This is a goodnight flower but it is also in memory of a dear conductor, Maestro George Cleve, who passed away today. One might think I should post a pale flower of some sort, but George wasn’t, to me, the pale sort. When I first worked with him in the San Jose Symphony he was one fiery man, full of energy, sometimes great anger, and always great passion. His conducting was, and continued to be, “magic” in some way: with Midsummer Mozart, back when I played there, he could, at times, simply not his head and I’d know just what he wanted, as did most of the rest of the orchestra. When he conducted San Jose Symphony there were moments when, following a performance, we were all just stunned at what had occurred, the music making was so special. But pale? Something in pastels? No. That won’t work for me with George. So here, George, is a rose just for you, because yes, you did sometimes explode and you had the power of a volcano sometimes, and you had such passion and love for music! I will miss you forever, and I will be forever grateful for you.
Vesuvius Rose, 8.24.15