I'm watching the Pastoral again now cuz I'm gearing up for the show tonight at Carnegie Hall (DJ ditching me yet again)
https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2021/10/20/The-Philadelphia-Orchestra-0800PM
So Matinee Dave ditched me again Wednesday night as expected; I instead went to Carnegie Hall with Miss Upper West Side (#JustAFriend).
Fucking Carnegie Hall makes you show proof of vaccination AND wear a mask. I did the former, I absolutely did not do the latter, to the chagrin of the lame-asses who sat near me. I took double the pleasure in making the losers squirm.
Also, due to Covid, there's no intermission. I think they don;'t want people congregating. Don't drink before the show. Cuz you ain't pissing till it's over.
We sat three rows from the front of the balcony, dead center. Lately I am really enjoying Carnegie Hall balcony (the very top level - Level #5). The balcony overhangs the other levels, so if you get one of the front rows of the balcony you actually are not that far back, and you can see the entire orchestra. When I always used to sit in the floor, I could never see the wind instruments. Only problem is there ain't much leg room in the balcony.
The program was Beethoven's 4th & 6th Symphonies with The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick N?zet-S?guin continuing its program of afull cycle of Beethoven's symphonies, in a belated 250th birthday (which was actually in 2020, postponed due to Covid).
The 4th isn't on any list of greatest symphonies, I always thought it was kind of jokey and was never much into it, but to tell the truth, it wasn't a terrible opener. I was able to enjoy it.
At the previous show, as I mentioned, Yannick had to play some piece about global fucking warming, supposedly inspired by Beethoven, and gave this speech about how we play Beethoven but we also gotta play the contemporaries with their social justice shit. The show last week was (gasp!) only Beethoven, but Yannick had to take the microphone and speak apologetically about only playing Beethoven and assure us that he would in fact play other pieces at future Beethoven shows, and assure us that the Pastoral was in fact about social justice. I made my displeasure with his speech plainly known to everyone in my section. Now Miss Upper West Side was squirming.
Anyway, we finally got to the Pastoral, and it's one of the greatest versions I've ever heard. Particularly, I like the third movement played very quickly; and I think this was the quickest I'd heard it. It was an amazing performance.
Oh, I gotta mention something else about Yannick: He walks onto the stage with a mask. Takes it off for the show. Then puts it back on as he walks off the stage. Then comes back on for his standing ovation, and takes it back off. So I guess he can't catch Covid while on stage, but can catch it while walking off and standing backstage? Oh, and half the string section was wearing masks. Of course, we all know you can give someone Covid while playing the violin but not blowing the oboe.
Anyway, nevermind the he conducts in leggings, does weird shit with masks, and most infuriatingly has to turn Beethoven into some sort of social justice warrior. When he's actually just conducting the orchestra, he's actually terrific. Another great show!
Next up, November 9: Beethoven's 8th & 7th Symphonies (of course, with some contemporary piece sandwiched in middle. (We already had the global warming piece, so I guess this is probably about transphobia or affirmative action or why everyone should wear masks for the rest of their lives.)
DJ and I once went to the 7th & 8th a few years ago in Lincoln Center. Like most people, DJ prefers the 7th. It's really famous and popular. The 8th is Beethoven's shortest symphony and not nearly as famous. I am in the minority: I'm actually going because of the 8th. I really like it. I have little use for the 7th.
So what'll it be, Matinee Dave? You in for a night show this time or out again?
