A fine concert by the Minnesota Orchestra Friday evening, March 27. First, we were treated to an excellent performance of Franz Liszt’s Concerto No. 2 in A major. William Wolfram was the pianist.
He’s a great stylist and his authority and flexibility were amply displayed handling a piece with a wide range of emotions.
Andrew Litton conducted one of Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphonies, Number 11 in G Minor, designated Opus 103. It’s sometimes called “The Year 1905.” The conductor gave an example-punctuated explanation of the themes and structure of the piece just prior to its full and eminently capable rendition by the orchestra. There are several folk songs layered into the piece, musical themes that would be instantly recognized by the Russian people. The piece, played in one continuous movement, has interesting political baggage.
He wrote it in 1957 to memorialize a bloody massacre in St. Petersburg in the winter of 1905. A peaceful protest by Russian Peasants was torn asunder by Cossack troops. The massacre laid the foundation for the 1917 revolution which led to the overthrow of the rule of the Czar and the brief establishment of a representative democracy and the rise of what the world called Communism in Russia.
The symphony is cinematic in approach and it’s easy to “see” the scenes of unarmed peaceful protesters approaching the palace square, the alarm and the murder of hundreds of people who had gathered simply to plead with the Czar for help from starvation. The symphony was produced in 1957, the year that the USSR launched their Sputnik satellite.
The symphony has not had frequent performances in the US due in part to our perceptions of the Communist threat, to Democracy. Yet there are scholars who believe that Shostakovich was doing more than memorializing the 1905 massacre. 1957 was the year the Soviet tank battalions crushed the abortive Hungarian revolution, and many feel the composer was sending a message of chastisement over that brutal parallel.
In any case, the music is rousing, quiet, lamenting and highly emotionally evocative by turns, full of dynamic images. Not the symphony one would want to frequently hear, but like important historical events, something to be repeated from time to time and savored, both for its implied messages and for the richness of the experience. The orchestra was in full voice, responding as did the audience, to the power of the piece. Nearly every section is required to introduce or develop themes and they all responded to the challenge. It was a thrilling climax to a well-designed evening of music.
Showing posts with label classical music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classical music. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
MUSIC AND AIG
Music In The Park continued its fine chamber series Sunday, March 23, with a concert by the Chiara String Quartet. The quartet, currently in residence in Lincoln Nebraska, is made up of Rebecca Fischer, Julie Yoon, Jonah Sirota and Gregory Beaver.
Juilliard trained, the quartet performed works by Mozart, Pierre Jalbert and Erich Korngold. Jalbert’s “Icefield Sonnets,” was inspired by the poetry of Andrew Hawley. He was present and read his work before each of the three performed sonnets.
Korngold, raised in the Viennese school just prior to the Second World War, escaped to Los Angeles where he became an important composer of film scores.
The quartet is known for playing chamber music in any chamber has performed in jazz clubs, bars, galleries, churches and other locations not known for offering chamber music concerts. A most interesting afternoon of small group music.
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I just read an interesting piece from the Washington Post about what's really going on at AIG in the dastardly Financial Services division in particular. If true, it's ample evidence why we and the Congress ought to get off their backs. The article also demonstrates that several higher-level executives of AIG were either incompetent or paying no attention to what was happening in the company. It also shows that the current CEO needs some lessons in public diplomacy, what we commonly call Public Relations.
Personally, I think AIG ought to outsource fixing of its problems to a good CPA firm. I can recommend a couple, right here in Minnesota!
Juilliard trained, the quartet performed works by Mozart, Pierre Jalbert and Erich Korngold. Jalbert’s “Icefield Sonnets,” was inspired by the poetry of Andrew Hawley. He was present and read his work before each of the three performed sonnets.
Korngold, raised in the Viennese school just prior to the Second World War, escaped to Los Angeles where he became an important composer of film scores.
The quartet is known for playing chamber music in any chamber has performed in jazz clubs, bars, galleries, churches and other locations not known for offering chamber music concerts. A most interesting afternoon of small group music.
