Zoltán Kodály’s Dances of Galánta is an interpretive and virtuosic giant in the orchestral clarinet repertoire. CSO Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson demonstrates how crafting one’s own personal narrative can fuel expression. “It's important to have imagery in mind when you play a piece like this,” Williamson said. “Actually, when you play any piece, you should have some form of imagery, and so I've basically come up with my own idea.”
For CSO Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, the instrument is an extension of his voice, and that serves as the foundation of his music-making. When performing Mahler's iconic Symphony No. 5, Batallán emphasized, “Don't forget to sing. That's the most important thing — singing, phrasing. Everythi...
