The Symphony Tonight
Went to the Symphony tonight (scored cheap season tickets) and sat in the fourth row. The thing that always strikes me about going to the symphony is really being able to hear everything, no matter how subtle, that is going on. Recorded music: everything comes from one speaker or the other, making it hard to hear the full range of what is happening musically.
As is now becoming the common thing, the evening started with a drum roll. The orchestra then launches into The Star Spangled Banner, and everyone stands.
First on the concert: the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Gee, what's not to like about that? I can't image anyone my age hearing that and NOT thinking of Mickey Mouse in Fantasia. An amusing moment: the visual of all the bows of the violins going frantically while the theme representing the reassembled and multiplied brooms is played. They looked just like those broomsticks carrying water en masse.
Next was the Ravel Concerto for Left Hand. There is a small repertoire of music for left hand, almost all of it commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, who commission them after losing an arm in the First World War.
Finally, two Debussy pieces: Afternoon of a Faun and La Mer Performances of these was very good. Most memorable thing about La Mer was when the Conductor got so carried away that his loosely held baton went flying from his fingers, nearly impaling a 2nd violinist.
Who says the Symphony is dull??
As is now becoming the common thing, the evening started with a drum roll. The orchestra then launches into The Star Spangled Banner, and everyone stands.
First on the concert: the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Gee, what's not to like about that? I can't image anyone my age hearing that and NOT thinking of Mickey Mouse in Fantasia. An amusing moment: the visual of all the bows of the violins going frantically while the theme representing the reassembled and multiplied brooms is played. They looked just like those broomsticks carrying water en masse.
Next was the Ravel Concerto for Left Hand. There is a small repertoire of music for left hand, almost all of it commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, who commission them after losing an arm in the First World War.
Finally, two Debussy pieces: Afternoon of a Faun and La Mer Performances of these was very good. Most memorable thing about La Mer was when the Conductor got so carried away that his loosely held baton went flying from his fingers, nearly impaling a 2nd violinist.
Who says the Symphony is dull??
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