Hello Friends, Thanks you very much for all your e mails and views - they are all much appreciated. Life has been extremely hectic over the summer which explains the lack of news updates. I have been involved in the BBC2 show 'Maestro' which has been utterly wonderful. The finale is on tuesday and I truly have no idea who will be the winner, but I do hope that you have enjoyed watching. I have certainly enjoyed being involved.
I shall update again after 'Maestro' and possibly publish some of your cleaner e mails.
All the best. D. [August 2008] ...Dominic Seldis
Well - for those who watched 'Maestro' it turns out that the best person won on the night. Although Goldie's Rachmaninov was truly sublime and very much warranted the 10 points I gave him for it, and the fact that he was ahead on the points board when it was time to conduct the Beethoven, the general public voted for the best Beethoven which was Sue's by a long chalk. Let us not forget about Jane though, who really struggled throughout the whole competition. Although not the most competent and always looked rather stiff, she had a huge amount of musicianship, poise and grace, and an awful lot to say musically and really tried to say it to the best of her ability - for that alone she deserved to be in the final three.
I have spoken to Goldie since and although he was absolutely gutted that he didn't win as he really wanted the prize, he was gracious enough to acknowledge that Sue pulled something special out of the bag on the final. He is a very special talent and a wonderful human being who epitomizes a true musician for me.
Sue's performance at the Last Night of the Proms in the Park was superb and did the programme proud. Sir Roger didn't do badly either!
After all the glamour of the TV studios and on site catering etc. it is back to the day job for me. Luckily I happen to have the best day job in the world which is playing music. My imminent move to The Concertgebouw Orchestra is obviously playing on my mind somewhat, and I will update this once I have got a bit settled.
Thanks again for all your lovely e mails and messages of support throughout the summer - as always they are very much appreciated!
All the best. D.[September 2008] ...Dominic Seldis
Hello Friends,
Just thought I would put in a quick report before the end of the year.
Well, we have finally moved to The Netherlands. It was extraordinarily stressful but we are in and very happy. It is an amazing time to be in The Concertgebouw Orchestra, who if you haven't read, have just been voted the best orchestra in the world by gramophone magazine. Of course the musicians in the band view this with some bemusement as I have never met a group with such a lack of ego, but the PR department are having a field day as you can imagine.
As for media ventures, Maestro - the inside story is on BBC2 at 6pm on Christmas day. This is a direct clash with Dr. Who, which I don't mind as I played the music for that as well, so either way, if you are watching the BBC, I am afraid that you will have a dose of Dom to help you turkey go down.
I am also presenting BBC radio 3's request show on the 4th and the 11th of January. I have wanted for a long time to present such a show and they finally gave me the chance. Great fun!
I will check in with you all again in the new year, but in the mean time I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.
All the very best as always. D. [December 2008] ...Dominic Seldis
Dear Friends,
Sorry that I have not been very efficient with keeping you up to date, but time has gone flown by since Christmas. I have been working very hard with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, with various tours and lots of concerts and a few other solo and chamber music projects.
It is interesting that having taken this job, I have entered a whole new world of 'great' conductors, the most recent being Bernard Haitink. He was conducting us during his 80th Birthday celebrations, which was a very big deal here in Holland as he is a national treasure. It was quite extraordinary to watch how much fuss was made of this, especially when I spoke to Mr. Haitink to ask him about his birthday, he told me" I hate birthdays, especially my own!" There was a scary moment during rehearsals though, as Haitink seriously damaged his back giving a rather over enthusiastic upbeat during some Debussy. The next day his assistant took the rehearsal ( under the watchful eye of the present Mrs. Haitink ) but he managed to make it on to the podium for the show that night, and the live TV broadcast to Japan later that week.
We then travelled to London for two concerts, both of which were a huge success, and I believe got 5 star reviews. It was of course lovely to go back to the UK, but it strangely felt like visiting any other European city. This was a positive sign for me as it means that Holland is becoming more of a home to us.
My other news is that I have been awarded a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, which is a great honour. I have always had a soft spot for the Academy, and am very much looking forward to doing a day of master classes there in June.
