An Afternoon in Boston

I went with my parents to see a Boston Classical Orchestra concert this past weekend. Faneuil Hall was bright and airy and we snagged great seats (with cushions as well - my parents are pros!).

The program focused on the change of seasons (there was also a change of sopranos, but that was not part of the program).

HAYDN: Introduction to “Spring” from The Seasons oratorio
GLAZUNOV: “Spring” and “Summer” from The Seasons ballet
BARBER: Knoxville, Summer of 1915
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 8

There were also some lush excerpts from Eudora Welty's writings (about summer, I think).

Maybe the real highlight was the orchestra's special number welcoming the conductor to the stage - they played Happy Birthday for him! I like to think he didn't see that one coming (First! Time! Ever!), that it was "really" his birthday (rather than his birthday week or something), etc.

The other fun unadvertised element was right after the intermission - the conductor went to the back of the orchestra, picked up an oboe, and played a little trio concertino type thing with two of his fellow musicians. Very cute - even when he turned that into a pitch (subscribe and support us, so you can get a full orchestra and not just a trio!).

My parents pointed out that the even-numbered Beethoven symphonies are a bit more obscure than the odd-numbered ones. Not sure why - I certainly liked this one!

Afterward, we enjoyed some Mexican food. It seemed like we spent most of the day eating rich food, actually - we went to an Indian restaurant just a few hours earlier for lunch.

Bumpy skies on the way home, but everyone lived to tell about it.