------
I just read an interesting piece from the Washington Post about what's really going on at AIG in the dastardly Financial Services division in particular. If true, it's ample evidence why we and the Congress ought to get off their backs. The article also demonstrates that several higher-level executives of AIG were either incompetent or paying no attention to what was happening in the company. It also shows that the current CEO needs some lessons in public diplomacy, what we commonly call Public Relations.
Personally, I think AIG ought to outsource fixing of its problems to a good CPA firm. I can recommend a couple, right here in Minnesota!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
THOUGHTS WHILE SOAKING
In my hot tub and watching through the plants and windows as snow comes down thickly on the white lawn .
I wonder how much the current economy will affect the growth of electronic publishing and perhaps energize a move to more activity in this area. The development of the Kindle and the Sony Reader in particular have clearly made a recent difference. But the cost of the reader still is a problem for lots of potential readers. Since the tendency is to add bells and whistles to these devices, I’m not sure we’ll see a substantial reduction in price anytime soon.
Many interesting visual images of yesterday’s Inauguration. For me one of the most intriguing was when Senator Feinstein was introducing President Obama for his address. Behind her, on the left, appeared just the head of the new president. He was looking directly at the outgoing President, George Bush. Just the head of President Bush appeared on the right side of the screen. The two men looked intently into each others faces and were apparently shaking hands although you couldn’t see that. It was only for an instant and then both heads disappeared.
I had the great privilege the other night of hearing the Minnesota Orchestra in a concert of Leonard Bernstein’s serious compositions. All interesting, energetic, fun to hear. Two of the five pieces included a solo by a leading member of the orchestra, Adam Kuenzel, flute and Bert Hara, clarinet. Excellent music., The last piece, titled “Lamentation” was sung by mezzo, Susanne Mentzer. It’s from Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1. I mention this because I was very impressed by the demeanor of the soloist. Ms. Mentzer has a wonderful voice, but she is required to sit through a long passage prior to singing. That seems to be a problem for some soloists with orchestras. They fidget, they shift, they cause small distractions. Ms. Mentzer sat quietly, hands in her lap and slowly surveyed the hall before her. She appeared to be a performer gradually sinking herself into the role, mentally and physically donning the sad robes of an observer of the loss of Jerusalem.
I recently completed Sean Chercover’s second novel, “Trigger City.” Ray Dugeon is an interesting Chicago PI. The plot is fascinating, well thought out and it moves steadily at a useful pace. There are some problems and I wish the author would figure out a better way for his character to decide to reconnect with his sometime lover Julie.
I wonder how much the current economy will affect the growth of electronic publishing and perhaps energize a move to more activity in this area. The development of the Kindle and the Sony Reader in particular have clearly made a recent difference. But the cost of the reader still is a problem for lots of potential readers. Since the tendency is to add bells and whistles to these devices, I’m not sure we’ll see a substantial reduction in price anytime soon.
Many interesting visual images of yesterday’s Inauguration. For me one of the most intriguing was when Senator Feinstein was introducing President Obama for his address. Behind her, on the left, appeared just the head of the new president. He was looking directly at the outgoing President, George Bush. Just the head of President Bush appeared on the right side of the screen. The two men looked intently into each others faces and were apparently shaking hands although you couldn’t see that. It was only for an instant and then both heads disappeared.
I had the great privilege the other night of hearing the Minnesota Orchestra in a concert of Leonard Bernstein’s serious compositions. All interesting, energetic, fun to hear. Two of the five pieces included a solo by a leading member of the orchestra, Adam Kuenzel, flute and Bert Hara, clarinet. Excellent music., The last piece, titled “Lamentation” was sung by mezzo, Susanne Mentzer. It’s from Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1. I mention this because I was very impressed by the demeanor of the soloist. Ms. Mentzer has a wonderful voice, but she is required to sit through a long passage prior to singing. That seems to be a problem for some soloists with orchestras. They fidget, they shift, they cause small distractions. Ms. Mentzer sat quietly, hands in her lap and slowly surveyed the hall before her. She appeared to be a performer gradually sinking herself into the role, mentally and physically donning the sad robes of an observer of the loss of Jerusalem.
