Symphony bassist Label prepares to lay down bow

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Tonight, at a special gala dinner at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is recognizing one of its own. Double bass player Stan Label is hanging up his bow after 43 years. The familiar jovial face at the far right of the Centennial Concert Hall stage will finish his orchestral career at the end of this season.

What many people may not know, however, is that this long musical career almost never happened.

"In my first year with the WSO, I developed a hernia," Label said during an interview at a local coffee shop. "My doctor wanted to operate, but I said 'we're really busy right now. Let's wait until the end of the orchestra season.' That year was a short season and we finished in late April. I had the surgery but had a severe reaction to the general anesthetic."

At 24, Label nearly died.

"I was in intensive care for two weeks," he said. "My temperature went up to 108�F. I was as close to death as you could get. The prognosis at the time was that I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life with brain damage."

But Label survived and returned to the orchestra. The incident left him with atrophy in his legs. "My legs are not great," he says. "I'm no athlete; I'm just glad to be here."

This attitude and spirit still burns strongly in this very amiable individual, who, at 66, has many fond memories of his time with the WSO. "It's a wonderful orchestra, better than a city this size would normally have. They really enjoy playing music."

Originally from Montreal, Label started as a trumpet player at McGill University. His parents wanted him to have a fall-back career, so he went into music education. Students had to learn all the instruments. When it came to the strings, Label chose the bass, which is the foundation of the whole orchestra, he says. Just six months later, Alexander Brott asked Label to join the school orchestra and the rest is history.

Label started as a "regular bass player," the same year George Cleve became the WSO's conductor. "George really wanted the big stuff. We had some really big soloists in the early years." By his second year, Label was promoted to second chair, where he remained until this season.

"The biggest event was when we went to Carnegie Hall in 1979," he said. "That was with (conductor Piero) Gamba and a whole slew of big-time soloists. The orchestra was on a real high. "

Performances of particular works stand out in Label's mind, including playing Shostakovich's Symphony No. 15 under Russian conductor Kyrill Kondrashin. "He could hardly speak English," said Label," but he absolutely made himself understood. Conductors have to have many skills. They need personality and credibility and they have to tell the musicians something they don't know. We want to be stimulated."

Label was referring to the fact that works in the traditional orchestral repertoire have been played (and heard) thousands of times. Bringing something new, fresh, and innovative in the form of interpretation, colour and life to oft-played works can be a challenge.

"Mahler's second (symphony) with (Kazuhiro) Koizumi was really wonderful," Label said. "So was playing the Brahms' German Requiem under Robert Shaw. Some of the things he said still resonate today."

But Label reserved his highest praise and sentiment for Andrey Boreyko. "You don't find that anywhere. It's like a love affair between him and the orchestra. That was our highest point artistically. Boreyko felt that the orchestra was flexible, open to take in whatever he had to say."

He also cites one of the WSO's annual signature events as a highlight. "The energy of the New Music Festival, especially when it started was a big thing."

Yet, "I worry for orchestras in the future. People need to cherish our orchestra because lots are going under. It's important for the community. The WSO provides the oxygen for music and arts in the city."

Label looks forward to playing just for himself. He hasn't scripted his retirement, but instead plans to take things as they come. "I think I'll just do nothing for a bit," he said contentedly. "I'll spend more time with my family, my grandkids, maybe travel a little. I had a great time, a good kick at the can."

We'll all miss that friendly face by the wings.

Tonight's event includes a reception, silent auction, dinner, performances and awards. Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes will receive the Golden Baton and WSO violinist Kathryn Sigsworth will receive career recognition along with Label.

gwenda.nemerofsky@shaw.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 28, 2011 D4