In the mean time, the family are all well and we all seem to be thriving. I will be in touch soon - promise!
All the best as always. Dx [April 2009] ...Dominic Seldis
Dear Friends,
My goodness -the summer has shot past and I am very embarrassed to see that I have not updated this diary for 3 months. Many apologies for this.
The Concertgebouw Orchestra have been on a short ( 6 week ) summer break, which has given me many opportunities to play with other musicians over the summer. I have given a couple of recitals, played in a Gypsy concert with my old friend Marianne Olyver, but the most impressive concert was the MGM Musicals Prom that was on the 1st of August in the Royal Albert Hall.
This has to be one of the best orchestral concerts I have ever done. It was special in many ways. Firstly because the music is so wonderful. Arrangements of great tunes that, had it not have been for John Wilson's extraordinary work on 'reconstructing' the music would have remained destroyed or lost. Secondly it was a 'who's who' of British orchestral musicians. When we all turned up for the first rehearsal, you could see that everyone was turning around and thinking to themselves " this is going to be good! " I am not sure I will ever play again with such an amazing bunch of players in what was essentially a freelance orchestra. It was like being a member of a once in a lifetime supergroup. Wonderful stuff and a privilage to be involved.
I have to say though that the summer was marred by the news of the death of my old chum Dave Fletcher. Dave and I first met on a National Youth Orchestra course when we were both 15. We became instant firm friends, and ended up sitting next to each other in Wales for a few years before he spread his wings and left to evenatually end up as one of the busiest and best freelance bass players in London. His death from a sudden and totally unexpected heart attack was a lesson for us all. Life is short - make the most of it!
It is times like this that I again find myself thanking my lucky stars. I am delighted to inform you that Frankie and the Kids are all extremely well and refreshed after our holiday.
In the mean time, life goes on. I am very much looking forward to the new season starting in Amsterdam, and if you really have nothing better to do, then you can see me on TV on the 12th of September as a guest on the Last Night of the Proms.
Until the next time, I wish you all much health and happiness.
All the best. Dx [August 2009] ...Dominic Seldis
My dear friends,
Again I find myself apologising for not updating this more often. There is no excuse - please forgive me - oh - and Happy New Year!
Isn't it funny when the urge takes you to write something like this. I am presently unbelievably jet lagged having just come back from the States with the band, but felt I needed to share this little story with you all.
I finally got to play Carnegie Hall in New York. This is an extremely special place for me, mainly because when I was very young, my parents had a record of Ella Fitzgerald live at Carnegie hall. It was the first record I actually listened to properly. I was always blown away with the sound of that record and of course the musicianship and playing, so had it in my little head that if you played Carnegie then you must be really good. I have waited about 30 long years to get to play there but have to say that I am not sure I enjoyed it that much. My mind was so full of nerves, high emotion, history and of course worry about not screwing up on my Carnegie debut that I kind of forgot to sit back, relax and enjoy it. A lesson for life there! Don't work for years to get somewhere and then when you finally make it, forget to enjoy it!
The rest of the tour was really wonderful as well. I met some fabulous people along the way. The great thing about being a musician is that you not only get to work with some of the most brilliant people on the planet, but you also get to meet up with old friends all over the world. A double bonus is that there is plenty of time to meet new friends as well. It is amazing when and where you can meet new and old friends. In lifts, bump into them in the street in some far flung town, sat next to them in airplanes, in late night restaurants and more often in airports. Needles to say that this tour was packed with wonderful social events as well as some extraordinary music making. I now, as always, count my lucky stars that I am able to do the job I love AND get paid for it.
Speaking of which. We have just bought a house in Hilversum, Holland. It needs total renovation and is presently 4 rather dodgy looking walls and a roof. The builders have told me that the whole job will be done by June the 1st - this year! I will keep you posted.
I always appreciate the emails from you all, so keep them coming please. I will update this more often from now on - promise! ( where have you heard that before? )
Take care of yourselves. All the best. Dx [February 2010] ...Dominic Seldis
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