Stewart Copeland concert 2/19/16 Pittsburgh

[Throb]

enjoy the show!
hope the weather is cooperating!
I'm in sunny Southern CA so I don't know what's it like back east.

[mairinpgh]

Thanks Throb - its a balmy 55 here, and supposedly will be a fairly decent weekend (maybe even 62 on Sat). Just hoping the travelers don't run into any weather issues en route.

Re Conroy & Sockii: Mr. Mairinpgh & I will be @ "Olive or Twist" around 5:30, then plan to head over to the meet/greet at 7 pm. (but you will like Il Tetto. Its usually a post show destination for us but I think should be a good place to eat beforehand). Safe travels & enjoy the show if we don't run into you.

[njperry]

I am in town now. Won't have trouble making the performance but may not make it to the pre-show talk.

[Throb]

How was the show???
Inquiring minds want to know!

[mairinpgh]

A kinda of crappy review from local music critic re the 2/19 performance: http://triblive.com/aande/music/9979448 ... a-symphony

My own review is a bit mixed: I really liked the pre-show talk with Stewart & the featured percussionists (they staged all of the percussionists, except for the poor timpanist who remained stuck in the back of the orchestra, up at the front of the stage, with Stewart's kit set up to the right). Stewart was very enthusiastic & happy to expound upon his creation , and it was interesting to hear from the other percussionists as well. As for the show itself, I enjoyed the first movement; but the 2d movement was a bit muddled (and sadly, Stewart's drum kit did drown out the rest of the orchestra for much of it. At the pre-show discussion, Stewart had admitted that they had placed a clear plastic barrier around his kit b/c he was "too loud" for the apparently fragile musicians near him). There also was a rather new guest conductor that evening, and I don't know if that impacted the situation with the orchestra's performance too. I found the 3d movement to have some interesting bits & definite momentum, but still not as cohesive overall as the 1st movement (which apparently had been written under a previous commission with another symphony, and thus sounded a bit more polished - at least to my amateur ears). However, Stewart remained animated throughout, and clearly was having a grand time. You couldn't help but smile while watching him. At the end, he threw up his drumsticks in the air like he was at a Police gig - and then they landed on a couple of viola players behind him, much to their clear dismay (you could just tell by their faces they were gearing to file a union grievance on Monday am! )

There also was a meet & greet with Stewart after the show (and after the Shostakovich bit, of course) so that was fun as well once we made it thru the long queue (I had never had the opportunity to meet him before - I introduced myself as one of the "flag-bearers", but that seemed to take him by surprise & he didn't understand the reference at first. Time is indeed marching on folks). I didn't get to go to the Sunday show - too many family obligations - so the others will have to weigh in on that....but overall, I would highly recommend seeing it if it comes to a city near you!

[mairinpgh]

Photo from pre-show talk

[mairinpgh]

SC with kit & "protective sound screen"

[njperry]

There was unfortunately, a cough going around during the show.

*cough*
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wi5zdmt1qxdt ... YJgja?dl=0
*cough*

[njperry]

As to my thoughts of the show, I also only attended Friday night's show and very much enjoyed it.

I agree that the second movement was the weakest of the three but I am fonder of the third movement.

It was great to hear Stewart and 4 other expert percussionists play with what Stewart had called a "big ass orchestra."

However, this composition is not at the level in my view of Stewart's greatest compositions, Ben Hur (for the 1925 movie) and Gamalean D'Drum. Still very enjoyable. It is a bit like saying I liked Romeo and Juliet but that playwright's Hamlet and Macbeth were better.

[conroy]

The first movement may sound familiar to some folks because it is directly from Stewart's score to the "Dead Like Me" tv series. If you have the soundtrack that was released a few years ago, you can hear a bit of it in "Suite from Rest in Peace Pt. 1" and the end of "Suite from Haunted".

I prefer the third movement because I think the strings and horns in it are beautiful. I can't wait to catch the Pittsburgh Plague so I can listen to it again. BTW, there were no flying drumsticks at Sunday's matinee performance.

Traditionally the second movement of most classical pieces tends to be the slower one, so I can imagine it is the most difficult part for a composer of a drum concerto to work out. I find them difficult in many other traditional classical pieces myself. I personally think Stewart did a fantastic job with that issue in Gamelan D'Drum's second movement.

I'm bummed we couldn't meet up with you in Pittsburg but I'm thrilled you got to meet Stewart!! We loved Il Tetto. It was perfect with the warm weather. Everything in the area was crowded both Friday and Saturday when we went to see the Music of Led Zeppelin also at Heinz Hall. Every meal we had in Pittsburgh was great.

[rhoeckel]

Thanks a lot from Germany, njperry!