PREVIEW: Berliner Philharmoniker

Berliner Philharmoniker

Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
Tuesday, November 17, 8 pm
Hill Auditorium

This is THE perfect orchestra experience you have been looking for. Founded during UMS’s third season in 1882, the Berliner Philharmoniker has long been considered one of the world’s finest orchestras.

To quote from the UMS website:-

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Sir Simon Rattle,  their new music director, has conducted many of the world’s great orchestras. In addition to his duties in Berlin, he regularly guest conducts the Vienna Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and other celebrated ensembles. Rattle makes his UMS debut with this appearance, which features Brahms’s final two symphonies as well as film music composed by Schoenberg. This exclusive tour will include only a handful of US cities — New York, Chicago, Boston, and Ann Arbor.

Please note that the Berliner Philharmoniker has requested that late seating for this performance occur at intermission — after the first complete work on the program.

Program
· Brahms : Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 (1883)
· Schoenberg : Begleitmusik zu einer Lichstspielszene, Op. 34 (1929-30)
· Brahms : Symphony No. 4 in e minor, Op. 98 (1884-5)

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On 18 December 2008, the Orchestra announced the creation of a Digital Concert Hall: this new Internet platform will enable music fans all over the world to see and hear the Philharmonic’s concerts – live or on demand. There was a free performance sponsored by the Deutsch Bank around two months back. But I had missed it. So I am so excited to see the real deal.

Student rush tickets are difficult to get. But there might be some rush tickets at the box office on the day of the performance due to cancellations. See you there, folks.

Krithika, [art]seen reviewer

Krithika loves to get comments 🙂

REVIEW: Halloween Concert 10/25

Halloween Concert – Costumes Galore!

University Symphony Orchestra and University Philharmonic Orchestra

Program:
March of the Little Goblins  —————————————— Adam Glaser
Overture to Die Fledermaus (The Bat) —————————– Johann Strauss, Jr.
Night on Bald Mountain ———————————————Modest Mussorgsky
The Fairy Garden from Mother Goose —————————-Maurice Ravel
Funeral March of the Marionettes ———————————Charles Gounod
Storm from Peter Grimes ——————————————- Benjamin Britten
Witches’ Sabbath from Symphonie Fantastique —————–Hector Berlioz
The Ride of the Valkyries ——————————————-Richard Wagner
Star Wars Medley—————————————————– John Williams

Wow – I never thought serious musicians would ever dress up in crazy costumes for a classical music concert! But when I walked into Hill Auditorium, the first thing I saw was the sea of bumblebees, angels, bunnies, and other, interesting yet occasionally unidentifiable costumes. Fully impressed, I thought back to my high school days when our conductor told us to dress up for the holiday concerts, and I was the only one in the violin section with reindeer antlers.

Before each piece, the conductor walked on staged and gave a little introduction to the piece through a comical skit which left the audience laughing. The conductor of “The Fairy Garden” frolicked and skipped on stage in an elaborate ballerina-like costume complete with a giant tutu and colorful leggings. My favorite was the “invisible” conductor for the “Witches’ Sabbath.” Creaky door sounds and footsteps sounds were played as the stage door opened and closed (no person passed through), but the most mysterious part was when the music, or rather, a giant piece of cardboard, on the stand flipped back and forth. This happened several time times during the piece and though I scrutinized every slight movement of the first row of musicians, I could not figure out who was moving the “music!”

All the pieces in this program were pretty short, living up to the advertised “fun for the entire family.” Maybe I’m used to long symphonies and concertos – I actually wished the pieces were a little longer, but the short concert is perfect for friends who may not be as interested in long classical pieces.

By far, the best part of the concert was the encore when the orchestra played the “Ghostbusters” theme song and the conductors danced on staged, especially since I knew one of the conductors from when I played in the Campus Symphony Orchestra!

At the end, one of the conductors asked the audience who had attended the concert last year. Many people raised their hands. Then he asked about the past 5 years. The past 10 years. And finally, the past 20 years – several people raised their hands! I loved the enthusiasm of the whole orchestra – they wanted to be there and they were excited to play for the audience. And we were all just as excited to watch the performance. 1 year down, 19 more to go!

PREVIEW: Halloween Concert

PREVIEW: Halloween Concert
Date: Sunday, Oct 25th, 2009
Location: Hill Auditorium
Time: 4pm and 7:30pm
Link to buy tickets online: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=3456&month_value=9&current_year=2009
$12/$8
Also sold at the league ticket office

Take a break from homework and get in the Halloween spirit! This spooky concert will be performed by the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by graduate students. The music selections have not been released yet, so this concert is sure to be a fun surprise. The orchestra will be wearing costumes, so make sure you do the same!