David, the most ironic thing here is that the conductor asked you back, ha, ha! He must have really thought that you did a tremendous job, but was one of those who cannot let YOU know that. Or, he had already been turned down by the other harpists he asked, maybe before he asked you and you turned him down, and he was down to his last resource! 🙂 Either way, you won, and I would have done the same thing! It is very difficult to work with someone like that.

I always enjoy reading your posts! Keep them coming.

All the best,
Balfour

Hey, David, I have another conductor story for you. I played last Spring in a local orchestra and was asked then to play harp for the next season’s performance of Pelleas et Melisande. I was contacted by a fellow harpist late summer that the same conductor asked HIM to play the part. He knew I had been asked. I have no idea whether the conductor forgot, wasn’t thinking, or I was fired. The conductor kept insisting the part could be played on two harps and my harpist friend kept saying no. Anyhow, the other harpist is far more experienced in orchestral harp (which I find very stressful: I applaud all orchestral harpists) so I just let it drop. I’ll watch him play my part in two weeks:)

I had one like that when I first resumed playing – he was consistently ruthless with all his orchestra’s & his conducting students and so several amateur wind players gave up or left but he was and is still as sweet as pie and very friendly off-stage, oblivious to the effect he had on others, & so I put his behavior down to nervousness and adrenaline in the moment, over anxious to get every note perfectly maybe but all the same it made rehearsals and performances terrifying and unpleasant. For harp that’s a no go – if the part is terrifying why compound the problem.

Really?! Both of us harpists looked and never found another part for P & M. The conductor never came up with it, either. The version the orchestra is using is from islmp. Well,too late now. Performance is next week. If you can tell me where to find Harp II, I’ll play it in my head while I watch:)

David,

There is one particular conductor in this area of the country that I have worked with on several different occasions. The last time I played for him, about a year ago, I told my sweet wife, who is my agent and manager, that I never intended to work with the man again.

So, guess what, he called about three months ago, needing a harpist. My wife checked our schedule and politely told him that we had another commitment, out of town. He did not intend to take “No” for an answer, and proceeded to tell her why I should be so “Honored” to get to work with him again!

My wife finally convinced him that I really could not do the concert, and we learned later that the conductor hired a student harpist to do the job. He reportedly picked on her so much that he drove her to tears and she could not do the performance! I definitely never intend to work with him again, and other harpists should not, either.

It is good to hear from you. I have enjoyed this forum!

Thanks, and best wishes,
Balfour