 It was in April last year when I first came to work with the Hallé. I was invited to play Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 under the direction of Mark Elder. I never imagined in those days that I would be Principal Double Bass of the Hallé I was very happy with my job and life in Newcastle upon Tyne, with the Northern Sinfonia. Great things are happening in Newcastle these days, a new concert hall, which will be finished very soon, a music school and, why not say it, the night life!
Since my first day in Manchester with the Hallé especially with the bass section, I felt I was very welcome, getting lots of support from this very experienced group of players who helped me to do my job properly. Since I have always worked in chamber orchestras before, my lack of experience with larger sections was always present at the back of my mind during rehearsals and concerts. But, it is the challenge of something new and demanding that makes you strong, and finally happy when you see the results of a good concert.
It was during our tour to Prague and Zagreb last year, whilst I was still on trial, when I decided that I really want to work with this Orchestra. I had a chance to socialise, getting to know more and more interesting people from the Orchestra, taking part in very inspiring performances and very importantly, realising the musical potential of this great Orchestra.
I always knew it was going to be exciting to work with Mark Elder. I had heard so much about him that I could not wait to join the Hallé and take part in this great project full of challenge for me.
I was born on the Island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, where music plays a very important role. There are two symphony orchestras, conservatories and international music festivals giving music lovers plenty of things to do. I studied the classical guitar and then the double bass at the Conservatorio Superior de Mśsica in Santa Cruz, the capital of the island. I had good teachers and colleagues but I felt that my little island was becoming smaller and smaller every day. I wanted to discover other places and cultures where I could develop my knowledge as a musician as well as myself as a person. I went to London, then Manchester and then Newcastle upon Tyne and that is as far north as I think I will manage to live. Now I am on my way south again, back in Manchester, where I will hopefully stay for a long time, taking part in the musical life of this very exciting city.
I would like to mention, since I have been given this opportunity, how honoured I am to be working alongside the very talented and versatile bass section. Probably the most international section in the Hallé, it has players from many different countries from as far apart as Wales and China as well as England, Germany and Spain. There is a balance within the section regarding the different bowing techniques. For those interested, there are two ways of holding the double bass bow and we tend to have half the section using the French style (like the cello) and the other half using the German bow hold (under arm like the viola de gamba). This gives a great richness to the sound of the double basses, which is enhanced, by the position of the section in a line at the back of the Orchestra with the instruments facing the audience.
At the beginning of December, I had the chance of helping the Hallé Youth Orchestra in their first ever performance of Shostakovich No.5, which brought lots of joy not only to the young people, who played beautifully, but also to the many present at The Bridgewater Hall. I joined in at the back of the bass section turning the pages for my desk partner, which is not as easy as it looks, and I witnessed the great results of their hard work. I wish every member of the Youth Orchestra and their conductor Edward Gardner the best for the future.
Roberto Carrillo-Garcia |
