Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Pittsburgh Symphony
Maureen and I braved the snow to go to the Pittsburgh Symphony tonight. We met up at the Student Union to get our tickets and to board the buses to Heinz Hall. Anne-Sophie Mutter accompanied the PSO in Brahms's Concerto in D for violin and orchestra. Manfred Honeck conducted, with Andres Cardenes as concertmaster. Maureen and I recognized the theme in the third (last) movement. Absolutely wonderful, Ms. Mutter's chords were played clearly. A rousing standing ovation ensued, which welcomed her back for a solo encore.
The second half of the evening featured the PSO in Mahler's Symphony No.1 in D major. There was a movement reminiscent of "Where is Thumbkin" or "Frere Jacques." The PSO will take the Mahler Symphony on tour to Carnegie Hall in New York, and further afield. We were pleased to be the hometown audience, and the whooping for the standing ovation showed it.
A post-concert dessert and brief talk by Manfred Honeck (Well, if you have no questions to raise, then, it is time for cake) who asked a very young musician,
Do you play an instrument? Violin, perhaps?
(quietly and shyly) Piano
We rode the buses to Forbes and Craft Avenues, and we all disembarked after asking Annabelle if we could ("If you walk, go carefully.") I was glad that I had my cane, and took photos the whole way home.
Labels: cold, Honeck, music, photography, photos, PSO
Itzhak Perlman at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Itzhak Perlman performed tonight with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Need I say more?
Oh, okay: He was GREETED with a rousing standing ovation.
~~~
Friday 11 September 2009, 8.45
I met Lauretta outside the concert hall, and we chatted.
The night started out with my seatmates Ieva and Elizabeth and I discussing our place in the "university seating" arrangements, and how we lucked out with our seats. I took a pre-announcement, pre-concert photo of some of the musicians on stage: It was Gala Night, so most of the women musicians wore brightly colored ball gowns. Elizabeth and I were rather surprised with placement of some of the string section, as well as pleasantly surprised to see Andres, too.
Manfred Honeck and the Symphony played:
Overture to Der Freischutz (Carl Maria von Weber),
The Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 (Antonin Dvorak),
they were joined by Mr. Perlman for:
Concerto No. 3 in G Major for Violin and Orchestra, K. 216 (W.A. Mozart),
and all finished the night with
Liebesfreud (Fritz Kreisler).
We were all delighted, and I met Peggy on the bus. A rather enjoyable night out, featuring the talents of Mr. Perlman and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Labels: Honeck, Pittsburgh, PSO, school, teaching
End of the First Week at Work, Fall 2009
This Wednesday I had an early morning physical therapy appointment, and a late Pastoral Council meeting. Carmella brought pizzas and homemade cake. Prayers were prepared and said by myself and Matt.
Thursday was my first office hours set. I had a student discuss the next lab assignment. Maureen picked me up and we met up with Nancy for the pre-season concert of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Lawrence Loh conducted, Ellen Chen-Livingson was solo violin on the Brahms piece (she was great with child), and Larry Richert of radio fame was the host.
They performed:
"Hoe-Down" from Rodeo (A. Copland)
Selection (II. Allegretto) from the Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op. 47 (Shostakovich)
Eljen a Magyar!, Op. 332 (J. Strauss, Jr.)
the (II.) Adagio from the Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra (J. Brahms)
the (IV.) Presto from the Symphony No. 30 in D Major, K. 1866 [202] (W.A. Mozart)
Mars from The Planets (G. Holst)
Intermission brought the PSO President, Lawrence Tamburri, to our row...we had 2 subscriptions from our little group alone!
The second half of the evening brought:
The opening theme from Also Sprach Zarathustra (R. Strauss)
Part I of theh Concerto for Orchestra, "Zoroastrian Riddles" ( R. Danielpour)
III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace from the Symphony No 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 5, "Eroica" (L. van Beethoven)
I. Bedachtig, night eilen from the Symphony No 4 in G Major (G. Mahler)
An American in Paris (G. Gershwin)
IV. Allegro Giocoso from the Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100 (S. Prokofiev)
We enjoyed chatting afterwards (even though we hadn't a chance at chatting with Manfred Honeck in the Garden after the concert).
