This week at the big orchestra
Beethoven - Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 1
INTERMISSION
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4
Alexander Polianichko, conductor
Piotr Anderszewski, piano
Monday
off
Tuesday
10-12:30 rehearsal
7-9 rehearsal Spohr Nonet
Wednesday
10-12:30 1:30-3:30
Thursday
10-1:30
8 concert
Friday
off
Saturday
8 concert
Sunday
3 concert (beyond the score)
7 Chicago Bass Ensemble rehearsal
This week's program is repeated again on Tuesday next week.
The Tuesday evening rehearsal is for a performance at the Winter Chamber Music Festival at Northwestern University on January 18. Somehow this mainstay of the double bass chamber repertoire has eluded me up to this point. I look forward to playing the piece for the first time.
There is a concert on Friday, a ‘members of’ (optional) performance in collaboration with the Hubbard Street dance company. As they say, ‘time is money’. In this case I opted for the time.
Myung-Whun Chung, originally scheduled to conduct the orchestra located in area code 60604, cancelled his appearance this week for personal reasons. I know nothing of his replacement but I am very sorry to not see Chung again. There were a few rumors swirling about before the holidays offering up various explanations for the cancellation. I can’t help but wonder if the rude treatment he received during his last visit here had something to do with it. However, since I’ve been scolded for expressing displeasure with anything short of being marched off to my death, and as someone always willing to take criticism to heart, I hasten to add I am happy to play for any conductor with a pulse and enough fingers to grip a baton. And yet, I wish Maestro Chung good health, wherever he is.
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by Michael Hovnanian
About Me
- Michael Hovnanian
- Central Time Zone, USA
- double bassist
My evolution from beginner to sophisticated professional.
- 1) wanting to hear myself play
- 2) wanting others to hear me play
- 3) wanting to be paid to play
- 4) wanting to be paid not to play
6 comments:
I was looking forward to seeing Maestro Chung and I was disappointed to hear that he'd withdrawn. Can you tell me more about your experiences with the replacement conductor? Hopefully his russian heritage gives the Tchaikovsky a unique sound...
I will comment on the replacement conductor, but to be fair I'll suspend judgement until after at least one peformance.
Who said I would tolerate expressions of displeasure even if you were being marched off to your death? It is our duty to rejoice!
Thanks Max. I guess it all depends on who is leading the band.
So I was there on Saturday. Was it just me or did it seem like the conductor was a bit erratic with his beethoven? I enjoyed the Tchaikovsky though....that chicago brass section....rightly famous...What was with the pianist's tendency to plunk on the last notes of his passages? did you find that strange too? or am I being too narrow minded?
I'd enjoy your thoughts on this concert...
I did not play the Beethoven works, but I agree with your assessment of the conductor.
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