Sibelius, Bernstein and Dvorak

Andrew called me at 5.30 pm asking if I would like to watch the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra tonight at 8 pm because he's got 2 free tickets courtesy of his lovely sister. Whom I have yet to meet, but love already.

Tonight's program is Sibelius (The Oceanides), Bernstein's (Plato's Symposium) and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, also known as From the New World. Sibelius's piece was.. interesting. It reminded me of the ocean, and rolling tides. Which apparently, according to Andrew, is characteristic of him- long phrasings that takes time to build up to nothing really. Bernstein's piece was actually quite good- it's a violin concerto and the soloist was playing a 300 year old Stradivarius. It started out beautifully but it sort of lost me halfway unfortunately. But I thought the inspiration for the piece was quite interesting- it was based on Plato's Symposium. But the highlight, I have to admit was Dvorak's Symphony.

It was the first time I've heard the Dvorak's entire symphony played in full but I love it. It was beautiful! Perhaps the MSO also did an excellent job, I'm too inexperienced to tell. It made me run home and put on my 100 Best Classics CD! I know I know...I really should educate myself and explore beyond the world of popular classics.

Sigh- and now my all time favourite, Rachmaninov is playing. Guess which one.

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