I just got back from my daily backstage visit to document the
process of turning the Hilbert Circle Theatre into the Jimmy Fallon
Show set during the Super Bowl week. Here's what I overheard
as I was taking this picture:
Look folks, this carpet has to fit over this area *perfectly.*
These measurements should be exact...this carpet should be taut,
and I mean *perfectly* taut...no room for any error here. I
need it *perfect*. Did I say *perfect?* I mean absolutely
*perfect.*
Perfection is good.
I'v...
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Here we go.
Preparations for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis are in full swing.
Roadways are closed off. Massive tents have been erected all
around town. The two football teams have been selected.
And Jimmy Fallon gave Indianapolis a shout-out on his show (come on
Indiana - submit a video!).
And speaking of the Jimmy Fallon Show, we are proud to be a part of
the preparation madness.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has moved its performances to
Clowes Memorial Hall
this weekend in order...
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Now
that I’ve sappily snapped photos of the Hilbert Circle Theatre
marquee, the Symphony Centre entrance, the Marketing and
Communications Department sign, and my desk…I feel it is time to
pen one final blog post.
As this is my last day at the ISO, my sentimental mood has led me
to reflect back on the amazing opportunities this internship has
afforded me – meeting and interacting with a group of wonderful
co-workers, taking private lessons from the ISO’s principal
clarinetist, hearing some of my...
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Happy December!
This month, we're amping up our social media sites to celebrate the
most festive season of the year! Maestro Man has already donned a
Santa hat, and we've posted an album full of images of our Yuletide
preparations. And from today through Christmas, look for a special
ISO "treat" (pictures, blog posts, Yuletide scoop, etc.)
every day on our social media sites!
So this holiday season, visit us at Hilbert Circle Theatre for
Yuletide Celebration, Scottish Rite Cathedral for
Classic...
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It's been six months since I graduated
from college and what do I miss the most? Well, that might be a
trick question. But one thing I do miss A LOT is student ticket
prices. Gone are the days when I can attend world class arts events
on the cheap. Or are they?
With Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Cyber Monday special, all
(well, most) tickets to Classical, Pops, Symphonic Hits and Happy
Hour performances are priced at the student rate of $12. Now, I
don't mean to get preachy, but this is a...
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What little girl didn't prance around her living room
belting "Sixteen Going on Seventeen?" What teenager didn't
experience some kind of adolescent romantic longing as the stars of
the high school musical crooned "Some Enchanted Evening?" What
music appreciation teacher didn't at least reference "Do-Re-Mi" in
a lesson on Solfege syllables?
Although I am a self-proclaimed "orchestra dork" and will
exalt the unparalleled power of classical music until my dying day,
I cannot deny that the works of...
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If
two years ago anyone had told me that the Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra concert for which I would be most
excited this season would be
Mahler's First Symphony, I would have called them
crazy.
For most of my life as a classical musician, I could
never bring myself to like or even understand Mahler's
compositions. Beethoven symphonies, Brahms sonatas, and even
Strauss tone poems made sense to me, but these long, loud, and
laborious Mahler works that call for an army of brass
players and...
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Hello, everyone!
My name is Shannon Draucker, and I'm the new Communications Intern
for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I am so excited to be
here - meeting great people, listening to wonderful music, and
learning a lot about the organization!
After I was hired, I immediately visited the ISO's website to
peruse the program for this season. When I saw that the ISO,
joined by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Children's Choir,
would be performing Carl Orff's masterwork
Carmina Burana,
I...
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It's a big day at the Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra on Monday, Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. That's when the flood
gates open and single ticket purchasers can "have at it" and secure
the best seat in the house for virtually any concert of their
choice (except
Yuletide Celebration - you'll have to wait
for late September, folks).
Which begs the question...what concert are you looking forward to
the most?
I know my picks. I blogged about
this particular piece of musica year ago. Thank goodness I get to...
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Hi
Everyone:
I have not written for awhile - just too busy.! But, we are
getting excited about this summer's run at
Symphony
on the Prairie. The music looks
fantastic.
Was at Home Depot (kitchen remodeling project and porch furniture)
and I saw a couple picking out chairs and discussing if the
attached umbrella would bother other concert goers at the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concerts this summer.
