On That Note, The Season Has Ended

srq-judson Avatar Posted by srq-judson


Last weekend’s performance was one of the most unique shows I have seen with the Sarasota Orchestra. It included a fascinating narration by Einstein, a moving performance featuring Martin Luther King Jr., A spectacular light show that only heightened the excitement, and some fierce music that had me shaking in my seat. The beginning of the show featured Miri Ben-Ari’s Symphony of Brotherhood. Miri Ben-Ari, a violinist from Israel, wowed the audience with four of her own original compositions. Each one took on a new feeling, a new mood. What I loved most is that she had a moral for each of her songs. Before each tune, she would provide insight into the purpose of the piece, and it made me appreciate the music and allowed me to feel what she felt when she was writing these pieces. Miri is an amazing musician with the heart and soul to move any audience, and I deeply respect her artistry.

Next, we were introduced to the famous scientist Albert Einstein. He discussed time and how there is really no such thing. Quoting one of my most famous artists, James Taylor, “Now the thing about time is that time isn’t really real.” It’s based on your point of view. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring created an array of images in my mind as I watched the orchestra weave and bob through a maze of sound. What I can’t believe is that people threw tomatoes at the end of its debut performance back in the day! Stravinsky had to escape through a back door! An exciting performance of the 1st movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 Eroica followed. He originally named the symphony after Napoleon Bonaparte, but Beethoven scratched his name out of the score in a fit of rage after Bonaparte hailed himself Emperor of France. Miguel Del Aguila’s The Giant Guitar sent the audience flying into a tornado of thrill and ferocity. The changes in lighting from blue to red when a loud chord struck only intensified the emotion of the piece. The orchestra closed the show with one of my favorite compositions of all time: Ravel’s La Valse. The piece starts out softly, making us listen closely to those subtle first notes. As the song commences, each instrument comes in and has something different to say. Each musician put everything they had into the music, slowly painting a masterpiece with each successive phrase. I thoroughly enjoyed last weekend’s show and have had such an exciting time witnessing all of the music this season at the Sarasota Orchestra. It was a fun time and I cannot wait until next season!

Come Fly With Me

cheekomatsusaka Avatar Posted by cheekomatsusaka


I thought I’d do something a little different for this post. Normally I write about the anticipation and expectation of a given concert from my point of view as a performer. However, for the last Symphonic Pops concert I wanted to write about it as it happened but was thwarted by the reality of time and my limited organization skills. So I decided to enlist some help; I asked our personnel manager extraordinaire, Laura Conrad, to take some candid shots during our last concert as images can tell a much better story than words alone.

Michael Andrew didn’t just perform songs by the Chairman of the Board. The amazing singer, arranger and writer channeled Sinatra off stage as well, sporting a selection of Rat Pack-ish fashion at rehearsals (I think he looks like Peter Lawton in this one). In this caption-worthy photo, Michael was giving violinist Anne Bobilin two of his Sinatra CDs as she put the pressure on him to give the performance of his life for a friend of hers in the audience. No pressure, right?

Another packed hall for our expanded Symphonic Pops Series. There is nothing more amazing than to look out into the hall and see all of you there. It is a feeling of electricity even before a note is played.

Even though it feels like Sarasota is exhaling into its off-season, the orchestra is still running full tilt, including our Pops Conductor Andrew Lane.

An Array of Colors

srq-judson Avatar Posted by srq-judson


Man, has it been a great season here at the Sarasota Orchestra. I have met new people, witnessed so many awe-inspiring performances, and enjoyed doing what I love; writing about music. Writing about music has allowed me to express myself on a whole new level. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world of inspiration and creativity that has changed me as a person. I personally want to thank all those that were involved in giving me the opportunity to write about such beautiful music. You have changed my life and I will remember this experience for as long as I live.

