Transfigured Afternoon
Yesterday Varia and I went to Symphony Hall to see James Levine conduct Stravinsky, Messiaen, Bartok and Schoenberg. The highlight for me was Messiaen’s Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, which managed to combine clarity, mystery, and tam-tams in just the right proportions. Stravinsky and Bartok were delightful as always, and Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht, while well played, never managed to capture my attention. I’ve heard this piece performed in its original string sextet version, and I have to say that the intimate environment of chamber music suits it much better.
Posted at 9:04 am
December 12th, 2004 at 2:46 am
I really wish I could hear the symphony more often — if at all. My earliest impressions take me back to cartoons on the big screen drawn along with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as Pieter the Wolf played out. As an undergrad at GSU I had the gratification of one music appreciation course — taken as an elective — but through that I was introduced to Smetana’s Ma Vlast — which remains a favorite. I hoard Tchaikovsky — and regret the day I returned the 3 cd’s that came with the text — which I had borrowed from a friend. It is in the fields of music and literature that I often find myself faced with my mortality. I face it with a thick shield of denial — but knowing that there is always another trove of treasure to be found is somewhat disheartening — what’s that word — bittersweet.
December 13th, 2004 at 8:28 am
This puts me in mind of a conversation I had with teacher of mine (the teacher who, incidentally, introduced me to the marvels Ma Vlast). I was despairing over the huge number of books that I hadn’t read, knowing that the number was increasing even as I sat there and lamented.
She smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye and said “I know, isn’t it great? Who’d want to live in a world where there are no more books to read?”
Have you considered looking online for the CD anthology? It doesn’t sound like you used Kerman’s Listen as your text, but if you’re ever feeling like dropping some dough, the book and CDs are rather astounding.
December 13th, 2004 at 10:34 am
I was happy to see such a full concert hall for a midday concert of 20th Century music. It was an unexpected surprise, and one of the things that makes me feel grateful to be living in Boston.
Still waiting to hear some challenging Schoenberg, this was the second concert in a row where the Schoenberg wasn’t as exciting as everything else on the program. That sort of says a lot about how magnificent the opportunities to hear interesting music are here too, though. We’ll have to keep an eye on the program for 2005.
December 16th, 2004 at 1:18 am
“The highlight for me was Messiaen’s Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum . . .”
Ooh, I am sooo jealous!
December 18th, 2004 at 1:40 pm
I have yet to see one of Messiaen’s orchestral works live. Lucky you!