Evelyn Glennie @ the ASO

Candace and I have been to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra twice in the past week due to both concerts having new pieces on them. The first concert we saw was more typical than the second (which I'll cover in my next post): the concert opened with Gershwin's Cuban Overture and ended with Dvorák's (no clue how to type the symbol above the 'r' in his name) New World Symphony, but in the middle the ASO performed John Corigliano's new percussion concerto Conjurer along with world-famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

Overall, the concert was one of the better shows I've seen the ASO do in a long time, as it featured a new work with a vibrant soloist along with two generally pleasant older pieces. The Gershwin wasn't performed all that tightly, but the Cuban feel to it was certainly refreshing for the symphony hall. This performance actually got me thinking that I might want to spend some time getting to know Gershwin's work, as it's probably better than my generally stuffy conservatory training would have let me to believe.

The Corigliano piece was a bit of a letdown, despite the presence that Evelyn Glennie brought to the performance. The three movements were split (fairly-typically) into the three families of percussion instruments (wood, metal, and skin), and apart from moments in the middle movement, nothing really moved me. Still, it was good to see Evelyn Glennie live, playing barefoot and all. Surprisingly, the program didn't mention her deafness...maybe she doesn't want everyone to automatically think she has overcome a huge obstacle whenever they see her play?

Finally, the Dvorák (despite me shit-talking it before it went on) was actually really nice. I hate to admit it, but although I certainly recognized themes in all the movements (with possible exception to the fourth), I don't think I've ever heard this piece in its entirety, making me even more hypocritical for speaking poorly of it. I mean, it's still not a piece I love, but when compared with how bored I am during most mainstream symphonies, this piece really is a winner in my books. And although the second movement's theme has grown to be a bit cheesy at this point, it's still a really nice moment when you first hear it within the context of the symphony. So, surprisingly, I would say the New World Symphony ended up being the best piece of the evening for me, even with a John Corigliano work involved (which I usually love).