HRO Takes Third Place In European Competition

The members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra returned Wednesday afternoon from a two-week trip to Berlin where they participated in the bi-annual Herbert von Karajan orchestra competition,and finished a controversial third to the Japanese and Austrian entries, among the four symphony orchestras participating.

The consensus among the orchestra members was that the judging had been unfair. "The judges were all European, and their preference for a type of sound different from HRO's was obvious," one brass player who wished to remain unidentified, said.

"We hardly felt that this was the way an international competition should be run," he added.

James Yannatos, senior lecturer of music and conductor of HRO, also said the judging had been biased, but stressed that "the positive aspects of the trip far outweighed the negative aspects--on a human and musical level it was absolutely fantastic."

"But," Yannatos added, "I am angry as the kids are angry about the shadow that was cast by the judging."

Yannatos was angry enough, in fact, to lodge an official protest because he felt that the competition was not truly international: only one of the eleven judges came from outside of Germany and immediately neighboring countries.

One of the highlights of the competition was to be the selection of an international orchestra composed of members of the competing orchestras. The group was to perform under conductor von Karajan, for compition is named.

Unfortunately, von Karajan had suffered a heart attack prior to the competition and was unable to conduct the international orchestra.

HRO wound up its tour with a benefit concert at The Royal College of music in London Tuesday night.