So, we struck up a conversation - they recognized me (darn
pony tail). A great couple -...
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"Give it more vowel," Assistant Artistic Director Michael Davis
implores the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. "A little longer -
really full," he coaxes. "Keep everything going."
This past Tuesday I found the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir hard at
work, preparing for next week's Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra performances of
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Watching them, I was
struck by how much time and effort goes into preparing for a work
as grand as this one.
The work starts weeks, months,...
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I'm gladly turning over my blog to our very own Principal Viola
Michael Isaac Strauss, who performs as soloist this
weekend alongside ISO Concertmaster Zach De Pue. Mike and Zach will
be playing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and
Orchestra. This will be the first time the pair has played
this piece together.
The Sinfonia Concertante for Violin,
Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major, K. 364 (320d), is a work
that is dear to my heart. I have played the work with over half a
dozen...
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If
you've visited the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra this
season, hopefully you have noticed the newest feature of our
program book, the "About the Instrument" section on page six. We
ask the musicians to tell us about their instrument, its mechanics,
its history and what makes it a unique and necessary part of the
orchestra. This gives the audience insight into what is happening
onstage and behind the scenes to create the wonderful music they
hear.
As part of my internship, I've had the...
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For the next Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic
Hits Concerts (
April
1 and 2 at 7:30), we welcome up-and-coming British conductor
Michael Francis, who was brought on board just a couple weeks ago,
replacing Mark Wigglesworth who is expecting a child back in
England. Michael Francis has made quite a reputation stepping
in at the last minute. In fact he launched his conducting
career in 2006 by stepping out of the bass section of the London
Symphony and into a rehearsal of Shostakovich's...
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In
this
weekend's concerts, the ISO is performing John Adams'
Lollapalooza, Saint-Saens' Second Piano Concerto (featuring
Ingrid Fliter), Debussy's La Mer, and a piece never before
performed by the ISO: Aaron Copland's Second
Symphony. It's not very often that this occurs, so I
have included Marianne's thoughts from the program book on
Copland's "Short Symphony."
Marianne Williams Tobias has authored the Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra's program notes for more than 20
years.
When I entered...
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On
Feb. 27, Dan Kamin will bring side-splitting, family-friendly
comedy to Hilbert Circle Theatre--without saying a word. In a
performance of
"The Classical Clown" with the ISO and
conductor David Glover, Kamin will play a mischievous clown who
battles the conductor for control of the orchestra. His masterful
physical comedy is sure to delight everyone from toddlers to their
grandparents.
Kamin's comedy resume is impressive--he trained Johnny Depp and
Robert Downey, Jr. for their acclaimed...
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This week on the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's
Symphonic Hits series we're presenting three works by
the great Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak. I am also very excited
that we are recording the entire concert for later release on CD!
While all three works on the program have interesting
backgrounds, I thought that here on the blog we could get to
know Dvorak, the person, a little bit better. Many people know that
he lived for a short time in America, but I hope on the following
list you'll...
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Today was a good day.
It has been said that the most challenging part of the classical
music business these days is trying to bring in new, excited people
to build the next generation of concert goers in order to help
sustain the future of our art form. And in a world of endless
entertainment choices just a mouse or remote control click away,
its no wonder that we have to work harder to make sure the beauty
and power of classical music is available to everyone that wants
it.
So I thought to...
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The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra just wrapped up another Stella
Artois
Happy Hour at the Symphony with our magnificent
ensemble, Time for Three. Post your comments...what was
your favorite moment from tonight's concert?
Mark your calendars for the next
Happy Hour -- as luck
would have it, it's on St. Patrick's Day!
During
every season at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, we have
orchestra members, soloists and conductors who push through a
concert despite a cold or a sore back, but this week our soloist,
IU South Bend's own Alexander Toradze
is playing after emergency surgery just three days
ago.
For 10 days, Mr. Toradze had been experiencing blurred vision
in his left eye. After a visit to his regular eye doctor, he was
referred to Dr. Thomas Hauch at South Bend Retina and Vitreous who
diagnosed him...
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