Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra--Gabriela Montero
Earlier this evening, Maureen and I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall. Andrés Cárdenes, concertmaster, conducted tonight. The program consisted of:
Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 in one movement (Samuel Barber)
Rhapsody in Blue, with Gabriela Montero at pianoforte (George Gershwin)
Improvisation on an audience-supplied theme, by Ms. Montero
INTERMISSION
"Air and Simple Gifts," with Ms. Montero, Andrés Cárdenes, Associate Principal Cello David Premo, and Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek (by special permission of John Williams)
Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107, "Reformation" (Felix Mendelssohn)
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The first piece was rather emotive and dramatic.
The Gershwin piece had imaginative, moving phrasing as provided by Ms. Montero on the pianoforte. The crowd responded with an appreciative standing ovation.
The improvisation on the Steelers' chant "Way to Go, Steelers, Way to Go" was nothing short of inspired, ending in a Latin beat (cha cha?). She is a wonderful, beautiful natural talent---and the audience erupted with an immediate standing ovation.
We saw Fabiola and Jose on the landing at the Dress Circle level at intermission. We exchanged greetings, as we were on our way to the Grand Lobby to greet the artist at intermission. The elevator was inoperable, so we waited in line patiently. Gabriela Montero signed my CD and program, and we chatted ever-so briefly.
The next piece was a pleasant surprise---the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra received permission to perform "Air and Simple Gifts," with Ms. Montero and the PSO musicians this weekend. "Air and Simple Gifts" was the musical piece commissioned for Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremony. For the last curtain call, Ms. Montero in her black-with-gold-hemmed dress sported a Terrible Towel 'round her neck.
The Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony provided a suitable anchor to the evening's program.
As I exited, I ran into Richard Teaster and showed my appreciation for the music on the 9th of this month at the Cathedral. "A well-performed program that included diverse pieces," I said. "The Friday before Palm Sunday we will be in Synod Hall," he indicated, inviting. "Thanks," I said.
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Maureen and I headed to Crazy Mocha in Bloomfield for cups of hot cocoa and a Devil's food-cream cheese muffin. I spotted a doggie under the table next door..."Pippa" is her name, as her owner mumbled her name so that she would not think he were calling her.
Labels: American history, Broadway, celebration, Choir, citizenship, dining, games, Montero, music, Pittsburgh, politics, PSO, seasons, sports, Superbowl, surprise
PSO--Slatkin, Time for Three, West Side Story, & Copland
Yesterday afternoon I dined at the Newman Center. Kristin introduced me to the world of Narnia (Prince Caspian was the movie for the night)---they had decorated the large meeting room with streamers, the lamppost, and the crest of Aslan.
Maureen and I met to go to the Bank of New York Grand Classics performance at the Pittsburgh Symphony. We enjoyed:
Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Prologue
Somewhere
Mambo
Cool Fugue
Finale
Jennifer Higdon's Concerto 4-3 (with Time for Three)
1. The Shallows
2. Little River
3. Roaring Smokies
~~~INTERMISSION~~~
Aaron Copland's Symphony Number 3
[In Four Movements]
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I was hoping to hear Tonight and Maria from WSS, the Broadway portion of the program. The audience enjoyed that part of the program.
Higdon's piece was with the classically trained string trio that produced new sounds that were bright, energetic, and percussive, with movements reminiscent of Higdon's Tennessee (bluegrass) roots.
Copland's Symphony No. 3 had nested in it the Fanfare for the Common Man, familiar to many in the audience from CBS Sports Spectacular. The first strains of this piece elicited comments from the floor, including one audible one from several rows back of, "Boy, we have great seats."
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Leonard Slatkin conducted, Andres Cardenes was concertmaster.
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Afterwards, we went out for fajitas and a double decker sandwich w/ fries at Eat and Park, and chatted into the night.
Labels: Broadway, dining, Pittsburgh, PSO
Wicked Good, Mom's Birthday 2008-II
Last night Mom, Dad, William, Marissa, and the children and I dined out at our favorite Chinese restaurant in Bloomfield. Beatrice is very outspoken and well-spoken. She will change what she says slightly if you indicate that you don't understand what she is saying.
Tonight I took out Mom to Wicked (PNC Broadway Across America) at the Benedum. William and Marissa arrived a little while after. Marissa and I both agreed that it is the best show we have seen in a couple of seasons here in Pittsburgh...never a dull moment. William found the first act more engaging than the second act. We all loved GALinda as she flipped her hair and her legs as she sang "Popular" to her new best friend. We spotted a popular gal as we exited; she was oblivious that the show made fun of her throughout.
Labels: Birthday, Broadway, dining, family, humor, music, Pittsburgh
Mom's Haircut, Teeth cleaning
Dad, Mom, and I went to Penn Hills for Mom's haircut. We also went shopping, donated, and had lunch there. Mary Jane styled Mom's hair quite well. We discussed hip replacements as well as searching for scholarships for her daughter.
After taking my prophylactic antibiotics, I went to the dentist's office for my six-month cleaning. A new person cleaned my teeth today--Theresa. We chatted about Broadway theatre in Pittsburgh.
