Almost Tuba / Almost Trombone ...

Ed's rapt, even if Giuseppe wasn't Verdi impressed
Local News1 Oct 10 @ 11:07am by Kat Adamski
Playing from Batavia, NY to Australia
ED DIEFES is not offended that his favourite instrument, the tuba, was not popular with Verdi.

It is because of Giuseppe Verdi, one of the most influential composers of the 19th century, that Diefes is playing the cimbasso, a cross between a tuba and a trombone.

“Verdi did not like the sound of the tuba so he started writing the cimbasso into the score,” Diefes, of Chatswood, said.

“It has more of a trombone sound and plays very differently to the tuba, so it’s a big learning curve.”

As the newly-appointed principal tubist of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Diefes will play the cimbasso in Opera Australia’s Der Rosenkavalier from today until October 30.

He moved from upstate New York with his family to take up the role and is excited about the challenges ahead.

“My father repaired instruments so I got to see everything, growing up,” Diefes, 41, said. “I thought the tuba was the best, biggest and shiniest, but I wasn’t big enough to hold it so I started with the baritone, which is a mini tuba.”

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Diefes also attended New York’s Juilliard School and was principal tubist with Syracuse Symphony Orchestra before moving to Australia.

The cimbasso is played like a trombone but has valves and fingering like a tuba.

“It’s expanding my horizons and now I have to get a trombone sound in my head,” Diefes said. “It’s fun to learn the ins and outs of a new instrument, and you could peel paint with this thing if you wanted to.

“It is also a great opportunity to live in another country and for my kids to get a taste of the North Shore.”

With conductor Andrew Litton, performances of Der Rosenkavalier will be held on October 1, 5, 8, 13, 19, 22, 26 and 30 at 7pm. Tickets $65-$297. Bookings: 9318 8200 or at opera-australia.org.au.