Hooked on Classics

[dreamer_easy]

Guys, I am overwhelmed by your birthday wishes. Thank you!

stevencaldwell took us out for a super treat last night - dinner + the Sydney Symphony Orchestra! I realised that I had never seen an orchestra perform live - I'd seen operas and Carmina Burana and had watched orchestras on TV, but had never sat in a concert hall and listened to just music. I knew it was going to be different from every other time I'd heard classical music when they started tuning up. We had a diagrammatic view of the players from the heights of our box. (We saw a contrabassoon! Jon spotted the tympani guy doing something clever and technical.)

The opening act was a local band called Tchaikovsky, with their smash hit "Piano Concerto no. 1". We had been cracking jokes in the peanut gallery about Hooked on Classics, so had to stick our fists in our mouths when it started. Further hilarity ensued when the orchestra struck up the piece we'd come to hear, The Firebird (aka the intro to Siberian Khatru). Mr Stravinsky pinched the beginning from the Curse of Fenric soundtrack! Who'd've thought it! There was a bit of TRON in there, too, and I think possibly a dab of Murray Go(l)d's score for The Sound of Drums. Igor you old plagiarist. Interest was added when one of the percussionists got up partway through and went out the side door. Smoko? Loo break? He'd finished his bit and was going home? Nope - it turned out there were tubular bells (or something similar) lurking out there. BANG CRASH WALLOP! Mr S. keeps your attention with lots of unexpected noises, notably the strings tapping their instruments (lots of little xs on the score, I imagine) and jolt-you-out-of-your-seat explosions from the percussion and the tuba. (The tuba mute had me in stitches. Presumably the tubist sticks a tap on the side afterwards and dispense boiling water for everyone's tea.)

All this uncultivated jocularity aside: the music was transporting. Thank you so much, Steven and Stephen.

Throughout the proceedings I was developing a ghastly sore throat which has laid me low today. I am ded but happy. :)

ETA: lol Koschei

Comments

[mrteufel.livejournal.com]

(The tuba mute had me in stitches. Presumably the tubist sticks a tap on the side afterwards and dispense boiling water for everyone's tea.)

Well... they do have to drain the saliva out of wind instruments after the show...

>:D

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

The players sitting in front of the larger brass and woodwind had what we took to be spit screens. egad

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

It also mutes the sounds for the string players in front. Many symphony players suffer from hearing problems later in life. Sitting in front of the brass players has been known to make some string players deaf. A tuba can deafen someone if they are exposed on a regular basis.

Isn't classical music so much better live? No recording can catch all the harmonies and vibrations, etc. It acts on you on a physical level. No recording can repeat that. I will never forget finally hearing The Messiah(Handel) live. It was astonishing. Try some Bach next time.

Even been to the Opera?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

kylaw took me to see the Threepenny Opera, which was awesome.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

One of the best nights I've ever had between four walls was seeing Don Giovanni (I love Mozart). I'm going to see Otello (Verdi) on Wednesday night. I hope to see Billy Budd (Britten) later in the year.

lol Koschei

[iblis-kukl.livejournal.com]

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I have introduce you to Hayden's Surprise Symphony one day.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I noticed that Mr Tschaikovsky <= desperate attempt at spelling put in lots and lots of loud bangs at the end of his symphony's movements to wake everyone up. :-)

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Mt T. hated people falling asleep in his concerts. Did you knowThe Firebird is actually a ballet? The lound bangs,etc match up to the steps of the ballet.

I'll do you a copy of The Surprise and bring it over next Sunday. Apparently Kyla's film crew are meeting at your place.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Yah, gods help them. :-)

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Well, I have the car, and if you're feeling up to it we can run off somewhere. Even if it's my place, which you haven't seen. There is tea and coffee and (possibly) something nice to eat. Also Trixie, who is worth meeting so you can wonder at how one cat can be so fluffy and still walk.

[jblum.livejournal.com]

I played the tympani in that! (In high school symphonic band.) One of my great embarrassing moments in rehearsal was miscounting and coming in for that WHAM! a bar early. :-)

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

But you didn't miss up in performance did you?

Debussy said as long as the orchestra starts together and finishes together no one will notice the bits in=between. He'd obviously not heard of the Surprise Symphony.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Talking about Koschei, do you know about Baba Yaga and her hut that moves around on chicken feet?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah - that's a Russian fairy tale that I do know. Koschei's appearance in the concert programme was a bit of a surprise. :-)

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I think a Russian composer has done a piece on Baba Yaga.....

*googles madly*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga#Music