Friday I lectored at one of the early Masses. Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, John was the altar server, and Ken provided the music ministry. It was the first Mass during which I walked out with the others on the altar (since before my operation). Ken and I spoke about the Advent/Christmas CD for the choir before Mass. I also had a lab meeting at work, Jen and I discussed G-20 Summit scheduling, and Maureen, Karina, and I went to Penneys and Borders to shop; we found out our favorite Thai restaurant closes at ~10pm, and we ended up eating at Victor's restaurant for a late dinner/snack.
Labels: Choir, dining, exercise, Honeck, Mass, meeting, music, pastoral council, Pittsburgh, PSO, shopping, student, water exercise
Magnificent Evening!
I received a cell phone call from Mom on the way home from the symphony: "We won the Stanley Cup. Be careful around South Side and Oakland."
By the by, the afternoon at the Three Rivers Arts Festival with Nancy was fun...we got a chocolate & fresh strawberry crepe with whipped cream. The chef was totally into the process of making it! (And we were into the process of eating it!)
Mahler's Resurrection Symphony (No. 2 in C minor) was nothing short of magnificent. Manfred Honeck conducted after introductory words by the outgoing concertmaster, Andres Cardenes. Elizabeth duShong (Mezzo-soprano) and Katy Shackleton Williams (soprano---a last-minute substitute) accompanied the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (directed by Betsy Burleigh). The piece vacillated between piano movements which exploded into fortissimo movements. The fourth and fifth movements were sung by the women and the choir, respectively. The fourth movement was entitled Urlicht (Primeval Light), and the fifth movement included pieces "Aufersteh'n"/"Resurrection" and "O Glaube, Mein Herz"/"O Believe, My Heart." An immediate standing ovation greeted the artists, with several repeat calls.
Due to sudden street closures we ended up on the West End Bridge to the Hot Metal Bridge and in Oakland, where we heard whoops of joy. We were thinking of going to Victor's for a snack when Mom telephoned, and we had second thoughts.
Nancy handed me a puzzle/mystery, library book, and well wishes before we see each othe tomorrow.
Labels: art, dine, dining, games, Honeck, Mahler, music, Pittsburgh, Point, PSO, rivers, sports
Resting Pre-Op(erative)
I've been resting pre-operative. Today I crawled in bed to rest, and spoke with Mom, Nancy, and the pre-operative nurse. It's been a slow day. My R shoulder and L hip are bothering me...just a little pain in my L thumb, too.
Nancy and I will go to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this evening to hear Manfred Honeck conduct.
Labels: family, friends, health, Honeck, pain, PSO, sleep, surgery
PSO Music Director's Talk, 19 February 2009
I went to a talk by the PSO music director today after physical therapy. Some various concepts Honeck presented during his talk:
[It takes] courage [to be faithful],
"I choose to be either hot or cold [in my faith life]....I like hot soups, so.."
He stated that he is fortunate in his position at the PSO, as he has the opportunity to pray for ~20 minutes before a performance with other musicians.
Sacraments are important to him and his family: Penance, and especially the Eucharist..."you can pray and sing in your home, but you cannot receive the Eucharist: [That is a good reason to go to Church.]"
He has a healthy respect for Maria.
He cannot imagine a "life without belief---no."
In response to questions:
Even if you spend one minute per day in prayer in Church, or in Eucharistic Adoration, [it is still a regular meeting with God], it is still a step-by-step process [as opposed to a sudden event to build one's faith].
Even "Mother Teresa had a forty-year darkness."
"Trust God will do things for me...will take care of me."
"One gets dressed [in an outwardly fashion] for [the concert]...in tuxedo, tails, shoes, etc. [Why not] get dressed for God [in an inner way]?"
"Put God in the middle of your life, then you will have everything."
Has he experienced persecution due to his faith?
Those with different, opposing views "don't accept [my views], but in [their] inner heart, they accept it."
He spoke of John Paul II meeting Kissinger.
He addressed a scientific study on music that heals better [Bach and Mozart]...and pondered whether there is a music that "doesn't heal, [as] many young people are depressed."
When asked about pieces he likes, he mentioned that it is difficult to answer that question, but that Mozart, Mahler's 2nd, Strauss Valses, and Bach and Mozart [were moving].
In short, a fascinating program.
Don and I chatted before and after the program, and we saw Fabiola, Karina, and Kristen there, too.
Labels: Church, Faith, Honeck, international culture, Mahler, Mozart, music, philosophical, PSO
