Hooray for music!

 After all the hubbub of getting ready for the big kitchen remodel my spouse and I needed a break.  It happens that we have season tickets to the Philharmonic Masterworks series and this evening was the first performance of their spring series.  When I saw the word SPRING on the program booklet I wanted to cheer.  We thought we would enjoy a nice relaxing evening just sitting still and enjoying the music.  We did sit still of course, we are adults after all, but it was not at all what I would call a relaxing evening. More an edge of your seat kind of evening, especially during the second half.  The first music performed was Sibelius's Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 47.  It was moving and brought back images of Finland.  As it said in the program notes, the music was evocative of "the bleak, cold, primeval landscape" of Finland.  I've been to the far north part of Finland (their part of Lapland) and it was cold, and the temperature here is about 15 degrees this evening so I was not thrilled with this selection.  I must say though that the guest solo violinist, Paul Huang was absolutely fantastic.  

The second half of the program was Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 (said to be his best symphony and I believe it).  Shostakovich was a Russian composer who lived during the time of Stalin's brutal rule over Russia.  He wrote this symphony after Stalin's death when things began to get better in Russia.  It's a narrative in music of life under Stalin's rule and the relief felt after.  It was not easy listening.  The first movement was dark, sad and somber.  The second movement frankly scary, then the third started to lighten up, and by the end of the final movement the music was positively joyous.  I must commend the flautist who had a huge part in this symphony.  All in all, a wonderful evening at the Phil.  They never disappoint.  

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