Sigh....there will be no Mahler tour for 09-10. To say that next season is cruddy is a bit of an understatement. Here's how bad it is: I'm not even going to write out (right now, at least) who is playing what. It's just too depressing.
Granted, not every orchestra has released their season announcements, but over the past two weeks or so, as I've been compiling my list, I said to myself, "I need not worry. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will save me, and come to my Mahler rescue!" WRONG. They are doing 4 and 5 next year, and that's IT. Ugh.
Rumor has it that the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is actually doing Mahler next year---that is truly shocking. I hear it's gonna be Mahler 2, but I don't have anything concrete on it yet.
When all the major orchestras announce their seasons, I'll put up a list. Until then--warning, nerd alert--I've got an Excel spreadsheet listing who is playing what symphony, on what day, and with what conductor. I'm filling it in as I see the announcements.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A far cooler Incandela
I'd like to think of myself as cool. (I'm probably kidding myself, I know). There is a far cooler Incandela out there though--actually MANY more cooler Inc's than myself, including my brother.
He recently gave a great interview to a local blog, On the Cusp, which you can find here. All you fans of new media, people who work in new media, or people who work for or run a company that has an interest in or uses new media and everything related to that should DEFINITELY check it out.
And calling all AirTran passengers---click here. Yep, my bro is in an in-flight magazine. AWESOME.
Should I ever become cool enough for things such as these, I'll let you know. (don't hold your breath)
He recently gave a great interview to a local blog, On the Cusp, which you can find here. All you fans of new media, people who work in new media, or people who work for or run a company that has an interest in or uses new media and everything related to that should DEFINITELY check it out.
And calling all AirTran passengers---click here. Yep, my bro is in an in-flight magazine. AWESOME.
Should I ever become cool enough for things such as these, I'll let you know. (don't hold your breath)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tweet tweet....
I'm on Twitter--I just joined this evening. I always thought Twitter was way cool, but never signed up, since I figured my blog and facebook page are enough for me for right now, as far as updating people on my life and stuff. But guess who inspired me to join?
THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
Yep, they have a Twitter page. I'd LIKE to think that I had something to do with it, but who knows. That's just me and my delusions of grandeur talking....or maybe not? Who knows, and it doesn't really matter. I'm just happy they're on Twitter now.
Anyway, in case you are really bored/have no life/want to know what's going on with me and/or just like following people on Twitter, here I am.
THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
Yep, they have a Twitter page. I'd LIKE to think that I had something to do with it, but who knows. That's just me and my delusions of grandeur talking....or maybe not? Who knows, and it doesn't really matter. I'm just happy they're on Twitter now.
Anyway, in case you are really bored/have no life/want to know what's going on with me and/or just like following people on Twitter, here I am.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
More writings
In case you are just aching to read more of my writing, you have a few places to go!
You can head here, for my latest review at NUVO....
and then, you can head here, for my review of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Concertmaster David Chan. To say that his recital was AMAZING doesn't cut it. It's going to be hard to listen to any violin recitals after his, that's for sure.
Enjoy!
You can head here, for my latest review at NUVO....
and then, you can head here, for my review of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Concertmaster David Chan. To say that his recital was AMAZING doesn't cut it. It's going to be hard to listen to any violin recitals after his, that's for sure.
Enjoy!
Eating my words and loving every bite--my apology to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Rarely am I wrong. I mean, sure, it's happened a handful of times in my life, but it's not a common occurrence. (I sincerely hope you all know that I am joking) When I'm wrong, I hate it--I truly do. Recently however, I have found I was wrong, and I am thrilled to bits about it.
My latest post caused Jessica Di Santo, Director of Communications at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, to reach out to me. In speaking with her, I realized my last post was invalid, obsolete, null, and void.
I'm very happy to say that the ISO is working on a blog, to be launched in the near future. I'm even MORE happy to say that they ARE working on video projects, also to be launched in the near future. I was also reminded that the ISO can be found online at Instant Encore, was even one of the first orchestras on that site. Another project they are working on is the utilization of texting. The orchestra first tried that out at a Happy Hour concert in January, where audience members used their cell phones to vote on a piece the orchestra would play later on in the show, and are looking in to further uses of texting.
Of all the thing to be wrong about, I'm glad I was wrong about this stuff! I'm positively happy to hear of these developments at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I have always privately maintained that when I'm wrong, I will admit it, and so, I'm admitting it: my last post was written in error.
