Flute Players to see live in person? Who is the Yo-Yo Ma?

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:37 pm

you could do a search about the touring schedules of James Galway, or Rhonda Larson.... other names escape me currently....but those two among MANY others are world famous.

Many people consider James Galway to be the Yo Yo Mah equivalent. However, others would disagree [he tends to have the same style throughout almost any piece, so sometime he seems to have no variety].

I saw him in concert about a year ago, and he was quite impressive [but he was playing mozart which is the "style" that he favors the most] but many people dont neccessarily call him the best. However, his name is the name that would probably turn up the most in regards to talking about professional flutists, if you were talking with individuals that only knew of only a handful of pros.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:21 pm

fluteguy18 wrote:
I saw him in concert about a year ago, and he was quite impressive [but he was playing mozart which is the "style" that he favors the most]

I would tend to disagree...To me, Romantic era music seems to be his forte, and he manages to make everything else (including Mozart, which is the epitome of Classical music) sound like it is Romantic in nature. I would tend to agree with him being our Yo-Yo Ma in that he is probably the most famous flutist alive right now, but they don't necessarily have to be world famous to be absolutely stunning players.

Here are some others who may or may not be touring currently, but are still among the most talented flutists around:

Alexa Still
Emmanuel Pahud
Jeffrey Khaner
William Bennett
Trevor Wye
Ian Clarke
Christina Jennings
Paul Fried
Susan Milan
Paul Edmund-Davies

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:13 pm

Romantic.... Classical..... oh well. I havent heard too many of his recordings to really tell which his style fits the best [it was a close call in my opinion]. I just heard Mozart in the concert, and he was as close to flawless as anyone could be.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:56 pm

Flute playing in America, and elsewhere, is at a very high level all around right now! Dozens of wonderful players out there whose names very few people know. Here's a short list:

Carol Wincenc
Jeanne Baxstresser
Paula Robison
Peter-Lukas Graf
Goran Marcusson
Amy Porter
Marianne Gedigian
Marina Piccinni
Jim Walker
Tom Robertello
Leone Buyse
Vieri Bottazzini
Jill Felber
Robert Dick
Matthias Ziegler
Gary Schocker
Tadeu Coelho
Jean Ferrandis
Brad Garner
Mimi Stillman

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:02 pm

This really depends a lot on what her objectives might be with regard to seeing/hearing a "big name" flutist. Would she want to see someone intensely famous, or would she prefer to see someone who really plays the instrument well in all respects? If she just wants to see one of the icons of the flute world, take her to a Galway concert if possible. He's very famous, and getting older which might make it more difficult to see him perform over the next several years.

However, I agree with flutepicc on Galway. He is definitely a well-respected institution in the flute world mostly because he's been around a long time, became very popular for "cross-over" type albums, has incredible technique, and often relates very well to his audience (he often will say funny things). But I would not characterize his playing style as truly great in terms of versatility. Everything -- whatever period of music he is performing -- sounds basically the same (i.e. his Bach interpretations are no different than his playing of "Danny Boy" or "Annie's Song"). I, personally, don't like flutists who do not, or cannot, adapt their sound and style to the period of music in which they are performing. But that's his trademark and it has obviously served him quite well career-wise.

If she would like to see someone who may not be in the Galway category of fame and notoriety, but still delivers some of the highest quality of flute playing around these days (like those mentioned on the lists provided by others here), then take her to one of their performances. Pahud would be my preference, but I don't think he tours in this country very much. Khaner, Robison, Wincenc, and Joshua Smith are also very excellent choices if they are playing in your area.

SK