Philharmonic Legend To Make Final Bow
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As legendary clarinetist Stanley Drucker gets ready to make his final bow as principle player for the New York Philharmonic, he's reflecting back on a life of music, memories and milestones. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following report.For Stanley Drucker, it's been the ride of his life. He's been playing clarinet with the New York Philharmonic for a record breaking 60 years.
To understand just how astounding that is, Drucker has played in two thirds of all Philharmonic concerts performed since the orchestra was founded back in 1842.
"It's like looking in a reverse mirror, and bringing back memories of all of these concerts and years and friends and you know, just, everything laid out here on a wall, my whole life practically," said Drucker.
Drucker joined the Philharmonic at age 19, and now, at age 80, he is getting ready to retire. The Phil honored him at a recent concert, along with a display of his incredible career.
"This is a poster from the 70's, where Lorin Maazel was a guest conductor, and I played the Carl Maria Vaber's clarinet concerto," said Drucker.
A lot has changed in the music world since he started playing clarinet at age 10. Stanley remembers a time when many left the Philharmonic for better pay on Broadway and jingles, but his enthusiasm for the organization and the music has never wavered.
When asked what advice he would give to aspiring musicians during his 50th anniversary celebration, Drucker said, "To make every performance like the first time. That's the secret of live performance."
Drucker has savored all of those "first times" after performing in more than 60 countries.
"This was Christmas of 1989, and I was one of the invited people to join this international orchestra that Leonard Bernstein was conducting from East Berlin, Christmas morning, and here we are, here I was, in front of the wall that was being knocked down in front of us, as we were there, you heard them pounding a way at it, it was half down and it was still there," said Drucker.
Even though he's retiring, Drucker plans to continue playing. He'll also be speaking and performing at the Barnes and Noble near Lincoln Center in September.
Drucker is scheduled to perform with the Philharmonic, until it finishes its current season at the end of June.