To the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: I offer my apologies. I am sorry for my premature complaint against you, and I hope you will forgive me.
I also hope, ISO---all of you, from musicians to administration, know that quite simply, I love you. Sorry to get all cheesey and warm and fuzzy, but it's true. I love the orchestra, and if you doubt that, please look through my blog posts regarding the orchestra again. Please sit next to me during concerts as I yell out "AWESOME MARIO!" and come with me when I go backstage and tell my musician friends how wonderful the performance was.
If I write a blog that is less than complimentary of the orchestra, please know it is because I expect great things out of the ISO, because the ISO is a great organization. I expect the best out of you all, since you are one of few full time orchestras (what are we down to now? 17 or so?) and you are also the largest performing arts organization in the state. I wouldn't be a good supporter of the orchestra if all my posts or reviews about the orchestra were warm and glowing. A good supporter points out where they want to see improvement, along with things they adore. That's all my friends--I never mean any ill towards you, and I never write out of malevolence. I assure you, my heart is in the right place.
And with that, if anyone was angry with me, I hope that is not the case any longer. I'm sorry for my mistake, and am looking forward to telling everyone about the blog and videos when they appear on the ISO website. (I've been told I'll be notified the minute they are up on the site!)
Kudos to you, ISO, for proving me wrong. Kudos for developing a blog, and working on video content. And last, but certainly not least, kudos to you for having such a Director of Communications, willing to reach out to me in the thoroughly professional manner in which she did. I was and am, very happy to know the concerns in my last post were misplaced and unneeded.
I look forward to telling everyone in the near future all about the new developments at the ISO--keep your eyes peeled, my dear readers!
My latest post caused Jessica Di Santo, Director of Communications at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, to reach out to me. In speaking with her, I realized my last post was invalid, obsolete, null, and void.
I'm very happy to say that the ISO is working on a blog, to be launched in the near future. I'm even MORE happy to say that they ARE working on video projects, also to be launched in the near future. I was also reminded that the ISO can be found online at Instant Encore, was even one of the first orchestras on that site. Another project they are working on is the utilization of texting. The orchestra first tried that out at a Happy Hour concert in January, where audience members used their cell phones to vote on a piece the orchestra would play later on in the show, and are looking in to further uses of texting.
Of all the thing to be wrong about, I'm glad I was wrong about this stuff! I'm positively happy to hear of these developments at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I have always privately maintained that when I'm wrong, I will admit it, and so, I'm admitting it: my last post was written in error.
To the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: I offer my apologies. I am sorry for my premature complaint against you, and I hope you will forgive me.
I also hope, ISO---all of you, from musicians to administration, know that quite simply, I love you. Sorry to get all cheesey and warm and fuzzy, but it's true. I love the orchestra, and if you doubt that, please look through my blog posts regarding the orchestra again. Please sit next to me during concerts as I yell out "AWESOME MARIO!" and come with me when I go backstage and tell my musician friends how wonderful the performance was.
If I write a blog that is less than complimentary of the orchestra, please know it is because I expect great things out of the ISO, because the ISO is a great organization. I expect the best out of you all, since you are one of few full time orchestras (what are we down to now? 17 or so?) and you are also the largest performing arts organization in the state. I wouldn't be a good supporter of the orchestra if all my posts or reviews about the orchestra were warm and glowing. A good supporter points out where they want to see improvement, along with things they adore. That's all my friends--I never mean any ill towards you, and I never write out of malevolence. I assure you, my heart is in the right place.
And with that, if anyone was angry with me, I hope that is not the case any longer. I'm sorry for my mistake, and am looking forward to telling everyone about the blog and videos when they appear on the ISO website. (I've been told I'll be notified the minute they are up on the site!)
Kudos to you, ISO, for proving me wrong. Kudos for developing a blog, and working on video content. And last, but certainly not least, kudos to you for having such a Director of Communications, willing to reach out to me in the thoroughly professional manner in which she did. I was and am, very happy to know the concerns in my last post were misplaced and unneeded.
I look forward to telling everyone in the near future all about the new developments at the ISO--keep your eyes peeled, my dear readers!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Marketing, or lack thereof
While one might argue that an odd program without any major warhorses on it caused a lower turnout at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra this past weekend, I'm not convinced that that is the entire reason for the numerous empty seats. I'm more convinced that it's the ISO's marketing--or lack thereof.
