Showing posts with label bpo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bpo. Show all posts
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Classically Speaking: Galway's Golden Flute


The BPO's 2012/2013 season kicks off this weekend with an opening night gala featuring world renowned flutist Sir James Galway.  The evening will included performances of Hamilton Harty's An Irish Symphony and Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major.

Nicknamed "The Man With The Golden Flute," Sir Galway has recorded an extensive catalog for flute the world over and has enjoyed success with more mainstream music via live performances with artists such as Roger Waters and performing on the soundtrack for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.  His albums have sold more than 30 million copies and he maintains a vigorous touring schedule... between now and New Year's, he will be performing in Buffalo, New Jersey, Hong Kong, Beijing, various locales in the United Kingdom, and finally, a New Years Eve performance in New York City.

This season looks to be very promising, with many can't-miss performances of world-class material.  I am very much looking forward to attending as many shows of the Classics Series as I can and will be posting previews of all Classics Series shows this season.

The Opening Night Gala is this Saturday at 8PM
Kleinhans Music Hall is located at 3 Symphony Circle (where North turns into Porter)
Tickets range from $42-$92



Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking


The BPO's Classics Series comes to a close this weekend with what should be one of the most anticipated and dramatic works of the season: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3.

Often hailed as one of Mahler's most unique and grandiose works, Mahler's Third explores themes of creation and nature over the course of six movements.  There are few works that equal Mahler's Third is scale, as it often clocks in at between 90-120 minutes... a feat that has rarely been approached in the world of symphonic music... especially back in the Romantic period.

This weekends' performances will feature a little bit of everything as the orchestra will be joined by the women of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus for the fourth and fifth movements.

Be sure to make your way down to Kleinhans this weekend as you do not want to miss out on the opportunity to see a production such as this.  This weekends performances were a large determining factor in me purchasing my season passes this year... unfortunately I will be out of town and unable to take the show in.

Performances are as follows:

Saturday, June 2 at 8:00PM
Sunday, June 3 at 2:30PM

Ticket prices range from $25-$72


Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking


Last weekend allowed us to get intimate with the music of Duke Ellington's jazzy pop pieces as part of the BPO's "Pops Series"... this weekend, though, it's time to get classic.

This Saturday and Sunday, the BPO will be hosting the final week of their celebration of the genius of Duke Ellington at Kleinhan's Music Hall.  Many consider him to be among the greatest composers of the 20th Century (and the fact that the BPO has dedicated two weeks of programming to his music is nothing to sway me differently).

Experience the Suite from The River, as well as, Black, Brown, and Beige by Duke Ellington and Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns.

The music being played this weekend has a far reach, as lovers of big band, jazz, and classical will all find something to enjoy.

Showtimes are as follows:
Saturday, May 12 - 8PM
Sunday, May 13 - 2:30PM

Tickets range from $25-$72 and as always,
students get in for $10 with a student ID.


Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking: Disneymania!


What makes one person shudder with horror can make another person giddy with childlike hysteria... like dead and decaying otters... or Disney songs!

First, choose your own adventure, then follow the directions:

A) If Disney songs make you want to stick sharp objects in your ears because, as much as you hate them, you know that if you hear them they will be stuck in your head for days you should: STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW AND RUN FAR, FAR AWAY!

B) If Disney songs are something that fill you with joy and make you reminisce favorably on days gone by then you should: IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THIS LINK TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE BPO's PERFORMANCE OF CLASSIC DISNEY SONGS THIS SATURDAY EVENING!

The BPO will be painting with all the colors of the wind this Saturday evening at 8pm as they perform all the Disney classics you have come to love (or not love so much).

Not sure if your favorite tune will be performed or not?  Fear not, the program for tonight is as follows:

Disney Classics Overture
The Little Mermaid Suite
Colors of the Wind from Pochahontas
Beauty and the Beast Suite
I Wanna Be Like You
Mary Poppins Medley
INTERMISSION
Hunchback of Notre Dame
Aladdin Medley
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Lion King Song Suite
It's A Small World

THANK GOD! I was really afraid they would eschew "It's A Small World" for something crazy, like "The Unbirthday Song" or "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat" [I couldn't resist making this my second post to reference this song].

In all seriousness, I'm sure there will be many people who are chomping at the bit to see the performance this weekend, and there is no better orchestra to perform these classic songs as the BPO... I just really dislike Disney songs; I'm not between the ages of 3 and 10, however, so that probably has something to do with it.

Tickets range from $25-$72.
Feel free to watch this video if you're feeling particularly masochistic:



Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking

 

You don't have to wait until summer for free music!

This Friday at 7:30PM, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery will be showcasing the music of Antonin Dvorak and how he was influenced by American painters of his time.  There will be a "mini-lecture", followed by a visual interpretation of Dvorak's New World Symphony.  Concluding the event will be performances of Dvorak's "American" String Quartet and a section from his Violin Sonata.  These pieces will be performed by a string quartet consisting of Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra musicians.

The temperature range for Friday is between 33-53 degrees... I can't think of much better than free art and music if the weather ends up being closer to the lower end of the spectrum.  Take a listen below, you may hear some familiar themes in the "American" Suite.


Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking


Joshua Bell, one of the world's most respected and electrifying violinists will be performing at Kleinhan's Music Hall this evening.  This should be a truly magnificent evening of music as Bell is certainly the biggest name to be performing with the BPO this season.

Tonight's performance will also be a homecoming of sorts, as Maximiano Valdes, who acted as music director for the BPO for nine seasons, will be conducting.

The program will feature the following works:

Richard Wagner's Overture to Rienzi
Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 4 in D Minor
Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major
Bell has dazzled audiences across the globe and won oodles of awards for both his performances and recordings.  Bell is a full fledged superstar and considered to be one of the most important names in classical music today.  His instrument for this evening's Beethoven concerto will be the 1713 Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius.

Bell my be best known to those not following classical music as the violinist who performed in a Washington D.C. subway several years ago as a social experiment.


Drew Kline
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Classically Speaking: BPO Performs Pink Floyd




St. Patrick's Day weekend is upon us and the festivities will be starting on the dark side of the moon when the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performs the music of Pink Floyd this Friday.

Guest conductor/arranger Brent Havens comes to Buffalo, once again, with an impressive résumé that includes symphonic performances of such classic artists as Led Zeppelin, Queen, Michael Jackson, and more.

The program features a full band with vocals accompanied by a full 50-piece orchestra.  Of the reaction to this unique combination rock and classical, Havens says, "When we first came on stage, the audience gave us polite, almost classical applause.  Then we hit the first note and they realized it was a rock show".

I have been to several shows that combine rock music and classical instruments before and I have to say that I am very excited for this show.  Pink Floyd has to be the penultimate rock band to have songs performed by a symphony orchestra.  The way Pink Floyd composed their songs and approached music making in general lends their music beautifully to a symphonic arrangement.  In contrast, I was in attendance for the "BPO Performs Grateful Dead" show several weeks ago.  The show was great, and I heard a lot of classic Dead songs I love, but at times, it seemed like a cover band with classical music behind it.  With the Pink Floyd show, I anticipate a seamless, well-integrated performance thanks to the grandiose nature of the bands' arrangements.

The concert is being billed as being over 2 hours long and featuring 17 Pink Floyd songs.  The show is this Friday, March 16 at 8:00PM.  The performance will be held at Kleinhan's Music Hall and tickets range from $31-$75.

This is a great chance to introduce someone you know to classical music.



This performance of "Another Brick in the Wall" by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will give you an idea of what to expect.

Drew Kline
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