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bunrabYou can tell it's summer at the symphony - lots of white linen blazers on the older men in the audience, and lots more polo shirts on the younger ones. I, for one, don't mind the change to less formal wear for symphony audiences; the orchestras should be glad we're there and paying for seats. And I believe more guys are willing to be dragged to the symphony by their wives if they don't have to wear a jacket and tie. Women, too, are more comfortable in sneakers. As far as I can tell, no women at all wear long dresses any more, though I can remember that 30 years ago, some women did dress that formally for evening concerts. Some women still wear dresses, but I think this evening the pants suits and just plain old slacks and shirts outnumbered the dresses of any kind. Spouse and I were both wearing slacks and short-sleeved sports shirts. Our paying for the tickets is our way of showing respect; we don't also have to dress up to show respect.
Marin Alsop was conducting this evening's concert (Thursday) and she looked spiffy. She wears these custom-tailored black jackets over tuxedo pants; the jacket has a sort of mandarin collar, so she doesn't need a shirt or tie under it. She likes to have cuffs on the jacket sleeves, though; tonight's were white. I love the way she conducts - very crisp and definite. And every once in a while, a particular arm sweep will carry her right into a leap into mid-air; you just know she's thinking, "And they pay me money to have this much fun!"
The Colas Breugnon was OK - I thought the ending wasn't quite as definite as it could have been, but no one else seemed to feel that way. The Rachmaninoff went very well. I always feel sorry for the alto sax in that - sure, he has a solo, but it's what, 16 bars or so? And before that, he sits. And after that, he sits. And sits and sits and sits and sits and that's what makes a gumby sax. (Spouse says, "He gets no sympathy at all from a tuba player!") Since I sort of collect pieces that feature the Dies Irae theme, Symphonic Dances and other Rachmaninoff are among pieces I always enjoy.
Second half was Joshua Bell playing the Red Violin concerto, which they were recording. Alsop gave us a few words of explanation ahead of time, including instructions on when to cough if we absolutely had to. Bell is a good looking young man; he would look better, though, if he lost a few pounds and/or wore a tux. The slight extra weight, combined with his youth, gives his face a sort of round, sulky or pouting look, even when he isn't. And the black silk shirt with open neck shows a little more of the weight on his abdomen, which a tux is good at disguising. Still, given how good he is, I wouldn't say his clothing flaws are fatal. The concerto, though a bit too modern for me, went very well and ended rousingly. Standing ovations for Bell and Alsop, and then John Corigliano, the composer, came out and took a bow also.
All in all, a good concert; Friday's will be the same line-up, and then Saturday morning there's a casual concert which omits the Rachmaninoff.
Marin Alsop was conducting this evening's concert (Thursday) and she looked spiffy. She wears these custom-tailored black jackets over tuxedo pants; the jacket has a sort of mandarin collar, so she doesn't need a shirt or tie under it. She likes to have cuffs on the jacket sleeves, though; tonight's were white. I love the way she conducts - very crisp and definite. And every once in a while, a particular arm sweep will carry her right into a leap into mid-air; you just know she's thinking, "And they pay me money to have this much fun!"
The Colas Breugnon was OK - I thought the ending wasn't quite as definite as it could have been, but no one else seemed to feel that way. The Rachmaninoff went very well. I always feel sorry for the alto sax in that - sure, he has a solo, but it's what, 16 bars or so? And before that, he sits. And after that, he sits. And sits and sits and sits and sits and that's what makes a gumby sax. (Spouse says, "He gets no sympathy at all from a tuba player!") Since I sort of collect pieces that feature the Dies Irae theme, Symphonic Dances and other Rachmaninoff are among pieces I always enjoy.
Second half was Joshua Bell playing the Red Violin concerto, which they were recording. Alsop gave us a few words of explanation ahead of time, including instructions on when to cough if we absolutely had to. Bell is a good looking young man; he would look better, though, if he lost a few pounds and/or wore a tux. The slight extra weight, combined with his youth, gives his face a sort of round, sulky or pouting look, even when he isn't. And the black silk shirt with open neck shows a little more of the weight on his abdomen, which a tux is good at disguising. Still, given how good he is, I wouldn't say his clothing flaws are fatal. The concerto, though a bit too modern for me, went very well and ended rousingly. Standing ovations for Bell and Alsop, and then John Corigliano, the composer, came out and took a bow also.
All in all, a good concert; Friday's will be the same line-up, and then Saturday morning there's a casual concert which omits the Rachmaninoff.
