HAPPY HOUR - MARCH 18 - A MUST!!!

Thursday, March 18, 2010 by Paul Berns
Paul Berns Hi All:

Musical moment alert.  At 6:30 tonight for our Happy Hour Concert the ISO's talented bassoonist/doubler Mark Ortwein is a featured sax soloist in JOHN MAYER's  "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." I am telling you this is world class playing.  What a cool piece and Mark's big sound is like "Hollywood or New York" recording studios.  And our talented conductor's singing is unbelievable.  I went out into the hall to hear him (not playing one of the tunes) -- just fantastic.

The orchestra shines in Beethoven/Brahms/Debussy/and Grieg - a little of this and a little of that.

Wow - what a concert.

Just a comment about Shostakovich 11 last week.  A great concert and the orchestra played really well -- a very powerful piece.  I hope you attended and heard some great moments:  our entire viola section really highlighted the evening as did John Wetherill, Principal Bassoon, and the list goes on.  This is ridiculous - I am not a music critic.  English horn, etc. etc. - of course the timpani/percussion section (I'm blushing).  

Now for those interested in where the ISO has performed, here is another list of 10.

10.  St. Louis
  9.  Utica, N.Y.
  8.  Tipton, Indiana (fun concerts for us)
  7.  Panama City, Florida
  6.  You think I am running out of locations?  Nope:  Greenfield, Indiana
  5.  Geneva, Switzerland (great Swiss Army Knives - we all bought them)
  4.  Winona, Minnesota
  3.  La Crosse, Wisconsin
  2.  Walla Walla, Washington (before my time)
  1.  Victory Field in Indianapolis - just had to throw that one in here

So, one time on tour a couple musicians missed the bus after a one hour lunch stop.  They had to catch a plane and made the concert on time.  I hear the plane left from Las Vegas.  Have to find out where they flew tooooooooooooooo.  $$$$ - their expense.   Chuckle.

So, one time two or three ISO musicians went to New Castle and not Greencastle - the music director was not very happy.  Yes, we are human.

Next installment - do members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - one of America's great orchestras - ever make a mistake on stage?????  Do conductors ever make a mistake on stage???


I will only answer these questions if someone "comments" and asks me. 

Bye for now.  (I hear the Pink Floyd Concert Saturday has a few single seats available and stand-by tickets).





Comments for HAPPY HOUR - MARCH 18 - A MUST!!!

Friday, March 19, 2010 by Candi Berry:
What a treat to attend two great shows in the span of one week. I loved the Happy Hour show last night, I agree Mark's sax solo was phenomenal! It's the first time I've heard a piece by Debussy and I enjoyed the variety as you mentioned. Another first for me was hearing Shostakovich 11 last Saturday. I helped with the guest artists that evening and was able to sit in the Hall for the second half. It was truly amazing and powerful, I couldn't sit still in my chair. It's tough to put into words how I felt at the end, it was a deeply moving journey.
Friday, March 19, 2010 by Paul Berns:
Hi Candi: Thanks for the comment - you are proving that attending a Classical Series Concert is as fun and 'moving' as Happy Hour!! Hopefully our audiences will try other series. And don't forget Symphony on the Prairie is on the horizon. Bye for now.

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