Robert Pickup, performing in Pretoria tonight, has the=20 world at his feet, writes COENRAAD VISSER
WHEN Robert Pickup took the stage last month in Tempe,=20 Arizona, as this year’s winner of the young artists’=20 competition of the International Clarinet Society, he=20 was merely taking the next step along a career path=20 which saw him take all major music awards on offer in=20 South Africa last year — the Sasol, Jim Joel and SABC=20 music prizes, and the Unisa overseas scholarship.
During a break from rehearsals for two professional solo=20 engagements this week, Pickup seemed unfazed by his=20 latest competition triumph. In Tempe, each contestant=20 had to play the same set repertoire — Weber’s Grand Duo=20 Concertante, Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet=20 and Debussy’s Rhapsody for Clarinet and Piano. He might=20 not have chosen them himself, given a free choice.=20 “There was nowhere to hide,” he smiled, musing that if=20 anything these pieces involve aspects of his playing=20 with which he is not yet satisfied.
The international jury was bowled over, though. And his=20 winner’s recital in front of some 400 of the world’s=20 leading clarinetists was a similar triumph. Quietly=20 confident, Pickup saw this recital as his chance to show=20 them how he plays the instrument.
The competition forms part of an annual conference and=20 series of workshops and recitals. Being at the=20 conference and meeting some leading exponents of the=20 instrument were more important to Pickup than taking=20 part in the competition.
He found being around them “an inspiration”, and is=20 still breathless with excitement at what he saw and=20 heard. He was “stunned” by the virtuosity and unfamiliar=20 techniques (such as double tonguing and circular=20 breathing) displayed by artists such as American Robert=20 Spring. Pickup shook his head when he recalled Spring=20 playing a transcription of Paganini’s Allegro di concert=20 (Moto perpetuo) — playing for more than four minutes=20 without taking a second breath.
The conference also put him in touch with his idol, Kari=20 Kriiku. What he admires most about the young Finnish=20 star is his complete sense of style and musical good=20 taste, so that his mastery of modern and unusual playing=20 techniques never becomes an end in itself but rather=20 serves his interpretations of the repertoire.
Pickup laments the lack of contemporary music written in=20 South Africa for the clarinet. At the conference he=20 marvelled at new music being written, especially in the=20 United States, to explore every facet of the clarinet.=20 “We are just so far behind the rest of the world in this=20 area,” he said.
Next year, Pickup plans to gather all his prize money=20 and set off for Europe. First stop is Geneva, where he=20 will study with the renowned Thomas Friedli. Most young=20 South African clarinetists seem to head for Walter=20 Booykens in Belgium. So why Friedli? “Because he will=20 teach me to play the clarinet the way I want to play=20 it,” Pickup said.
Then a career in Europe may be on the cards. He notes=20 that it will not be easy, though. Because he plays=20 according to the French system, German and Austrian=20 orchestras (where they use an instrument with a=20 different bore and fingering) will not be interested.=20 Even Holland, with its hybrid of the French and German=20 systems, is not an option.
Until he leaves, he fills the number two spot in the=20 National Symphony Orchestra. Although he admits that it=20 is possible to let your standard of playing slip when=20 you spend every day at an orchestra desk, he is inspired=20 by colleagues such as trumpeter Robin Finlay never to do=20
He also plays as much chamber music as possible. Earlier=20 this year his performance of Brahms’ quintet with the=20 Rosamunde String Quartet was a spectacular success.=20 Later this year he will play Ravel’s Introduction and=20 Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet=20 with the quartet at Mount Grace.
Pickup plays Ludwig Spohr’s Clarinet Concerto no 2 with=20 the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carlo=20 Franci, in the Old Mutual Auditorium at Unisa tonight at=20 8pm. It is the first performance of this showpiece with=20 a professional orchestra in this country