A Little Something Extra

I took the only empty seat left in stage terrace yesterday morning during the Indianapolis Symphony's coffee concert.

I just had to.

There was no way I would miss the chance to see our Music Director, Krzysztof Urbanski, conduct the "composition of fear" (as pre-concert host Doug Dillon referenced it): Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. While I watched and felt the grip and rip of this piece, it was easy for me to conclude that Krzys doesn't actually conduct this modern work at all...he sculpts it.

The architecture of this score is unlike anything else in the symphonic world. It's filled with symbols, lines, figures, squiggles and shapes.  See for yourself with this amazing, animated YouTube clip of the Threnody (thanks to ISO bassist Bennett Crantford, for calling my attention to it).

I'm sorry if some of you want tickets for this weekend's final classical performances featuring the Threnody (plus violinist Joshua Bell and Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony). We are all sold out. However, you can always rent the movie "The Shining" to hear it (yikes).

Next season and beyond, look for some more avant-garde programming here and there from our sculptor, I mean conductor, Krzysztof.