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September 10, 2006
Well Now, Nashville's Uptown
Music City USA added a new star to her crown last night with the opening of a new performing arts center and a gala concert to go with it.
Leonard Slatkin and Frederica von Stade? These aren't your hot new names in high-falutin' music, but their relative heft nonetheless commands certain respect for our state capital's continued ascendance.
Of course, I don't suppose it would be Nashville without a banjo, and, sure enough, there occurred a Triple Concerto for [get this] Banjo, Double Bass and Tabla. (The composer is not named in the review).
I'm never one to advocate the programming of excerpts, but a celebrity-studded opening night crowd aren't the right bunch to sit through a full Mahler, and a couple of movements from "Resurrection" are, I suppose, a good way to show off all the bells and whistles. It's a fundraising thing.
I've checked out the season schedule, though, and it appears that, even with some typical schlock thrown in, Schermerhorn audiences will be treated a mite better than will Chattanooga Tivoli ones.
(Tennessean links courtesy of Sharon Cobb)
Diary of an Epicure | By joe lance | 9:02 AM
Comments
I still have grand dreams of coming out to Chattanooga and taking over the Opera Association (course, with my current nasty custody battle it ain't none too likely I'll be moving out of state in the next 15 years or so...). Who's brilliant plan was it to program both "The Mikado" and "Madama Butterfly" in the same season? Were they hoping to save money on costumes? Seems pretty funny to me. On the other hand, the "Resurrection" excerpts are always a good thing, being one of the best Mahler pieces around (I remember doing it with Vahktang mannnnnny years ago - you were there I think!).
Take care,
~Laura
Posted by: Laura Sage-Ruiz at September 28, 2006 9:46 PM