Sunday, November 29, 2020

Music's Survival: A New View

An empty Hollywood Bowl.

Charismatic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

The LA Phil--the logo-friendly re-branding of one of the world's great orchestras.

And ... imagination.

How does a symphony orchestra survive a pandemic? By creating an island of sound in a locked-down metropolis.

I'm knocked out by the invention involved here: a helicopter. A giant industrial crane. The ability to walk cameras thru players on the great stage.

Here is a document of this terrible year, music struggling in a virus-captive city. It's gorgeous, awful and inspiring, all at the same time.

This killer set of pandemic-confounded performances went up over the weekend on YouTube.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, above. 

But links as sweet ...

Marquez, Danzon #1

Mahler, Adagietto Symphony #5 

Still, Sorrow from Afro-American Symphony

Beethoven, Symphony #7

 


 


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