The performance was a piece called On the Transmigration of Souls by John Adams (not the president), a very short piece by Mozart, and Beethoven’s 9th symphony. It was at the Phoenix Symphony Hall.
I did not like the first piece.
The second piece was pleasant but too short to say much about, really.
The 3rd piece was my favorite symphony and I’ve wanted to see it live for years. I was delighted to finally get the chance. I have some questions and a little critique but it’s late and I’m still soaking it all in, and I might have totally different feelings after sleeping on it all. I’ll write more tomorrow.
Overall it was a wonderful experience and I’d like to do it again sometime.
We got season’s tickets for the Philharmonic this year and the first concert is tonight - I can’t wait, I used to go to concerts all the time in college but haven’t been to one in years.
It was really great - we’re lucky to have such a fantastic philharmonic, and anybody who hears “South Carolina Philharmonic” and snickers can take my boot up their ass.
The program was kind of a “learn about the different parts of the orchestra” thing - after the first piece, they shuffled players around to make several different ensembles until the symphony at the end. Very interesting. We have a new very energetic conductor who’s really trying to shake things up, and I guess it’s working since the place was pretty much packed, which is nice to see.
* Rossini: Overture to La gazza ladra
* Dukas: Fanfare to La Péri
* R. Strauss: Serenade in E-flat Major, op. 7
* Wojciech Kilar: Orawa
* Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, op. 98
I wasn’t looking forward to the Brahms, because I just don’t like the guy, but I confess I enjoyed it very much. I wasn’t familiar with his symphonies and may have to listen to them now.
At the beginning he came out and conducted the audience in singing the national anthem - something tells me that would be very weird to people from other countries. It reminded me of the last time I’d been to the Philharmonic, which was the Saturday after 9/11. Instead of whatever they had planned for the opener, they did “Fanfare for the Common Man”, which I found very moving, much more than if it had been a more traditional patriotic song. I think about that every time I hear that song now.
It reminded me of the last time I’d been to the Philharmonic, which was the Saturday after 9/11. Instead of whatever they had planned for the opener, they did “Fanfare for the Common Man”, which I found very moving, much more than if it had been a more traditional patriotic song. I think about that every time I hear that song now.