What concerts are you looking forward to? (Part II)

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh, excellent. Normally this kind of program wouldn't excite me much, but Kavakos was quite amazing in the Tchaikovsky. He has such a relaxed bow arm, which seemed to help navigate all the frenzied short notes, and Muti and the orchestra sounded in their element.

In Pictures, Muti characterized each section distinctly, and to help, made the most of pauses in between them: total silence, helped by a silent audience, too, without the coughing and fidgeting that sometimes occur. It's a piece that is taken for granted by a lot of performers (and some of us listeners), but last night reminded me of why it is popular. Gorgeous winds, saxophone, clanking percussion—all most enjoyable.

I said to my friend afterward, this makes me want to move to *Chicago.

-Bruce

   Thanks for the review!

*Dying to try the barbecue!

PD

[brewski]

   Thanks for the review!

*Dying to try the barbecue!

PD

That would be one of many excellent reasons to be there! (Others: the Art Institute, some great pizza, Chicago Lyric Opera, and tons of massive architectural treasures)

-Bruce

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That would be one of many excellent reasons to be there! (Others: the Art Institute, some great pizza, Chicago Lyric Opera, and tons of massive architectural treasures)

-Bruce

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? 

PD

[Brian]

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? 

PD

I won't answer for Bruce but I am! I'm also a fan of Chicago's other pizza style, super thin crust "tavern pizza" that's cut into squares.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I won't answer for Bruce but I am! I'm also a fan of Chicago's other pizza style, super thin crust "tavern pizza" that's cut into squares.

I hadn't experienced it (the deep dish) growing up, but then tried it...tasty, but very different.  Also, ate pineapple and ham pizza for the first time then too.

Haven't eaten tavern pizza before.

PD

[Brian]

Tavern pizza is so thin it's basically a giant cracker. They roll the dough and leave it in the fridge overnight to dry out, so they can put a bunch of toppings on but it still stays crispy and crackery. It's definitely fun to try if you're in Chicago or Milwaukee.

Actually I have a musical "performance" story about tavern thin pizza! In May, we went to Milwaukee on vacation and a friend told us we had the pizza at Zaffiro's. It's a super old-school place from the 40s or 50s. If you use the bathroom, the sink is in the bar so the bartender can make sure you wash your hands. There's a jukebox by the door...super classic looking. As we're finishing our pizza, these two old men sit down at the table behind me. One of them is a normal older gentleman but the other is really something strange - got a weird voice, has a face like life has been very difficult for him. He starts telling stories about being put in various care homes as a child...he complains that there's no music. The way they order their pizza is to tell the waitress, "We're here for a good deal. You got any deals? Any specials?"

Anyway. The first guy gets up and uses the bathroom and comes back to yell at the older, rather disreputable looking man. "Hey! I put some quarters in the jukebox! You gotta pick your song!" So the weirder man gets up, goes to the bar, then they come back. And THIS song starts playing. LOUD. In the month of May.

At that moment all heck broke loose. We got up to leave. Another table got up too and went to the bar to complain. Another table I heard yelling "Why did he choose this??" Every cook in the kitchen came running out, as if there was some kind of fire they were escaping. The bartender jumped clear over the bar, Olympics-style, ran to the jukebox, and yelled "How do you turn this f*%#ing thing off??" And that's when we stepped out the door and doubled over laughing on the sidewalk. What a prank(?)!

[Florestan]

Tavern pizza is so thin it's basically a giant cracker. They roll the dough and leave it in the fridge overnight to dry out, so they can put a bunch of toppings on but it still stays crispy and crackery. It's definitely fun to try if you're in Chicago or Milwaukee.

Actually I have a musical "performance" story about tavern thin pizza! In May, we went to Milwaukee on vacation and a friend told us we had the pizza at Zaffiro's. It's a super old-school place from the 40s or 50s. If you use the bathroom, the sink is in the bar so the bartender can make sure you wash your hands. There's a jukebox by the door...super classic looking. As we're finishing our pizza, these two old men sit down at the table behind me. One of them is a normal older gentleman but the other is really something strange - got a weird voice, has a face like life has been very difficult for him. He starts telling stories about being put in various care homes as a child...he complains that there's no music. The way they order their pizza is to tell the waitress, "We're here for a good deal. You got any deals? Any specials?"

Anyway. The first guy gets up and uses the bathroom and comes back to yell at the older, rather disreputable looking man. "Hey! I put some quarters in the jukebox! You gotta pick your song!" So the weirder man gets up, goes to the bar, then they come back. And THIS song starts playing. LOUD. In the month of May.

At that moment all heck broke loose. We got up to leave. Another table got up too and went to the bar to complain. Another table I heard yelling "Why did he choose this??" Every cook in the kitchen came running out, as if there was some kind of fire they were escaping. The bartender jumped clear over the bar, Olympics-style, ran to the jukebox, and yelled "How do you turn this f*%#ing thing off??" And that's when we stepped out the door and doubled over laughing on the sidewalk. What a prank(?)!

How is that any different from GMGers listening to Bach's Christmas music during summer or to Matthaeus-Passion in autumn?

[brewski]

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? 

