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Article: Leblanc clarinets: new Met opera orchestra principal uses Opus model. (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra lead clarinetist Ricardo Morales) (Industry Forefront)
- Article from:
- Music Trades
- Article date:
- August 1, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Music Trades Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Ricardo Morales, a 21-year-old clarinet phenomenon and Leblanc endorser, has won the prestigious principal clarinet position in the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. More than 300 musicians, from as far away as Russia and the Orient, applied for the position. Blind auditions were held in March.
Morales plays the Opus model clarinet, flagship of Leblanc's professional line. When asked if his instrument had anything to do with winning the position, he replied, "Auditioning for a major orchestra is stressful enough without having to worry about whether or not your clarinet is going to give you difficulties. The Opus, of course, gave me none at all, and I was able ...