Sure, they have ads in the papers, and they might have even had a radio spot (although I never heard it). Yet nothing in any of these media outlets compels you to see the ISO. Sure, they have a Facebook page, and occasionally give out a pair of tickets through that site. I don't think that the filling of seats, consistently, will happen by giving out tickets via Facebook every so often.
My big question to the ISO Marketing Department is this: why have you left valuable resources untapped? Why, when so many orchestras now have blogs, do you not have one? Why, when orchestras just a few hours drive from here have interesting and engaging YouTube videos, do you not have a YouTube page? Then there's Flickr, Twitter....I could keep going on about social media sites.
Here's the thing that gets me as well: all these things are free! All a blog takes is a good writer, or a few good writers. Each entry doesn't need to be an advertisement for the weekend's concert--instead one could be a funny audition story by one of the musicians, or perhaps an extended bio on a member of the orchestra. YouTube pages are also free. All you need for that is good video equipment, a big computer, and software. It'll run you in to the thousands, but worth it. Think--you could get Mario's insights in to a particular work, or tape a rehearsal to show people that orchestra musicians don't wear tuxes every day.
These ideas are simple---very simplistic, actually, yet you haven't taken up on it. What's the hold up? I remember two years ago having dinner at an awards banquet, and a major member of administration at the ISO was up for an award. At our table were all ISO admin and board members. I said to a major head hancho, not long after being introduced to him, that the ISO needed a blog on their site, and they needed it soon. My reasoning was that blogs are what people are reading these days--people are following blogs daily and that's where they choose to get much of their information, and general enrichment. I can certainly say that with confidence--I read the same blogs everyday because I want to know what is going on with my favorite musicians, orchestras, organizations, charities, etc etc. I want people hooked on an ISO blog, so when a musician talks about what a thrill it is to play on stage with 87 other people, that the reader of the blog wants to go and hear that thrill!
My suggestion of the blog was two years ago, and he was not the first person I'd said it to. I've said it to many others, and am wondering if it will ever happen, if the ISO will ever jump on the social media bandwagon. The FREE social media bandwagon, at that!
YouTube--another simple, free site the ISO isn't taking advantage of. Did you know that I am hooked on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's YouTube page? I love hearing Paavo Jarvi talk about music, and seeing the scenes of him working with the orchestra. There are a few videos that I've watched more than once, as well! Check this out--this is going to shock you, because this realization has shocked me--I have enjoyed their YouTube page so much, (and enjoyed their concerts so much,) that next season, I MIGHT VERY WELL SUBSCRIBE TO THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. I'm not just saying that, either. I truly mean it. I've found myself wanting to hear what Maestro Jarvi has to say about certain pieces, and then wanting to see him in action, to see how he and the orchestra follow through with what he said. All the CSO had to do was shell out some cash for equipment, and now it looks like that next season, they'll have another subscriber, who has NEVER subscribed to ANY orchestra, and this subscriber lives 2.5 hours away!
Let's look closer to home now---forget Cincinnati, forget other orchestras. Let's look here, in Indianapolis, and see what another major arts organization is doing: The Indianapolis Museum of Art. Here's a teaser from this link, that I think you, the reader, and everyone at the ISO Marketing Department should read:
"IMA is one of the smartest American museums when it comes to working with online and social media".
Yes, you read that right. Right here, in lil ol Indianapolis! Tyler Green, the art critic/blogger--I should really write it as THE art critic/blogger said this about the IMA:
"The Indianapolis Museum of Art might be the web-smartest museum in America, and its blog is one of my favorite daily reads. The posts are all over the place, from moaning about the city's lack of an art critic to Julian Opie dancing in snow."
Marketing Department of the ISO---the IMA is about a 10 minute drive from you guys. Why not hang out with the people at the IMA, and see what it is they are doing to attract so much attention, what exactly they have brewing up to get the biggest art critic/blogger in the country heaping them with praises. I mean, what is there to stop you?
Maybe you're thinking about this....maybe it's in the works....I certainly hope so. The thing is, that radio spots and ads in papers won't do it for you guys anymore. Pairs of tickets on Facebook aren't the key either. The key--or rather, keys are social media outlets, and the kind that people are looking at every day, like blogs and YouTube. Those are BASICS in social media as well--along with those, the ISO could easily have, yet again, for next to nothing, a Flickr page. A fun site to see images of the orchestra in action, the musicians during break, the beautiful decorations for the Opening Gala, and all the concert goers enjoying themselves. What about Twitter? How cool would it be to be following the ISO on Twitter and seeing an update like "Working on the world premiere...difficult, yet loving every minute of it!" or something like "Trumpet auditions, day 2. Please help, I can't take much more of this." (I don't think they'd really ever post that, but it'd be hilarious if they did).