Labels: BAD, Broadway, cleaning, hair, health, library, Pittsburgh, school, student, surgery, teeth, thankfulness, theater
Twelve Angry Men
As William, Marissa, and Beatrice decided to stay home; Mom and I attended the last Pittsburgh performance of Twelve Angry Men at Heinz Hall. Quite a moving piece, it was a study of characters in a spare set. Richard Thomas was one of the key characters in this view into a jury room during a murder trial. Mom and I had orchestra seats, and we enjoyed the psychological drama in the jury room thoroughly.
Labels: Broadway, Pittsburgh, theater
High School Musical
This evening Jo-Anne and I went downtown and she got some dinner at the Pittsburgh Arts Festival. She saw her cousin there, and then we took in the "High School Musical" show produced by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. The leads were played by John Jeffrey Martin and Arielle Jacobs. The rest of the cast were played by strong characters. Jo-Anne and my only complaints about the show were the children kicking the backs of our chairs and shrilly shrieking during the final curtain.
We enjoyed banana Slurpees after the show, and Jo-Anne got a brain freeze.
Labels: Broadway, children, Pittsburgh, theater
Altar Boyz
Yep, after dinner at the Oyster House (during the one-day ban on smoking in restaurants), William and I went last night to see Altar Boyz at the Byham Theater, Pittsburgh. Matthew (Mitch Dean), Mark (Ryan J. Ratliff), Luke (Jesse JP Johnson), and Juan (Jay Garcia) and Abraham (Ryan Strand) were the Altar Boyz. The premise of this boy band was that they met as altar boys and their friend when they created their first song. LIsa P. had raved about the show, and the clean mix of cultural, religious, and musical influences was fun to listen to and to watch. An audience member was led onstage and serenaded as one of the Boyz's love interest. The theater was full to the gallery, and the Pittsburgh (i.e., mostly Catholic) audience greatly appreciated the songs, choreography, and antics of the Boyz. What a great way to end our subscription to the Pittsburgh Broadway season.
Labels: Broadway, Church
Sweet Charity
William, Marissa, and I enjoyed Easter Dinner at Mom and Dad's. Beatrice hung out with Lola and Lolo while the three of us went to see Sweet Charity at Heinz Hall. Molly Ringwald starred, and she and Guy Adkins were brilliant as Charity Hope Valentine and as Oscar Lindquist, respectively.
It was great to finally see Beatrice after her open-heart surgery last week. She is healing nicely.
Labels: Beatrice, Broadway
Riverdance
Theta, Yvonne, Mario, and I went to see Riverdance at Heinz Hall last night. We went for Thai/Cambodian food right before at my favorite restaurant, where Andrew greeted and served us. I had a scallop curry with vegetables, Yvonne and Mario had grilled meats and veggies on a bed of rice, and Theta enjoyed a Cambodian beef peanut stew.
RIVERDANCE!
A wall of sound of dancing feet moving up the theater
An amalgam of Irish folkdance and the Rockettes
A multimedia, multicultural production
~Irish folk dance and song
~American tap and soulful song
~flamenco
~Russian folk dance
An enjoyable evening! We agreed that we must go to a ceili after Theta finishes her exams and before Mario leaves for his new job.
Labels: Broadway, friends, Ireland
Doubt
Marissa, Amy C M and I went to see Doubt at the Benedum. Only four characters populated the sets, and the play progressed quickly around a tightly-written script. Marissa particularly enjoyed the character of the principal, Sister Aloysius, played by Tony-award-winning Cherry Jones. Her character stood by her principles. The play covered diverse topics of particular concern not only to the Church but also to society in general during the mid-1960's. Highly recommended, a good launching point for discussions with teens and adults.
Labels: Broadway, Church
Light in the Piazza
This Tuesday night William, Marissa, and I attended the Broadway show, Light in the Piazza, at the Benedum Theatre. Yes, of course, the show has won awards, as well as the music, but I found even more engaging the set design and lighting--very reminiscent of Firenze. Practically everyone in the theatre fell in love with the two young adults as they fell in love, but I fell in love with the light!
As I say, "If you can't fall in love while in Italy, you can fall in love WITH Italy." And while in Roma, I threw a coin in the Fontana di Trevi, to ensure my return...
Labels: Broadway, light
Malou's Birthday; Oratory; St. Paul Cathedral Taping for Lent and Easter
This past Sunday I skipped choir to go to (Edwin's) birthday party--it turns out it is really his wife, Malou's, birthday!! They have a picture of their daughter they are adopting; the transfer of her to the US is a bear!
I went to the Oratory the past two weeks to Communion and Liberation discussions; as well as a discussion of the late Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.
This morning I went for a taping of morning prayer for Lent and Easter with Auxiliary Bishop Paul Bradley. Fr. Ed Yuhas was the lead for production; Michele, Linda, Jeff, Matt, and I were altar servers; Cheryl did hair and makeup; and Doug was in the control room. We all helped carry the flowers to decorate for Easter.
...back to paperwork for work.
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6:15 pm, 30 January 2007
Saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with William and Marissa last Tuesday at the Benedum....
Ran into one of my former students from the JCC at the bus stop--we chatted...currently studying at a magnet school. How wonderful to see someone from when I just arrived in Pittsburgh.
WIll go tonight to a talk by Brian Stewart, who is working on a joint NASA project with Penn State University. He has worked with Bob and Oliver (mi assessor and my NASA advisor)...it'll be a treat to attend this talk.
Labels: Birthday, Broadway, research, St. Paul Cathedral
