The concert in Boca went well. I tried something new. After playing Carl Ruggles’s prophetic and dissonant work “Men and Mountians,” I encouraged the audience to applaud the piece if they liked it, and boo if they didn’t. There were defintiely some boos, but there were also a few bravos. I prefer either to tepid applause.

Meanwhile in Miami beach, I caught a concert at New World Symphony conducted by Benjamin Shwartz, with Yuja Wang as piano soloist. Before each piece, words ticked onto the screen behind the orchestra, describing the piece they were about to hear in a humorous and snarky manner. I felt like I was watching “Adult Swim” on the Cartoon Network. That’s not a bad thing. Also, there were free cocktails one and a half hours before the concert. Everyone had a fine time, and somehow the music was still at the center of everything. It was a cool way of refreshing the concert “format” without dumbing-down or overwhelming the music.

Today, in San Francisco, I caught rehearsals for the premiere of Robin Holloway’s Fourth Concerto for Orchestra. Massive, complex, tonal, and worth hearing. Aarron Jay Kernis, who just premiered a piece at the SF Conservatory, dropped by to listen as well.

It was just one of those fine SF days —
A friend was visiting from LA, so we went downtown to check out an art show called “Sensacional! - Mexican Street Graphics” at Yerba Buena. Very cool and I saw this video which is like a Mexican David Lynch movie that you can dance to ….

Afterwards, we headed to Groove Merchant records in the Lower Haight. My elementary school friend Chris owns the store — and he turned me on to a recording of a radio broadcast from Philly in 1969 (W.H.A.T am). 1 hour of rare grooves and serious funk. I’m sad I wasn’t alive then.

Finally, I ran into another friend of mine who introduced me to an amazing woodworker in SF who is going to build a table for me. He’s kind of an obsessive genius, and I’m glad he’s making my furniture.

It was a good day.

Returning to many old haunts this week. The orchestra here is rising again, with a sold-out performance of The Planets and some John Williams on the first half.

I’ve got nothing but love for the music of John Williams. Great tunes, well-orchestrated and fun to play. And I still get chills when I conduct the opening fanfare of Star Wars, even though I must have done it at least 100 times by now!

I’m thrilled for the Tulsa Symphony, they have an innovative plan merging musicians and management, and are making some strong connections with the community again, and most importantly, their vibe is very inclusive, collaborative and positive.

I don’t want to do two food entries in a row, but you can check out my myspace page for thoughts about how to make a hamburger.

I’m thrilled to announce that I am the new Music Director of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony. I begin in September 2007, and have been appointed artistic advisor effective immediately. The Kitchener Waterloo Symphony is an outstanding and accomplished group of artists, and I couldn’t be happier.

For those new to the site, welcome! This is a good way to get to know me. You’ll hear about what I’m conducting, where I’m surfing (waves, not the internet), what I’m reading, and general thoughts about music.

For those new to the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, find out more HERE.

The Children’s Hospital by Chris Adrian

The world ends and only a Children’s Hospital survives. Long, surreal, medical, and I can’t put it down.

Touring with the New Zealand Symphony right now. Today we head down the coast from Marlborough to Kaikoura, where I can surf, whale watch, swim with the dolphins, eat crayfish, or just watch TV. The program? Mozart Marriage of Figaro Overture, Violin Concerto No. 5, Copland Music for the Theatre, Haydn Symphony No. 104.

The Copland is such a great piece, and goes over very well. Why isn’t it done more often?