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Symphony

A friend had a spare ticket for the Venice Symphony.  Venice has a brand new Performing Arts Center.  The performance was a great treat for me.


The program included an overture by Rossini and Bach's Concerto in D minor for Two Violins.  The two main violinists were Angela and Jennifer Chun--in incredibly beautiful silk dresses.

I don't see music being made in person very often.  It always amazes how much physical intensity it takes in addition to the mental concentration and the gift of talent.

The final piece was Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Opus 10 by Dmitri Shostakovich.  He completed it at the age of 18, a graduation project for the St.Petersburg Conservatory.  As i said, the gift of talent.

Comments

  1. SextantMarch 14, 2015 at 3:17 AM

    One of my favorite pieces of music is the third movement in Shostakovich's Symphony # 5.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYxpDOdq2w

    This piece really shows the power and range of the strings. Unfortunately the rendition above must have been performed in the height of the Russian cold and flu season judging from the amount of coughing heard.

    Among Shostakovich's talents was the ability to survive Stalin. He was denounced several times. Stalin accused his music as failing the principals of the proletariat and the revolution. Many of his contemporaries were caught up in the purges and were shot or exiled. Somehow Shostakovich managed to survive these purges.

    There is something magical about seeing a symphony orchestra perform live. It is odd that the many odd contraptions and the gyrations required to operate them can be the source of such beautiful sound.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MuffieMarch 14, 2015 at 11:02 AM

    It's been a while since I've attended a live concert, and we have a beautiful concert hall (the Kimmel Center) right across the river. I think I'll nudge the guy who lives here to take me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 14, 2015 at 11:54 AM

    That's simply wonderful. I am glad you enjoyed the concert.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BarbMarch 14, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    Did you also wear a beautiful silk dress, Olga? I haven't been to the symphony in a long while.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TaborMarch 14, 2015 at 1:08 PM

    Lucky you to get to hear such beautiful music as it is performed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Arkansas PattiMarch 14, 2015 at 3:07 PM

    Lucky you. Sadly I have never attended a symphony but I am a lover of the classics and have them on my MP3 right along side Willie Nelson and Kid Rock. The classics can put me into a lovely relaxed and reflective mood.

    ReplyDelete
  7. SakuMarch 14, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    I have only recently attended the symphony; both times were last fall. I really enjoyed the music, far more than I thought I would. It's amazing the impact of the instruments playing together can have on one's emotions.

    I'm glad you got the chance to enjoy this treat!

    ReplyDelete
  8. BarbaraMarch 14, 2015 at 8:54 PM

    One of the things I like about Florida is that they seem to have a lot of musical facilities. I think because the retirees tend to like symphonies, they get a lot of support and you can find them all up and down the Gulf Coast.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownMarch 15, 2015 at 5:30 PM

    You described the intensity of a live performance very well, it is a lot of work and such a wonderful result! So glad you got to go.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Country GirlMarch 15, 2015 at 11:10 PM

    Sounds wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. KayMarch 16, 2015 at 3:21 AM

    It always amazes to to hear of the incredible talent of these gifted artists. How wonderful that you were able to enjoy their gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jenn JilksMarch 16, 2015 at 9:39 AM

    How delightful! We had the kids over on Saturday night. THAT was a symphony!!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotteMarch 16, 2015 at 3:18 PM

    Music is fun to compose and to play once lessons have been given.
    I am happy that you had that LIVE experience. We still go quite regularly to the symphony and opera..

    ReplyDelete

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