Symphony night

[eve_prime]

I made it to the symphony this evening, although I had to take a late afternoon nap to muster the energy, but it was fine. The first piece was the William Tell Overture, and it was interesting to hear how cool some of the other parts are, those that are overshadowed by the Lone Ranger tune. Next came the world premiere of a symphony by Michael Djupstrom, called "Dreams of Flight." It was the final installment in the project where our symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony (also conducted by Francesco Lecce-Chong) commissioned four full-length works by composers who had not yet composed a symphony. I believe I attended three of the four - I agree with my coworker, SMB, whom I ran into in the lobby during intermission, that this was the one of the four I'd like to hear again. After the intermission we heard the Dvořák cello concerto - the soloist was Oliver Herbert, who'd taught the master classes on Tuesday. I wish I'd heard it the last time it had been performed in Eugene, when the soloist was Yo-Yo Ma! Today's soloist was fine too.

One thing that made the concert especially interesting for me was that the way the performers' seats were lined up, I had a clear view of the principal flute player, even though there were at least five musicians between me and her. I was quite surprised at how busy she was. Her part in the William Tell overture was notable, then she had a very long solo in the Djupstrom symphony, and again and again she had a duet with the cellist during the Dvořák. Watching her gave me a different perspective, which I liked. (For my future reference, her name is Kristen Halay.)

Comments

[kaishin108]

That seems like a very slick way to arrange their seating!

[eve_prime]

Just an accident, I am sure!

[kaishin108]

Oh!! LOL. As bob Ross would say, a happy accident. ;)

[eve_prime]

I sit fairly close to the front, so usually I can just see the musicians whose seats are next to the edge of the stage - a few violins, violas, and basses. I normally can't see the winds at all. But this time, the violas and cellos were sitting such that I could see past them to the face of this one flute player, and she was amazingly busy!