Quick Update
Sunday — Did the first “Generations” concert in Kitchener-Waterloo. It’s basically a family concert in the Bernstein tradition. Serious music, serious explanations, made fun. It was a blast to go through the fugato in the last movmement of Mozart 41 with the audience. I’ve recently taken to explaining counterpoint to non-musician audiences as Sudoku puzzles of Sound. At the end of the performance it was satisfying to feel that the audience was not only applauding the tunes and the performance, but also some really good counterpoint.
Monday — in Chicago for one day to conduct the CSO in a benefit concert with Joshua Bell. First time I’ve worked with him. He played a beautiful Bruch concerto. He really has a lot to say with that piece. It was a wonderful, spacious journey. Also some Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov and Mendelssohn Hebrides. The orchestra told me they hadn’t played that in many years. Too bad — I think it is as close to perfect as music gets, so I programmed it again for our next concert together. At 6:30 (before the concert) I ran over to Harris Theater to hear a run-thru of Nico Muhly’s new piece “Step Team.” But I was a half hour too late! Instead, I got to hear some snippets of a Septet by 19-year-old Mark Simpson, who is from the UK. Enjoyed what I heard — colorful, swirling texture — looking forward to hearing more.
Tuesday — Back to KW to rehearse for our next Intersections concert. It’s all Latin American stuff with Golijov (Last Round) and Ginastera (Variaciones Concertantes). Gabriela Lena Frank is our guest composer/solist for her piece “Compadrazgo.” And she’ll explain her composing process with slides, and musical examples from her piece “Leyendas.” She travels around Latin America seeking out music in the most remote places, and integrating it into her elegant, deftly orchestrated, and fetching music. She’s also a great Musical Spirit. Love her.
Wednesday — Meetings, tech rehearsals, Orchestra Business, interview, rehearsal, blog entry, 30 Rock on DVD, sleep.