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An interview article by Rosemary Phillips,
January 2002
On the road to recovery
Marlin Wolfe was founding conductor and artistic director of the Vancouver Island Symphony at the time of this interview. He is a remarkable man, as this article illustrates.
We often hear of situations where the “show must go on”
but not usually so close at hand and with such a life-threatening situation. Maestro Wolfe’s dedication
to his art, his music, and the Vancouver Island Symphony is so evident
as he struggled, with great personal difficulty, to make sure that
the show did indeed go on.
The following interview took place in early 2002, just a couple
of months after his stroke, and was published in the 2002 spring
issue of The Score, the newsletter for the Vancouver Island Symphony.
Maestro Wolfe has since (2008) stepped down from his position to focus more on his career conducting in Europe and across North America.
Everything was going so well until...
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| Marlin Wolfe - Conductor |
The 2001-2002 season “Musical Voyages” took
on a whole new meaning for the Vancouver Island Symphony and Maestro Marlin Wolfe; while the orchestra reached to new heights Maestro Wolfe faced one of the greatest challenges in his life.
“We’ve had a terrific start to the season,” explained
Nanaimo’s 2001 Excellence in Culture Award recipient in a
recent interview. “Every concert we have done so far has been
sold out. We started out with Northern Lights, which went very well.
Violinist Moshe Hammer is always a good draw for Nanaimo.”
Moscow Nights, with Nanaimo pianist Peter Kurpita, was enthusiastically
received by the audience. “Of course, when you have a home-town
soloist, the audience loves him.” What really topped off this
concert were the Russian ballet suites. “They were test pieces
because we haven’t done too much modern Russian music. It’s
something we’ll do more of because the audience really liked
it.”
Then came the Nutcracker in December. That was when something tragic,
and yet very remarkable, happened and Maestro Wolfe’s musical
voyage took a detour. “We did all the rehearsals and after
the dress rehearsal I took my score to my room, then came back to
the orchestra pit and I noticed I couldn’t lift my leg. I
thought that was kind of funny. I sat down, discussed what I had
to discuss, then realized that something strange had happened because
my right foot wouldn’t negotiate itself. The feeling eventually
went up my side. I hadn’t brought my car so I walked over
to the hotel. It was a bit of a strain because whatever it was had
already happened. At that time I didn’t really realize what
it was. There were a few things I had to do, like go to the dry-cleaners
to pick up my suits and shirts for the next few days. I was having
trouble doing all this. I lay down after having something eat, had
a rest, then got ready for the show. It was at that point I realized
it was more serious than I thought.”
The show must go on
As the age-old adage says - “The show must go on.”
Maestro Wolfe had to make a very difficult decision. “There
was nobody to conduct the performance. I walked back into the pit,
about half an hour before the show. Jim, the soundman for the Port
Theatre, saw me and noticed I wasn’t doing too well. He came
and asked what the matter was, then called an ambulance, which came
right away. The medics didn’t want me to conduct but I had
to do it because there was nobody else. People had already started
coming into the hall. Well, I had got this far… “
And Maestro Wolfe continued on… by perching himself against
a stool for support. “I’ve never sat to conduct before.
To the orchestra it looked like I was standing. We got through it
quite well. The St. John’s Ambulance volunteers were there
at intermission to give me oxygen and to make sure everything was
running, and as soon as the performance was over an ambulance took
me to the hospital. “My doctor happened to be at the performance
and was quite impressed with it. He couldn’t believe that
I conducted after a stroke. I got put through all the tests, and
thank goodness it was a mild stroke. I’m doing physiotherapy
now, and I’m just about back to normal. I’ll be back
on the stage when I need to be.”
As a result of the stroke, Maestro Wolfe missed out on Christmas
Fantasy with Joëlle Rabu. David Hoyt, the resident conductor
from Edmonton, was invited to help out. “I’ve known
David for many years. It was a brand new show so he had to learn
it at the last minute, but he did a very good job.”
Having a stroke makes you think about different things
Meanwhile, Maestro Wolfe worked at home on the next year’s
programming. “It looks good. I’ve also had a chance
to catch up on some other things that I need to do. And if I need
a rest I just take it easy. Having a stroke makes you think about
different things instead of always work, but at the same time it
gets in the way. It is a warning to take things easier. I don’t
think I overdo it with certain things but I often do a lot of meetings
that require my time and they are more stressful than the music.
I might just cut down on that part of it and give the help when
they need it.”
Needless to say, members of the orchestra, audience, and community
were concerned. “I’d like to thank the orchestra
for being so understanding towards me. They understood and were
very supportive. Many of the musicians have phoned and kept track
of my progress. It’s nice to know that they are concerned
about what’s happened. And the public too. They have been
very supportive. They all wish me to get well and that’s what
I’m doing. It’s hard to put an old guy like me down.”
Maestro Marlin Wolfe made a remarkable recovery, and in 2008 stepped down as artistic director. He remains as Conductor Laureate of the Vancouver Island Symphony. Meanwhile he has left a legacy in what has become one of BC's exceptional professional regional orchestras. The baton has now been handed over to Pierre Simard. For more information visit the
Vancouver Island Symphony's web site.
Follow the link to read recent (2007-8) articles on Marlin Wolfe, conductor and gourmet cook.
Note: There are many more articles on this site.
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of Articles.
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