As I mentioned last November, Boris Allakhverdyan was one of two finalists in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s open auditions to find a new Principal Clarinet to take over for the retiring Michele Zukovsky. Multiple sources have now indicated that Mr. Allakverdyan, current Principal Clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, won the last phase of the audition and was offered the job earlier this weekend.
Assuming he officially accepts the position, he will become the third LA Phil woodwind principal to have come directly from the MET orchestra: Whitney Crockett joined the LA Phil as Principal Bassoon in 2010, while Denis Bouriakov started as Principal Flute at the end of 2015.
So to recap for those of you trying to keep score of MET orchestra departures, here’s what I’ve got as far as principal players:
- LA Phil: Messrs. Crockett (2010), Bouriakov (2015), and now Allakhverdyan (2016?)
- NY Phil: Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet (2014); Timothy Cobb, Principal Bass (2014)
- Chicago Symphony: Steven Williamson, Principal Clarinet (2011); Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, flute (2015 but not starting officially until 2016)
Back in LA, a few additional titled chairs are still up for grabs. Auditions for Associate Principal Horn are supposed to wrap up today, another guest Principal Trombone plays with the orchestra this week, and the orchestra recently announced May auditions for Principal Percussion. I’ll continue to post updates as I get them.
RELATED POSTS
- LA Phil comings and goings (Fall 2015 edition): Principal Clarinet update and much more
- LA Phil comings and goings (Summer 2015 edition): big news in the flutes and clarinets, plus a little more (UPDATED on July 8)
- News about the LA Phil brass and a former principal flute, plus two guys named McGill and more
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Photo credit: courtesy of www.borisallakhverdyan.com
All is Yar 
who is the trombone?
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Will know the name by Thursday.
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I now understand that Jörgen van Rijen, one of the two principals of the Royal Concertgebouw, will be playing 1st trombone for the Mahler 3rd.
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He states on his own personal website that he will be traveling with the orchestra, February 29 – March 24.
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The principal trombone job was offered to a different candidate.
Meanwhile, the new principal clarinetist is playing the all-Hungarian program this week and I think listeners will not be disappointed.
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Last night somebody in the clarinet section did a great job in the Miraculous Mandarin. Was it this guy?
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I didn’t attend the concert (sadly), but my understanding is that it was Mr. Allakhverdyan
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Well, he was really good. The new principal horn is a big improvement, too, IMHO. His solo in the Kodaly was well done.
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A “big improvement” compared to what? There is no new principal horn in LA Phil.
All clarinet solos in Galanta and Mandarin were played by a brand new principal Boris Allakhverdyan.
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