Dave Monette recently met up with the Israel Philharmonic on their tour to Japan and the Far East.  This is the first time Dave had heard the orchestra since they took delivery of their matched Monette instruments, which Maestro Zubin Mehta personally ordered for the orchestra.  Raffe and Ram Oren now join Principal Trumpet Andrew Balio with SHAKTI and 995 model C instruments to compliment Andrew's SAMADHI C, which he has used in the orchestra for the last five years.   Zubin Mehta was conducting for the tour, with the orchestra performing Rimski-Korsakov's Scheherezade and Shostakovich 5.  Dave sat in on a rehearsal, and had several opportunities to talk with Maestro Mehta about the trumpet section and what effect the instruments have had on the brass section sound.   This was the first time Dave had heard a full section of large Monette instruments being used in a major orchestra.  The sound and intimacy that the section achieved was really impressive!  Zubin told Dave that he was really impressed with the instruments during the first recording session for a new CD that was made right after the group received their instruments, and he said he was particularily pleased with the results.  Watch for an announcement on our site when the CD is released.   To get an idea of how a full section of great players sound using our large instruments, you can come hear Andrew along with Charlie Schlueter, Matt Sonneborn and John Raschella play their SAMADHI C instruments as a section during our Brass Clinic 2000, June 22-24 here at our Portland shop.

Raphael Glaser, Dave Monette, Andrew Balio and Ram Oren backstage at Suntory Hall in Tokyo after an Israel Philharmonic concert, February 2000.   Dave worked with Shemuel Hershko, the Tubist with the Israel Philharmonic after the concert.  Shemuel has used a Monette model 94 tuba mouthpiece since 1996.