Maybe someone would be tempted to tell me "Hey, you don't work in marketing, you don't know how it really is" and then follow up with a list of excuses, limitations, reasons for mediocrity, but you know what my response would be? I'd simply roll my eyes. The ISO is dipping far too much in to its endowment right now, and someone would tell me why they can't invest in some FREE social media outlets that could very well impact ticket sales and/or donations in a very positive way??? Come on! Give me a break!
I don't write this to be a big 'ol meanie---I write it because it broke my heart to see how empty the Hilbert Circle Theater was this weekend, even though we had with us a famous soprano who sings leads at the Met and the Lyric. I am sad for the many, many people that didn't get to hear that wonderful, wonderful concert. I am sad for the musicians on stage, because I know how it feels to look out and see very few people in the audience. It's downright depressing, and there's no other way to put it. Looking out in to a filled hall, however, helps you to step up a notch, and go beyond 100%. You know who else I'm sad for? Mario Venzago. I'm sad for him because of the work he has done with the ISO, and the improvements that he has caused/made. People should be hearing all the work he's doing with the orchestra!
Do I need to add to this list? What is it, ISO Marketing Department, that will get you going? Hey, perhaps you ARE working on stuff like this right now---if so, then God bless you, I wish you the best of luck, and I want you to succeed. Yet I head to the ISO website, and I see no link for a blog...no link to your YouTube page...nothing about a Flickr site, and Twitter might as well be just a noise that a bird makes or something. See what I mean?
So, can I encourage you to get crackin'? There's great music happening on that stage, yet too many empty seats, and those seats are your responsibility to fill.
Sure, they have ads in the papers, and they might have even had a radio spot (although I never heard it). Yet nothing in any of these media outlets compels you to see the ISO. Sure, they have a Facebook page, and occasionally give out a pair of tickets through that site. I don't think that the filling of seats, consistently, will happen by giving out tickets via Facebook every so often.
My big question to the ISO Marketing Department is this: why have you left valuable resources untapped? Why, when so many orchestras now have blogs, do you not have one? Why, when orchestras just a few hours drive from here have interesting and engaging YouTube videos, do you not have a YouTube page? Then there's Flickr, Twitter....I could keep going on about social media sites.
Here's the thing that gets me as well: all these things are free! All a blog takes is a good writer, or a few good writers. Each entry doesn't need to be an advertisement for the weekend's concert--instead one could be a funny audition story by one of the musicians, or perhaps an extended bio on a member of the orchestra. YouTube pages are also free. All you need for that is good video equipment, a big computer, and software. It'll run you in to the thousands, but worth it. Think--you could get Mario's insights in to a particular work, or tape a rehearsal to show people that orchestra musicians don't wear tuxes every day.
These ideas are simple---very simplistic, actually, yet you haven't taken up on it. What's the hold up? I remember two years ago having dinner at an awards banquet, and a major member of administration at the ISO was up for an award. At our table were all ISO admin and board members. I said to a major head hancho, not long after being introduced to him, that the ISO needed a blog on their site, and they needed it soon. My reasoning was that blogs are what people are reading these days--people are following blogs daily and that's where they choose to get much of their information, and general enrichment. I can certainly say that with confidence--I read the same blogs everyday because I want to know what is going on with my favorite musicians, orchestras, organizations, charities, etc etc. I want people hooked on an ISO blog, so when a musician talks about what a thrill it is to play on stage with 87 other people, that the reader of the blog wants to go and hear that thrill!
My suggestion of the blog was two years ago, and he was not the first person I'd said it to. I've said it to many others, and am wondering if it will ever happen, if the ISO will ever jump on the social media bandwagon. The FREE social media bandwagon, at that!
