By Keltin and I love shows and last weekend was a busy one with Miss Saigon on Saturday and Symphonie Fantastique on Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
The first piece was Brahms Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra. These piece was in three parts. This piece was interesting because there was a full orchestra but there was also a violin soloist. He played without sheet music and in the most interesting pants. Seriously they looked like someone made a pour-over painting in black, white, sky blue, and hot pink into pants. He played slightly higher and slightly faster notes. This created just enough contrast for the solo notes to stand out without being in conflict. The first part of the show was wonderful.
After the intermission it was Berlioz Symphonie fantastique. This pieces is in five movements. The first part, Reveries, was bright. The second movement, Un Bal, had harps! I wish they were in more of the piece but the little bit they are in is beautiful. The third movement, Scene aux champs, begins with what I can only describe as sad trumpets. I am kind of embarrassed to admit that this movement lulled me into a bit of doze.
Things really picked up in the last two movements. Marche au supplice, was full of deep drums rumbling and blasts from horns and trumpets. It was a bit intimidating, feeling the vibrations from the drums in the air. The fifth movement, Songe d’une nuit du sabbat, was probably my favorite of all the movement from the whole show. The bass and cellos were played differently, instead of the bows being rubbed across the strings instead they were tapped to create this deep thrumming sound. Towards the end of the movement the violins did something similar where the stings were plucked to make a chirping sound.
All told it was beautiful and I would defiantly see this piece performed live again.
McGee Travel Tales 