Program:
Haydn The Storm; Scena di Berenice
Haydn Symphony No. 96, Miracle
Mozart Coronation Mass
SF Symphony on Wednesday night with W., as usual. No dinner, we both worked late. cold outside.
the SF Chorus was there. Apparently their director, Vance George, is retiring after this year, so there was a big piece in the program about him.
The first half of the program was really quite good. All Haydn: a chorale piece, a soprano solo [quite good, the Scena de Berenice], and then a gorgeous Haydn Symphony: No. 96, from the period when he was in London. I was really fond of the first two movements, especially the second movement, the Andante. A really show the orchesta’s musicality as the melody moves around the orchestra in a series of wind solos, as the violins fill in the background. It was a smaller orchestra, so it was easy to find who was playing what at any particular moment.
The second half was Mozart’s Coronation Mass. I feel like I’ve sung this piece while in college. Maybe just the Kyrie and the Gloria–actually, I’m pretty sure I remember singing it at church when I sang in McCauley’s choir. The rest of the Mass I didn’t really remember. Anyway. I enjoyed the Mass, but I kind of ran out of steam towards the end. The guest conductor was good, (Haselbock) and he filled out the program with some pieces that were probably played at the original Mass performance, or at least in the same time period.
The quartet of soloists were really good, especially the soprano,who sang the Haydn piece in the first half. She also wore a great blue taffetta dress. I’m always happy when the guest artists wear something attractive and colorful. Makes it more of an event. I know I do my part, showing up in my jeans, t-shirt, red and beige suede Pumas, and my bright red-orange fleece.
I usually use the 3rd floor Men’s room at the intermission, mostly because I like to step out onto the outdoor platform they have up there tog et some fresh air. As I got on the elevator, two young men in priest’s robes and colalrs got on with me. One was a tall, lanky Germanic-looking guy with sandly blonde hair and glasses. Maybe about 6 feet tall. The other was a short, squat Asian guy, with a full beard and mustache. On the elevator they talked about the glass mirrors and claustrophobia. “Didn’t Hitler demand only really large elevators?” I wondered if this was their first time at the symphony.
After I got out of the bathroom, I went out to the deck. There I saw the two priests. The tall one pulled out a small metal case with a faux gold trim. He offered a cigarette to the asian priest. They both lit up separately.
Not everyday you see some priests light up. It was delicious to watch them enjoy a small vice.
Anyway, fun concert. W had a party to go to. I was tired, and went home and caught up on Battlestar Galactica and Grey’s Anatomy.