Today marked my second visit to the Saenger Theatre in Mobile, AL, for an amazing performance entitled Forte presented by the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. The program included Blue Cathedral by Jennifer Higdon, a contemporary classical composer who received a Pulitzer Prize for one of her compositions in 2010. Also on the program was Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique" and Sergi Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto with pianist Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2013 Van Clyburn International Piano Competition.
I am reluctant to attempt a description of music with words; however, that being said, a secondary or subordinate theme of the "Pathetique" in the first movement is, in my opinion, more lyrical than almost anything else from this composer and the triumphal march of the third movement must be an absolute thrill to conduct.
Each of the above titles contains a link to examples of the music if you are interested. The Piano Concerto is only the third movement and there is no video but is performed by the artist I heard today.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Sunday, March 31, 2019
O Fortuna!
Those of you who have been following my blog postings for many years have probably noticed it has been since May 2018, that I last wrote about exploring the USS Alabama near Mobile, AL. This is mostly because I've not really been anywhere new to report on since that time, but today I've been somewhere different. It is in Mobile again, but not a typical travel venue:
Carl Orff's Carmina Burana was presented at the Saenger Theater. The performing groups included the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, the University of South Alabama Concert Choir and the Mobile Opera Chorus, a total of over 180 musicians. Guest conductor, Lidiya Yankovskya is music director of the Chicago Opera Theater and did a most creditable job in bringing this masterpiece to life. It was, in a word, fantastic, every bit of what I was expecting and more. If you enjoy classical music, I would encourage you to attend a performance of this work if it is ever presented in your area.
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