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What does Gary Levinson, Violin, look forward to when the New York Philharmonic goes on tour? Read what he has to say! How long have you played with the New York Philharmonic?
Has there been a favorite tour for you? The most memorable would be the first one, for the obvious reasons. It was the European Tour in 1988. That summer we also went to Jackson Hole so it was two tours in one summer. All of it was so new, and there was so much great music making going on. I was still a Juilliard student. I got the job in May and graduated three weeks later. It was the excitement of the jump from school to professional violin playing that helped make it so memorable. As the Philharmonic prepares to head to Europe, what city are you most looking forward to visiting? Paris has always been my favorite place in Europe . My wife is meeting me there. That should be really beautiful. I'll meet her there and we'll hang out. I'm circling that one on my calendar. Seven years ago we did something similar on a tour, we met up in France for some travel. We'll relive some old memories and make new ones. There are so many great places to visit, so much great art. Paris has always had a special place in my heart. For you, what is the most fun thing about going on tour with the Orchestra?
The other thing is that you don't have to pay the bills! Especially when we go places where we don't often go and the currency is like hundreds of thousands of everything. It's like Monopoly money.
The music making is exciting. We represent the United States abroad. We often get to play extra concerts of chamber music in embassies and other places. I feel proud as a New Yorker and American to represent us in something we do very well. The job is great. No matter
how many years you spend here, if you have a relatively lucid and rounded
opinion of what it's like to be a musician, at any level, the job is
great and most of us really love it. It's a great way to make a living
and do what you love. |
12
years. 
It's
interesting. I think the whole life is so different, it's hard to identify
with it if you don't tour. It's kind of like being on the job all the
time. There is both a certain lack of privacy and a nice camaraderie
about it. You can always plan to get together for meals. In New York
we don't do it that much because everybody's so busy. On tours you end
up coming together, waiting in the airports, waiting in line for luggage,
passports, but you spend more time together and
get to know both newer and older members, and forge strong relationships.