PD

Sure! I mean, lots of ways to do pizza and most are delicious. (I won't opine further, at the risk of going completely off-topic.)

Still laughing at Brian's story, though. Believe it or not, I had never heard of Lou Monte, never mind that song.

-Bruce

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Tavern pizza is so thin it's basically a giant cracker. They roll the dough and leave it in the fridge overnight to dry out, so they can put a bunch of toppings on but it still stays crispy and crackery. It's definitely fun to try if you're in Chicago or Milwaukee.

Actually I have a musical "performance" story about tavern thin pizza! In May, we went to Milwaukee on vacation and a friend told us we had the pizza at Zaffiro's. It's a super old-school place from the 40s or 50s. If you use the bathroom, the sink is in the bar so the bartender can make sure you wash your hands. There's a jukebox by the door...super classic looking. As we're finishing our pizza, these two old men sit down at the table behind me. One of them is a normal older gentleman but the other is really something strange - got a weird voice, has a face like life has been very difficult for him. He starts telling stories about being put in various care homes as a child...he complains that there's no music. The way they order their pizza is to tell the waitress, "We're here for a good deal. You got any deals? Any specials?"

Anyway. The first guy gets up and uses the bathroom and comes back to yell at the older, rather disreputable looking man. "Hey! I put some quarters in the jukebox! You gotta pick your song!" So the weirder man gets up, goes to the bar, then they come back. And THIS song starts playing. LOUD. In the month of May.

At that moment all heck broke loose. We got up to leave. Another table got up too and went to the bar to complain. Another table I heard yelling "Why did he choose this??" Every cook in the kitchen came running out, as if there was some kind of fire they were escaping. The bartender jumped clear over the bar, Olympics-style, ran to the jukebox, and yelled "How do you turn this f*%#ing thing off??" And that's when we stepped out the door and doubled over laughing on the sidewalk. What a prank(?)!

Hey, their money, their song.  Maybe it's something that he heard as a child that comforted him?

PD

[Florestan]

Hey, their money, their song.  Maybe it's something that he heard as a child that comforted him?

My thoughts exactly.

[DavidW]

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? 

PD

Chicago deep dish is more of a sloppy casserole than a pizza!

[Ganondorf]

Bought tickets recently to Finnish National Opera's spring season's Götterdämmerung and Simon Boccanegra. Boccanegra I actually have never seen live and it's one of my favorite Verdi operas! The entire Finnish-made RING-production has so far been superb so I am super hyped for the last part. There's also Dialogues des Carmélites which I'd like to see but I think I'm gonna try to save some money for it first because I've spent so ridiculously much in this month alone!   

[DavidW]

The concert I attended this evening was swell.  Local orchestra played Saint Saens Danse Macabre, Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1 and Brahms 2nd symphony.  I missed live music!

[Florestan]

Not exactly a concert .

Johann Strauss II - The Gypsy Baron

Next Sunday, the National Operetta and Musical Theatre, Bucharest

[brewski]

Next week, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society goes into high gear with the first two concerts of its dense season (about 50 concerts).

Oct. 18
Sphinx Virtuosi
Xavier Foley, bass

Blache: Habari Gani*
Farias: Abran Paso*
Hailstork: Dona Nobis Pacem and Exultate from Sonata da Chiesa
Casarrubios: Herencia*
Foley: Concertante for Two Double Basses and String Orchestra, "Galaxy"*
Perkinson: Sinfonietta No. 2, Generations

*new work for Sphinx Virtuosi

Oct. 20
Belcea Quartet

Beethoven: Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4
Bartók: Quartet No. 1
Debussy: Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10

-Bruce

[DavidW]

I bought a ticket for the SC Philharmonic performing a night of Rachmaninov: 4th PC and the 3rd symphony.  It will be in November.  I'm not driving such a long way (it is in Columbia) but why not?  After that the 3rd PC will be the only one that I haven't heard live.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Tonight: Alina Ibragimova and Boris Giltburg play sonatas by Prokofiev and Ravel.

I have two of the three CDs of Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien playing Beethoven's violin sonatas and have enjoyed them.  Not familiar with Giltburg's performances.  Have you heard any recordings of his?

PD

[brewski]

At the last minute, snagged a ticket to this afternoon with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Matsukawa is the ensemble's principal bassoonist. I don't know the Berio at all.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Daniel Matsukawa, Bassoon

Berio Four Original Versions of Luigi Boccherini's The Night Retreat of Madrid
Assad Terra, concerto for bassoon and orchestra (world premiere—Philadelphia Orchestra commission)
Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

-Bruce

[Brian]

The Berio is very short and very repetitive but I love it! It's a good little appetizer.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

At the last minute, snagged a ticket to this afternoon with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Matsukawa is the ensemble's principal bassoonist. I don't know the Berio at all.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Daniel Matsukawa, Bassoon

Berio Four Original Versions of Luigi Boccherini's The Night Retreat of Madrid
Assad Terra, concerto for bassoon and orchestra (world premiere—Philadelphia Orchestra commission)
Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

-Bruce

I'll be interested to read what you think of the Assad piece in particular; an unknown composer to me.

PD