YouTube--another simple, free site the ISO isn't taking advantage of. Did you know that I am hooked on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's YouTube page? I love hearing Paavo Jarvi talk about music, and seeing the scenes of him working with the orchestra. There are a few videos that I've watched more than once, as well! Check this out--this is going to shock you, because this realization has shocked me--I have enjoyed their YouTube page so much, (and enjoyed their concerts so much,) that next season, I MIGHT VERY WELL SUBSCRIBE TO THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. I'm not just saying that, either. I truly mean it. I've found myself wanting to hear what Maestro Jarvi has to say about certain pieces, and then wanting to see him in action, to see how he and the orchestra follow through with what he said. All the CSO had to do was shell out some cash for equipment, and now it looks like that next season, they'll have another subscriber, who has NEVER subscribed to ANY orchestra, and this subscriber lives 2.5 hours away!
Let's look closer to home now---forget Cincinnati, forget other orchestras. Let's look here, in Indianapolis, and see what another major arts organization is doing: The Indianapolis Museum of Art. Here's a teaser from this link, that I think you, the reader, and everyone at the ISO Marketing Department should read:
"IMA is one of the smartest American museums when it comes to working with online and social media".
Yes, you read that right. Right here, in lil ol Indianapolis! Tyler Green, the art critic/blogger--I should really write it as THE art critic/blogger said this about the IMA:
"The Indianapolis Museum of Art might be the web-smartest museum in America, and its blog is one of my favorite daily reads. The posts are all over the place, from moaning about the city's lack of an art critic to Julian Opie dancing in snow."
Marketing Department of the ISO---the IMA is about a 10 minute drive from you guys. Why not hang out with the people at the IMA, and see what it is they are doing to attract so much attention, what exactly they have brewing up to get the biggest art critic/blogger in the country heaping them with praises. I mean, what is there to stop you?
Maybe you're thinking about this....maybe it's in the works....I certainly hope so. The thing is, that radio spots and ads in papers won't do it for you guys anymore. Pairs of tickets on Facebook aren't the key either. The key--or rather, keys are social media outlets, and the kind that people are looking at every day, like blogs and YouTube. Those are BASICS in social media as well--along with those, the ISO could easily have, yet again, for next to nothing, a Flickr page. A fun site to see images of the orchestra in action, the musicians during break, the beautiful decorations for the Opening Gala, and all the concert goers enjoying themselves. What about Twitter? How cool would it be to be following the ISO on Twitter and seeing an update like "Working on the world premiere...difficult, yet loving every minute of it!" or something like "Trumpet auditions, day 2. Please help, I can't take much more of this." (I don't think they'd really ever post that, but it'd be hilarious if they did).
Maybe someone would be tempted to tell me "Hey, you don't work in marketing, you don't know how it really is" and then follow up with a list of excuses, limitations, reasons for mediocrity, but you know what my response would be? I'd simply roll my eyes. The ISO is dipping far too much in to its endowment right now, and someone would tell me why they can't invest in some FREE social media outlets that could very well impact ticket sales and/or donations in a very positive way??? Come on! Give me a break!
I don't write this to be a big 'ol meanie---I write it because it broke my heart to see how empty the Hilbert Circle Theater was this weekend, even though we had with us a famous soprano who sings leads at the Met and the Lyric. I am sad for the many, many people that didn't get to hear that wonderful, wonderful concert. I am sad for the musicians on stage, because I know how it feels to look out and see very few people in the audience. It's downright depressing, and there's no other way to put it. Looking out in to a filled hall, however, helps you to step up a notch, and go beyond 100%. You know who else I'm sad for? Mario Venzago. I'm sad for him because of the work he has done with the ISO, and the improvements that he has caused/made. People should be hearing all the work he's doing with the orchestra!
Do I need to add to this list? What is it, ISO Marketing Department, that will get you going? Hey, perhaps you ARE working on stuff like this right now---if so, then God bless you, I wish you the best of luck, and I want you to succeed. Yet I head to the ISO website, and I see no link for a blog...no link to your YouTube page...nothing about a Flickr site, and Twitter might as well be just a noise that a bird makes or something. See what I mean?
So, can I encourage you to get crackin'? There's great music happening on that stage, yet too many empty seats, and those seats are your responsibility to fill.
Odd yet wonderful program at the ISO
When the 08-09 Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra season was announced, I took special notice that soprano Nicole Cabell would be making an appearance. I figured she'd be doing some arias from operas or something, and I really wanted to be there. She has leads at the Met and Lyric, and last time she was in Indianapolis, she got a well deserved standing ovation.
I was scratching my head though, over what she was singing. Britten's Les Illuminations and Ravel's Sheherazade. (yes, Ravel's--not Rimsky-Korsakov's). Not exactly music that draws in a crowd, although nothing really on this program could be described as that, perhaps except for Ravel's La Valse, which ended the program. It was an odd combo of works, for sure.
