing organism. And that feeling is something extraordinary.

To be honest, even in the dress rehearsal I was nervous for our success. But I knew Mr. Gilbert had faith in us, and that is what brought us to the place we were at on Friday night’s concert. He treated us as true collaborators and inspired us to be great. I am so incredibly grateful to Mr. Gilbert and to my fellow colleagues at Juilliard for taking part in this concert and making this experience possible. May we all be better for it.

And then there were donuts.