Øystein Baadsvik: Monday YouTube Fix
Andrew Hitz
I had just had the privilege of performing with Boston Brass at the Chicago Brass Festival this weekend. It was a real treat to return to the city where I studied in college for such a prestigious festival. The best part of the weekend was getting to hear both Øystein Baadsvik and Rex Richardson who were also featured artists. What a weekend! On Friday night before our concert I was able to attend the beginning of Øystein's tuba master class. I will post some quotes from this excellent class a little later this week. But perhaps the highlight of the weekend was hearing him play the next day, first with the NEIU Faculty Quintet and then with the NEIU Wind Ensemble. What a treat!
The audience demanded more than one encore after his very impressive performance. The first encore he did was one of his standard solo selections, Czardas. I don't think I've ever heard it played better on any instrument. The clarity this man gets on fast passages on a tuba simply must be heard to be believed. A true showman, a real gentleman, and one hell of a tuba player, any Øystein performance is a master class. And this clip is live. There is something not right with this man!
Enjoy!