Tonight: Wynton Marsalis and The New York Philharmonic play Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker with a Ellington twist.
Program: AARON COPLAND (1900-1990) - El Salón México (1936) - well, I had to do something I rarely do: work late. I arrived at the third tier of Avery Fisher Hall just as the orchestra was beginning the Copland piece, much to my chagrin. I had to suffer with the other tardy souls in the lobby. The Phil had the forethought to place large flat screen televisions so we could watch the performance via short circuit, but it was rather hard to hear. Oh well. And I love Copland. Sigh.
CHRISTOPHER ROUSE, born in 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland - Symphony No. 2 (1994) - This was the debut of this piece and the composer was in the house. It was an angry, chaotic, messy trainwreck of a piece, yet I didn't hate it. I certainly didn't love it though. It was startling at moments. It kept the horns and the percussion quite busy. I was glad when it was over.
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY/Ellington (1840-1893) / (1899-1974) Ellington’s Nutcracker (1962) It wasn't just Wynton. It was the whole Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whew, did they ever swing! I'll never be able to go to the Nutcracker Ballet without snapping my fingers and tapping my toe again. The Phil and the Jazz took turns playing the same movements of the suite. It became almost comical - sweeping strings, jubilant horns, sweet sounds trading places with a nutcracker wit the bluesy jazz. It was perfect. I'll never be able to go to the Nutcracker Ballet without snapping my fingers and tapping my toe again.
Click here to catch some of the action!
3 comments:
Oh, you're going to this!? Ah! I love the Tchaikovsky and Marsalis is rarely a disappointment, so this is sure to be awesome!
Wow! Thanks for this. I couldn't keep my feet still!
ooh! i went to see wynton marsalis once a few years back when i lived in new york. awesomeness.
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