A Night At The Symphony
A few months ago, Lisa invited me to join her at the opening gala concert to celebrate Leonard Slatkin's 60th birthday. The lineup included Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Midori, Elmar Olveira, Sir James Galway, Emanuel Ax, Michel Camilo, Joseph Kalichstein, Jeffrey Siegel, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and last but certainly not at all least, Peter Schikele.
The concert included a World Premiere from PDQ Bach called eine kleine Kiddiemusik (Schikele Number One Potato Two Potato Three Potato Four), a Vivaldi concerto for Four Violins (Perlman, Bell, Midori and Olveira), some Mancini (starring Galway on Ilian Pipe and Flute) as well as the finisher: Camille Saint-Saëns' Symphony, with four hands of piano, Organ, and a massive Orchestra. Amazing.
The PDQ Bach Premiere (for it is true that he is the only dead composer that you may still commission) was also quite incredible, with instruments running from a basketball to plastic tubing and back, by way of a stuffed pig, a squeak toy and one of those kiddie xylophones. Slatkin, Katie Labèque, and Schikele himself were masterful.
The most incredible moment, however, was Michel Camilo's Tropical Jam in which it appeared that his hands were a blur above the keyboard, following a calypso jazz tune through octave after octave, an amazing mélange of both classical work and jazz improvisation. Truly a wonderful event.
Going to events like these make me want to join the Kennedy Center's Members' Association. Perhaps that's something I'll get to this year!.
The Washington Post has now posted its review. It truly is amazing that someone gets paid to be so damn snarky.
Comments:
Sheesh - sweet lineup. How's Galway's flute these days?
Posted by Joseph J. Finn on September 27, 2004 — 12:55 AM
Wow, what a show! I think I can smack myself over the head with a plastic tube with the best of them, so I shall start my world tour soon. A washboard, jug, and some CheerStix will take us back to simpler times.
Posted by Niall Kennedy on September 27, 2004 — 12:33 PM
Galway's fluter is still extraordinary. and definitely, Niall, I think CheerStix so would have helped the piece.
Posted by Tom Bridge on September 27, 2004 — 1:11 PM