A Far Cry

My friend Carol pointed out an interesting article in the Boston Globe today about a young, professional, unconducted string chamber orchestra called A Far Cry. Here's the link: "No Conductors Need Apply".

Also on that page is a link to a audiovisual slide show on the orchestra, and from there you can find two youtube links:

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (4th movement)
and
Corelli, Concerto Grosso, Op. 6/9 in F

and another one, with a flute soloist: Quantz Flute Concerto in D

Of course, these are all professionally trained young musicians, but I do like this concept of all the players being collectively responsible for the repertoire and the performance, not primarily the conductor. The violinists and the violists stand during performances, and they move in an independent, yet coordinated, way to the music. And they sound wonderful. They are not actually making any money yet, but hopefully that will come.

They also have a web site and a blog.