Before I go back to talking and raving about Cabell....the orchestra started off with Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, a gusty, intense, and often brooding piece that left me stunned. Loud, ominous timpani blows startled me in the beginning of the work, and by the end I had noticed the muscles in my back had tensed up, and I had yet to sit back and relax--not surprising, as the work doesn't really cause one to do that, as it's slightly on the dramatic side. There was some excellent playing in literally all the sections (except cellos, as usual), and as I was clapping, I made note to get a CD of this work.
After that is when Nicole Cabell took the stage, looking elegant and graceful, just like she did last time she was at the Hilbert Circle Theater. Her sound also matches her looks--oh, what a voice! Rather than me sit here and drool all over my computer explaining how wonderful she was, would you just trust me? She has this wonderfully lush and rich voice that never seems syrupy or over the top. She can fill the hall easily with her sound yet pull it back in a second to a controlled, sweet pianissimo, all the while with deep inflection and emotion in her voice. The material she had to work with was wonderful: Britten's Les Illuminations is set to the poems of Arthur Rimaud, and the words are so vivid and alive! Add to that a voice that holds those qualities (and more) and you have an exquisite musical experience. There really isn't any other way for me to describe it.
Something wonderful happened after the piece ended, and the audience hadn't quite started clapping yet. Normally things are rather quiet at the Hilbert Circle Theater---at least in comparison to other orchestras. Not as much hootin' and hollerin', not as many "Bravo"s, etc etc. Add to that an absolutely pitiful audience on Saturday night (which I'll comment more on during the next post), and it was rather quiet and ho hum. However, some cool dude, spiced it up with a "Brava, Bella!" right before we all started clapping. I wish I knew who this guy was, so I could run up to him and give him a hug. We need stuff like this at the Hilbert---audience members who aren't afraid to show their appreciation! Audience members who are obviously MOVED! I hate the conservatism that there is in that hall. I hate that after La Valse ended and I yelled "Awesome Mario!" I got stares. There are some who appreciate that, and the ones that don't, simply are party poopers, in my humble opinion. I'm not in to this just being polite thing, where you clap and that's it. Nope, I show my appreciation. (or lack of appreciation, by either not clapping or sitting while everyone else stands, etc). It might have been the same guy, who knows, who also said after the first piece, "Very well played", very audibly, right before everyone clapped. Everyone looked around like something scandalous had happened, and I was looking around to find the guy so I could thank him later. I felt like I was back in New York City, where people make their opinions KNOWN, and aren't nervous about them one bit. It was refreshing.
Back to the concert.....here, this will amuse you, because it goes to show what an arrogant brat I can be.....I got the media release for this concert, and saw Ravel's Scheherezade and emailed them, asking if it really wasn't Rimsky-Korsakov who was the composer. D'oh! Silly know it all me, didn't know that Ravel wrote a piece called Sheherezade as well, for soprano and orchestra. Once again, Cabell shined, glowed, and sparkled for this exotic work, that until that night, I had no idea existed. Yet again, another CD to buy! And also, a lesson in trusting the media releases, and the people who write them. (my apologies to the media department!)
Then Ravel's Pavane pour une infante defunte followed, and I haven't much to say about this work, other than I think it is cheesy. I hate saying that about Ravel, because he is without a doubt one of my favorite composers. Yet this work leaves me feeling sickly, in a sense that I've had too much sugar.
La Valse closed things out, and to hear what I thought of it, head here. It was simply WONDERFUL. So wonderful that when the ISO has money to spare, and a new cello section, they should record it. It truly was marvelous.
The only thing about the concert that was NOT marvelous was the embarrassing turnout. Ugh, it was just AWFUL. I could have sat almost wherever I wanted. For the second half, I went upstairs and found nice seats in the Dress Circle, of all places---the one area that I swear, almost always sells out. There were plenty of empty seats to be had though, and my friend and I took advantage of that. Some people say it was because of the odd program that it didn't sell well, but I say that that could be part of the reason.....but also because of, in my opinion, marketing. However, I'll save that for another blog....
I was scratching my head though, over what she was singing. Britten's Les Illuminations and Ravel's Sheherazade. (yes, Ravel's--not Rimsky-Korsakov's). Not exactly music that draws in a crowd, although nothing really on this program could be described as that, perhaps except for Ravel's La Valse, which ended the program. It was an odd combo of works, for sure.
