Tuesday, January 26, 2010
College Night: Beethoven's Fifth
Join us for an evening of free food, beverages, and networking with the Orchestra's musicians immediately following the performance of Beethoven's Fifth on January 28. And remember, as a member of eZseatU, you can bring as many as 4 guests for the special $8 per ticket add-on rate!
Log on to www.philorch.org/ezseatu to reserve your tickets for the concert. An eZseatU membership is NOT required to attend this event.
--David Gottlieb
Monday, January 18, 2010
Classical 101: Or, How Old Favorites Are Like A Warm Blanket In Winter
Some of you may be new to the classical scene. Some may have listened to the fundamental repertoire, but never had the chance to see it live. And those of you who know these works like the back of your hand, know there is nothing like the bliss from hearing them performed in person. It is a real treat to hear these paradigm works played by a major orchestra - we are sensitized to put these famous pieces in the back of our minds, due to their background usage and snippet-ing in films and commercials, but to listen to the music unabated under the talent of the Philadelphia Orchestra, complete and uninterrupted, shows why these works deserve the attention they receive.
Beethoven would change the idea of what a symphony could be irrevocably with his Fifth Symphony, his first symphony written in the minor mode (the other being his eternal Ninth). This groundbreaking work, cementing Beethoven as Europe's predominant musical genius and shattering the conventions of both symphonic form and content, has one secret flaw: the first movement is so powerful that one forgets that the work is a 4-movement symphony. There may not be another piece in the repertoire as underrated as the second movement of Beethoven's 5th, and if for the pleasure of learning the last three movements for the first time, I can't encourage one to go enough. Pairing it with one of the best cello concertos ever written, Saint-Säens' Cello Concerto No. 1, just makes the concert all the more special. If you would ever like to witness the full power and range of a cello, make sure to get yourself to this concert (Jan. 28, 29, 30).
The orchestra conveniently decided to make my job hard, and put amazing concerts non-stop for the next 3 months. As such, I will update bi-monthly about the upcoming concerts, and will post again in early February about those concerts to look forward to. Until then, enjoy!
--David Gottlieb
Beethoven would change the idea of what a symphony could be irrevocably with his Fifth Symphony, his first symphony written in the minor mode (the other being his eternal Ninth). This groundbreaking work, cementing Beethoven as Europe's predominant musical genius and shattering the conventions of both symphonic form and content, has one secret flaw: the first movement is so powerful that one forgets that the work is a 4-movement symphony. There may not be another piece in the repertoire as underrated as the second movement of Beethoven's 5th, and if for the pleasure of learning the last three movements for the first time, I can't encourage one to go enough. Pairing it with one of the best cello concertos ever written, Saint-Säens' Cello Concerto No. 1, just makes the concert all the more special. If you would ever like to witness the full power and range of a cello, make sure to get yourself to this concert (Jan. 28, 29, 30).
The orchestra conveniently decided to make my job hard, and put amazing concerts non-stop for the next 3 months. As such, I will update bi-monthly about the upcoming concerts, and will post again in early February about those concerts to look forward to. Until then, enjoy!
--David Gottlieb
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