Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:31:12 -0700 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
On Thursday evening I travelled from Pietermaritzburg to Durban to attend
a concert by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (www.kznpo.co.za).
The overture was the 1812. This is the first time a have attended a
live performance of this work. Wow! (Five french horns, bells, two
bass drums, etc.) After Khatchaturian's violin concerto, they performed
Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances. This work was new to me, although I
seem to have a piano duet version (Ashkenazy - Previn) on CD. I was
spellbound from the first note. What a spectacular work. There is a
saxophone (which plays too little), a piano, harp, bells and a gong. The
tambourine plays a prominent part, and often gets turned over and tickled
on its tummy.
The Kznpo is a medium-sized orchestra which produces consistent top
quality music. I especially appreciate the tympanist, a young lady who
plays with gusto, verve and confidence. If any of you guys ever visit
Durban, try to see and hear her.
(I am a free-range widower who has to search every time for a partner
to join me to concerts. The lady who accompanied me last night was full
of praise for the orchestra - and me, of course)
Just a last thought: I always wonder what else Rachmaninov might have
produced had he not been forced to perform to make a living.
Gerhard
http://skoongrappies.com
***********************************************
The CLASSICAL mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R)
list management software together with L-Soft's HDMail High Deliverability
Mailer for reliable, lightning fast mail delivery. For more information,
go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|