Musician Stories

The Classical Tahoe Orchestra roster draws principal players from the Metropolitan Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and more. These are musicians at the top of their field, choosing to spend their summer in Tahoe with us. And some of these musicians have been with Classical Tahoe since the very beginning, including principal violist, Désireé Elsevier.

IN HER OWN WORDS

Désireé shared with us how performing at Classical Tahoe has impacted her life and career over the past 15 years

“Gosh! Has it been fifteen years of Classical Tahoe?  I have made some lifelong friends from the audience. These people with whom I connected, who I see in other cities when I’m traveling, and who I write with and talk with on the phone all year long, have influenced my life path in no small way.

“A few special memories come to mind: When a donor who bid in the Gala auction to conduct the national anthem, Joel was at the piano and couldn’t help them with the conductor movements. I stepped in to help and that person is now one of my dearest friends; A woman I noticed speaking Italian (I lived in Italy a long time ago) became another lifelong friend when  we connected over our love of our children and of the outdoors; And finally, a vintage car door closing in the parking lot after a concert caught my ear (I had an old car too) and those dedicated concertgoers have become friends I speak to all year long. There are more stories like these, and three weeks of Classical Tahoe is almost never enough to catch up with everyone!”

“Being as how most of my career was spent at the Metropolitan Opera, Classical Tahoe’s programming has allowed me to expand my repertoire into the symphonic realm. Getting a chance to play some of the great literature of the classical world is sort of like getting to ski all the great mountains in the world!

“Finally, I have expanded physically.  Before coming to Tahoe, I had not in any significant way done any hiking at altitude. I’m stronger, more confident in nature and I look forward to it every summer. I prepare, I know the terrain, and I feel SO privileged to have this experience! I am not the same person I was fifteen years ago, due in large part to the opportunity that I have been given to come to Classical Tahoe – the performing, the people and the nature.  

ABOUT DÉSIREÉ

Désireé Elsevier, Principal Viola, has been with Classical Tahoe since 2012. A former member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, she now performs regularly with the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Opera, and has appeared with ensembles across the U.S. and Europe, including international concerts with the World Orchestra for Peace.

Désirée Elsevier is generously sponsored by Steven Goldby and Anita Weissberg.