I recently completed Sean Chercover’s second novel, “Trigger City.” Ray Dugeon is an interesting Chicago PI. The plot is fascinating, well thought out and it moves steadily at a useful pace. There are some problems and I wish the author would figure out a better way for his character to decide to reconnect with his sometime lover Julie.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
THIS AND THAT
Classical music never fails to amaze me. Recently my wife and I attended a Minnesota Orchestra concert which featured percussionist Colin Currie. That's right, a percussionist, as in drums, gongs, and so on. The piece, by Jennifer Higdon, a young American composer, is called Percussion Concerto. It is dedicated to Currie. During the 24 minute piece the orchestra used crotales, Chinese suspended cymbal, a thin suspended cymbal, bass and snare drums, low bongo, guiro,marimba, rute, large tam-tam, temple blocks.
Currie, with his instrumdents arrayed across the front of the stage, used bongos, bowl, castanet, clave, cowbell, crotales, the Chinese suspended gong, brake drum and snares, Peking Opera gong, marimba, temple blocks, timbales, tom-toms, vibraphone and woodblocks.
Far out! It was an amazing piece. Take it in if it comes to your neck of the woods.
Harper Collins has apparently gone silent for the time on its venture into reshaping the business model of publishing. You remember--no big advances, shared royalties, greater emphasis on Internet sales, few automatic returns from bookstores. Good for H/C. Instead of publically documenting every step and possible misstep, get it started and then announce the gains.
The Minnesota Crime Wave has started a cable television program. With three hosts, Ellen Hart, Kent Krueger, and Carl Brookins, the half-hour programs feature lively discussion of all sorts of topics around publishing and mystery fiction. Each program also incudes a guest, often an author, but not always. Gary Schulze, co-owner of Once Upon A Crime independent mystery bookstore in Minneapolis, author/comedian Lorna Landvik, and National Book Award winner Pete Hautman, have appeared. The program is cablecast weekly to residents in ten northern suburbs of the Tin Cities and segments are available at the MCW website.
Krueger will have a new book, latest entry in his Cork O'Connor series, RED KNIFE, out later this year, and Brookins' second PI novel, THE CASE OF THE DECEIVING DON, is scheduled for release in August.
More, deponeth sayeth not
Currie, with his instrumdents arrayed across the front of the stage, used bongos, bowl, castanet, clave, cowbell, crotales, the Chinese suspended gong, brake drum and snares, Peking Opera gong, marimba, temple blocks, timbales, tom-toms, vibraphone and woodblocks.
Far out! It was an amazing piece. Take it in if it comes to your neck of the woods.
Harper Collins has apparently gone silent for the time on its venture into reshaping the business model of publishing. You remember--no big advances, shared royalties, greater emphasis on Internet sales, few automatic returns from bookstores. Good for H/C. Instead of publically documenting every step and possible misstep, get it started and then announce the gains.
The Minnesota Crime Wave has started a cable television program. With three hosts, Ellen Hart, Kent Krueger, and Carl Brookins, the half-hour programs feature lively discussion of all sorts of topics around publishing and mystery fiction. Each program also incudes a guest, often an author, but not always. Gary Schulze, co-owner of Once Upon A Crime independent mystery bookstore in Minneapolis, author/comedian Lorna Landvik, and National Book Award winner Pete Hautman, have appeared. The program is cablecast weekly to residents in ten northern suburbs of the Tin Cities and segments are available at the MCW website.
Krueger will have a new book, latest entry in his Cork O'Connor series, RED KNIFE, out later this year, and Brookins' second PI novel, THE CASE OF THE DECEIVING DON, is scheduled for release in August.
More, deponeth sayeth not
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