Before I go back to talking and raving about Cabell....the orchestra started off with Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, a gusty, intense, and often brooding piece that left me stunned. Loud, ominous timpani blows startled me in the beginning of the work, and by the end I had noticed the muscles in my back had tensed up, and I had yet to sit back and relax--not surprising, as the work doesn't really cause one to do that, as it's slightly on the dramatic side. There was some excellent playing in literally all the sections (except cellos, as usual), and as I was clapping, I made note to get a CD of this work.
After that is when Nicole Cabell took the stage, looking elegant and graceful, just like she did last time she was at the Hilbert Circle Theater. Her sound also matches her looks--oh, what a voice! Rather than me sit here and drool all over my computer explaining how wonderful she was, would you just trust me? She has this wonderfully lush and rich voice that never seems syrupy or over the top. She can fill the hall easily with her sound yet pull it back in a second to a controlled, sweet pianissimo, all the while with deep inflection and emotion in her voice. The material she had to work with was wonderful: Britten's Les Illuminations is set to the poems of Arthur Rimaud, and the words are so vivid and alive! Add to that a voice that holds those qualities (and more) and you have an exquisite musical experience. There really isn't any other way for me to describe it.
Something wonderful happened after the piece ended, and the audience hadn't quite started clapping yet. Normally things are rather quiet at the Hilbert Circle Theater---at least in comparison to other orchestras. Not as much hootin' and hollerin', not as many "Bravo"s, etc etc. Add to that an absolutely pitiful audience on Saturday night (which I'll comment more on during the next post), and it was rather quiet and ho hum. However, some cool dude, spiced it up with a "Brava, Bella!" right before we all started clapping. I wish I knew who this guy was, so I could run up to him and give him a hug. We need stuff like this at the Hilbert---audience members who aren't afraid to show their appreciation! Audience members who are obviously MOVED! I hate the conservatism that there is in that hall. I hate that after La Valse ended and I yelled "Awesome Mario!" I got stares. There are some who appreciate that, and the ones that don't, simply are party poopers, in my humble opinion. I'm not in to this just being polite thing, where you clap and that's it. Nope, I show my appreciation. (or lack of appreciation, by either not clapping or sitting while everyone else stands, etc). It might have been the same guy, who knows, who also said after the first piece, "Very well played", very audibly, right before everyone clapped. Everyone looked around like something scandalous had happened, and I was looking around to find the guy so I could thank him later. I felt like I was back in New York City, where people make their opinions KNOWN, and aren't nervous about them one bit. It was refreshing.
Back to the concert.....here, this will amuse you, because it goes to show what an arrogant brat I can be.....I got the media release for this concert, and saw Ravel's Scheherezade and emailed them, asking if it really wasn't Rimsky-Korsakov who was the composer. D'oh! Silly know it all me, didn't know that Ravel wrote a piece called Sheherezade as well, for soprano and orchestra. Once again, Cabell shined, glowed, and sparkled for this exotic work, that until that night, I had no idea existed. Yet again, another CD to buy! And also, a lesson in trusting the media releases, and the people who write them. (my apologies to the media department!)
Then Ravel's Pavane pour une infante defunte followed, and I haven't much to say about this work, other than I think it is cheesy. I hate saying that about Ravel, because he is without a doubt one of my favorite composers. Yet this work leaves me feeling sickly, in a sense that I've had too much sugar.
La Valse closed things out, and to hear what I thought of it, head here. It was simply WONDERFUL. So wonderful that when the ISO has money to spare, and a new cello section, they should record it. It truly was marvelous.
The only thing about the concert that was NOT marvelous was the embarrassing turnout. Ugh, it was just AWFUL. I could have sat almost wherever I wanted. For the second half, I went upstairs and found nice seats in the Dress Circle, of all places---the one area that I swear, almost always sells out. There were plenty of empty seats to be had though, and my friend and I took advantage of that. Some people say it was because of the odd program that it didn't sell well, but I say that that could be part of the reason.....but also because of, in my opinion, marketing. However, I'll save that for another blog....
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Vlogging
Not only am I a blogger, but I'm now a VLOGGER! Yep, I got a few thoughts on video, and decided to throw them here on the blog. They won't be terribly long, and they'll get better with time, I assure you, as I learn to better videotape myself. Or get others to videotape me....yeah, that's a good idea.
So, enjoy!
So, enjoy!
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