The 2012-13 Season is coming to an end, and what better way begin closing it than with this weekend’s performance. We head over to the Sarasota Opera house for an intermission-free 80 minute show featuring some of the most fascinating music to ever pass human ear. It contains music like Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, to the 1st movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 Eroica. Ravel’s La Valse creates so many scenes and colors that will immerse you in another world. Guest violinist Miri Ben-Ari will get you in the mood with a cool fusion of jazz, R&B and hip hop. This upcoming performance will surely be one of greatness, and I will remember it forever.

I guess Sinatra has really lasted… Last night proved it to me!

lenglaser Avatar Posted by lenglaser


I was just a 7th grader when two large battles pervaded my youth — “BATTLE # 1” — was World War 2 which ravaged Europe, Asia and Africa. And then there was “BATTLE # 2” which involved a raging conflict called “The Battle of the Baritones.” (This one was generally fought on the stage of NYC’s Paramount Theater !) The latter fracas was led by a belligerent army of teenage girls that wore poodle skirts and bobby-sox and who raucously screamed and “swooned” upon hearing the vocal offerings of a skinny, Italian kid from Hoboken, NJ named Francis Albert Sinatra, or as he was lovingly called, “Frankie”.

His adversary was a somewhat more senior chap named Bing Crosby, the darling of the older set. They loved his soft, peaceful renderings of “White Christmas” and “The Bells of St. Mary.” What I remember most about these glee club gladiators is that they both sung songs with words that could be understood— they gave us music that had lyrics and melodies that would remain in your head and your heart. Sorry, young folks, I can’t say that about your kind of music today ! I guess that’s what you can expect from an 81-year -old dinosaur blogger !

Last night at the VW, Andrew Lane, superbly led our Sarasota Orchestra in a brilliant revival of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” hit-parade melodies. The largely senior-loaded audience loved the performance of a Sinatra redux. Michael Andrew, guest vocalist, was backed up by a exciting trio of bass, banjo and drum instrumentation called Swingerhead. Singer Michael ran the gamut of some of Frankie’s best-loved tunes. As usual, our orchestra’s great musicians belted out with powerful acoustics several exceptional solo performances by its brass section. It roared the crowd. What a perfect “Trifecta”… a superb, nostalgic vocalist, a red-hot nightspot-type combo and encompassing the fullness of the “USA’s BEST SMALL CITY ORCHESTRA.”

Michael, wisely, at the risk of becoming too “Sinatraesque,” segued into a bevy of songs by other career crooners of the same genre… He gave us some Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. top-sellers, but then reverted to the theme of the night and belted out a magnificent, all-inclusive medley of Sinatra hits. These favorites of the audience ran the gamut from “teen tunes” to his beloved melodic, sad serenades… and the crowd kept clamoring for more. No one rushed to leave the hall and wanted the encores to continue..

So now our fabulous orchestra has “rung down the final curtain” for its Pops Season. But fear not, they’ll return in the fall with another spectacular concert agenda .We love how our musicians have something for everyone… They can ‘wow’ you with Pops or ‘soothe’ you with the Classics — So thanks, Suncoasters, for your continuing support… and we still miss and love you, Frankie —I guess you did it— “Your way”… Ol’ Blue Eyes. Thanks, wherever you are…

A Night for the Ladies to Swoon (And some of the Men)

srq-judson Avatar Posted by srq-judson


So my father and I brought my mother and sister to their first performance of the season, which they enjoyed thoroughly. Little did we know we were in for an evening of stand-up comedy, in addition to the usual stellar performance of the Orchestra. Principal Clarinetist Bharat Chandra had the crowd laughing from the get-go with his humorous introduction. The orchestra opened with a sweet medley of Sinatra classics. Michael Andrew took to the stage with his front and center trio and accompanying horn section. The audience, both young and old, literally moved to the classics all evening long. The Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Cole Porter, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. repertoire ruled the night. Andrew wooed the ladies to swooning with his romantic persona. Needless to say, the solo performances by Andrew’s accompaniment and the Orchestra members were short but sweeeeet! And speaking of comedians, Andrew had the crowd howling with his exceptionally brilliant whit throughout. If you missed Ol’ Blue Eyes this season, be certain not to make the same mistake next year. P.S., Michael: May I borrow that blue suit for my senior prom next year?