Having just enjoyed Lady Gaga's Superbowl halftime performance this past Sunday, I'm thrilled to hear she'll be going on a world tour. Coincidence? I think not. The tour, "Joanne," takes its name from her most recent album. She'll be in NYC on August 28, 2017. That's more than half a year away, and I don't think I've ever planned or committed to a concert that far in advance, but how could I not be excited when so many of my karaoke favorites are fresh in my head? Yeah...the timing of that announcement was definitely not a coincidence. Go ahead, Lady Gaga, take my money. The pre-sale is happening now (for Citi card holders), and the sale opens to the public tomorrow. Time to listen to "Joanne" now.
I've been meaning to go watch The Nutcracker at the NYC Ballet for years but have not been in town or had the time to go during the holiday season, so I'm glad I finally made it this year. I haven't seen this ballet since I was a kid, but I love the music (who doesn't?? it's Tchaikovsky!), and it's such a classic, that adult me had to go at some point.
And...now that I have, I can say that it was fun and festive, and I can see how it's a great production for kids, but adult me prefers Swan Lake. The first act of The Nutcracker actually had relatively little ballet, and it seemed like more of a play and acting. There are also a lot more children in the ballet than I remember (not good or bad, just an observation, but perhaps that's also why there's not as much dancing). The second act has most of the "popular" songs, and the Sugar Plum Fairy was a lovely dancer. As a side note, the Playbill notes definitely made me appreciate some of the dances more.
Overall, it was enjoyable and lighthearted, but it wasn't as amazing as I had remembered. That said, for those who have never seen it, I'd still recommend going one of these years, unless you're Scrooge and hate the holidays.
My earliest memory of Bruch's Violin Concerto is of my friend performing it beautifully and virtuosically with the Clear Lake Symphony Orchestra. I was eleven at the time; she was ten. I remember getting lost in the melodies (and wishing I could play as well as she), and then walking away with the very colorful third movement stuck in my head for days. Later at home, I would listen to the CD over and over -- it was a David Oistrakh recording, and to this day, that's still my favorite rendition. I suppose we're all more or less influenced by, if not partial to, the first recording of a song we hear. Keep in mind this was before the days of YouTube and even Napster; it wasn't nearly as easy to find different recordings and compare and contrast before forming a view!
Bruch composed three violin concertos, or four if you count Scottish Fantasy, which I also love, but his other two concertos are rarely performed and never reached the same level of popularity as the first (hence people often just refer to Bruch's first violin concerto as the Bruch violin concerto). The first movement is dramatic, passionate, and emotional, yet it is probably the most easily forgotten movement and is sometimes described as a long prelude into the second. I'm not sure I agree with that statement though, as the piece has its own distinct character and has darker undertones than the second or third movements. The second movement is actually a rondo and the heart of the concerto; the melody is beautifully sung and becomes more spirited, uplifting, and powerful as the piece progresses, before quieting down again at the end. The third movement is an energetic dance, and perhaps the most impressive (and memorable) with all its double stops and fireworks ending.
Anyway, why am I talking about all of this now? Because the New York Philharmonic will be performing this from October 27 - November 1, with concertmaster Frank Huang as the soloist. So obviously I have to go 1) relive some good memories (I've actually never heard Bruch's violin concerto performed live after my 10-year-old friend's amazing concert), 2) support my fellow Houstonian (no, I don't know Frank Huang, but less than 6 degrees of separation...a few of my other music friends either studied violin with his mom or are friends with his younger sister), and 3) just enjoy one of my favorite violin pieces.
Having just enjoyed Lady Gaga's Superbowl halftime performance this past Sunday, I'm thrilled to hear she'll be going on a world tour. Coincidence? I think not.
