NaBloPoMo, Day 12
I kicked off my season with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last week with a program of Handel, Mozart, Hummel and Purcell. The music was pleasant enough, nothing that really blew me out of my seat. Nicholas McGegan conducted and he was a lot of fun to watch, bouncing and swaying like an excited kid at the podium. We sat on the main floor, under the overhang, which I think noticeably dampened the sound.
I prefer our seats up in the first balcony, which I can afford for the Afterworks Masterworks series because it’s a budget series; shorter programs, earlier start times, no intermission. A perfect amount of music to end the day. The gimmick is to draw folks who work downtown into Symphony Hall to listen to classical music while they avoid the rush hour madness. Unfortunately for me, that means fighting the rush hour madness to get into the city in time to make the show. Totally worth it though. This is my third season subscribing to the series.
Tonight’s program is “Echoes of Russia”: Rachmaninov’s 3rd symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1. Listening to the latter (hit the link on this page for a sample), it’s going to be hard not to hear “Some of the world’s greatest music was written by the great masters…” narrating in my head as the pianist bangs away at the keyboard.
Ha ha! – Amazing how that one commercial ruined this song for a whole generation…
You mean this one? (Link)
That commercial is burned into my brain. It must have run for years and years.
I see those LPs when looking through bins at thrift stores sometimes.
Available on 8-track tape! I’d forgotten they used Mr. French #2 from “Family Affair” as their pitch man. Thanks John, most excellent.
Just watched the commercial (thanks John!) and my entire TV-watching youth came crashing back in a giant flashback. Just think – 150 masterpieces for about 9 cents each! Good lord…..