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Carmina Burana - SC symphony - Drunk Monk - 05-21-2022
We had tix for the performance Covid cancelled…
(05-01-2020, 12:41 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: Tomorrow would've been RAPTURE, featuring one of my all time favs, Carmina Burana.…it was this season’s finale.
A choral version of Prayers for Ukraine was a bonus prelude. They sang in the lobby then traipsed in all wearing bad renn faire costumes, which annoyed me because it felt like a high school play (the civic still feels like a high school basketball gym - the floor is still folding chairs). There was one dude who had a suit of armor styled costume, but it was silver lame, kind of like a 70s disco version of the knights Templar - his costume I liked.
The opening piece - the part that everyone knows - felt too fast for me, as if Conductor Danny was trying to rush it, which I felt dampened the bombastic-ness of it that I admire. It felt too short, but maybe that was me trying to savor it. Stacy found it super energetic, as if Danny was firing us all up for the ride.
Tg was in the house, seated in almost the exact seat we had one season behind the percussion. I loved those seats because the percussion is my fav. For Carmina, that can be too much.
During intermission I ran into one of my Kung Fu classmates, which was delightful. Met his wife and chatted about music. They just got their Dylan tix.
For the second part, tg joined us in our 3rd row seats. That was super fun. Stacy had snuck up to the 2nd row because it was empty and the dude next to us was crowding her but his party left at intermission giving tg plenty of room. The singers were phenomenal. The baratone male was having a lot of fun with it, although he did stumble coming in too early once and wavered in the high range a few times, but wow - what a voice! Even cooler because he was right in our laps (Stacy thought she might have felt some spittle, which is even more unsettling in Covid days). The female singer had astounding pipes and could hit heavenly sustained notes, although she had a few slips too. The tenor was great but his part was small. Typically I’m not that into this part of the piece, but with the singers only a few feet away, making eye contact occasionally, it was a whole different level. I was enraptured by the 2nd half more than ever before.
The reprise finale dropped those big kettle drum bombs and I was much more satisfied than with the opening. It redeemed it.
Going in, we were given next season’s program and it felt underwhelming. We thought about not getting season tix. But after tonight, we earned our 3rd row seats from being loyal season ticket buyers for years, working our way around the house - we’ve seen it from every angle. We may just have to keep these seats. Or maybe even move up - two more rows to go.
It was great to be there with tg. We didn’t get to chat much but we all rocked out to the awesomeness that is Carmina Burana. It was good. So good.
RE: Carmina Burana - SC symphony - thatguy - 05-22-2022
I wrote a really long review on my phone and then refresh by mistake. I hate losing work...
Starting over...
Carmina is one of my favorite pieces. You can really only improve upon it with sword fights or explosions...My dad had an LP with Carl Orff on the cover. Black with big white and red letters. I don't know what the symphony is that performed on that recording, but that is my measuring stick. I once downloaded a Zubin Metha version and it didn't compare. I also had a Ray Manzarek electric version. Nice idea, but lacking the power of that black LP. I wonder what happened to that record...
I saw that SC Symphony was performing Carmina, so I jumped on the tickets. We got the cheap seats, stage right. It was a great spot to watch the percussion of which this piece has lots: kettle drums, snare, xylophone, a really really big drum, gong, cymbals, etc...but, they overpowered the other side of the orchestra. There were two grand pianos struggling to be heard.
The venue was sweltering. No air circulation whatsoever, and we were all masked. I saw a few octogenarians nodding off into their programs before the music even started. Luckily, one can't sleep thru Carmina, so some lives were probably saved.
The evening began with the Ukrainian tribute sung by the choral in the lobby. I couldn't really hear them or appreciate this one. I think it would have been better if they had them singing fro backstage and then they came out to their places while performing the piece. Also, the ren faire garb didn't strike me as particularly Ukrainian or Carmina Burana-esque. It seemed odd... the orchestra were all dressed in tails, I would have like to have seen the Cabrillo Chorus also dressed so...
After the opening piece, they played a Monteverde while everyone found their spots. Then...Carmina comes out like a kick in the nuts.
Musical sword fights & explosions. Best episode of The Masked Singer ever...the entire chorus wore there masks the entire time. There was even a first chair trumpeter playing while masked. I don't know how he accomplished that. I have to check with my friend John who is the director of SC City band. The piece has so much call/response between different parts of the orchestra, or the chorus, I am always reminded of this PDQ Bach bit:
At the intermission, we ran out to the street to get some fresh air. I had doubts that Shannon was going to stay, but she said she'd try to watch from the lobby. I joined DM and Stacy in the orch pit, front and center. The mix was much better from there. Thank goodness the venue staff decided to open the windows and let some fresh air in.
Part two was great. The baritone/bass soloist from the first half returned with a soprano and tenor. There was also a childrens chorus that they marched out front, on either side of the soloists. I found them distracting. The soloists were good, but the tenor in particular was great. I felt sorry for him as he only had one part and the rest of the time he seemed to be scowling...
It was nice to see DM and Stacy in person and all in all, a great introduction to the SC Symphony. I hate the venue, tho. I've seen roller derby, and Primus, there, volunteered there at a grey bears senior dinner, watched one of my kids do a musical recital there. It's the multi-purpose room of Santa Cruz...not particularly well suited for anything. Master of none as they say...
--tg
RE: Carmina Burana - SC symphony - Drunk Monk - 05-22-2022
I feel ya on the civic. I saw a lot of reggae there back in the 80s when I was in grad school there. It has fantastic acoustics for reggae. Bob Marley played there. Stacy almost went to that. I have the recording. It’s a great show.
I’ve seen everything from MMA fights to library remainders fundraisers there. But mostly, it’s been the symphony. We have a tremendous symphony here - you’d think it’d be better it wasn’t on folding chairs in the floor, but such is the Cruz.
It was great seeing this show with you. We’ve enjoyed those seats all season. Best mix in the house - and we’ve sat on house right (where your seats were), house left, and behind the sound board. But 3rd row center? 3rd best seats in the house, amirite?
RE: Carmina Burana - SC symphony - thatguy - 05-22-2022
(05-22-2022, 10:23 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: I feel ya on the civic. I saw a lot of reggae there back in the 80s when I was in grad school there. It has fantastic acoustics for reggae. Bob Marley played there. Stacy almost went to that. I have the recording. It’s a great show.
I’ve seen everything from MMA fights to library remainders fundraisers there. But mostly, it’s been the symphony. We have a tremendous symphony here - you’d think it’d be better it wasn’t on folding chairs in the floor, but such is the Cruz.
It was great seeing this show with you. We’ve enjoyed those seats all season. Best mix in the house - and we’ve sat on house right (where your seats were), house left, and behind the sound board. But 3rd row center? 3rd best seats in the house, amirite?
You are right. If the soloists were spitting, you could have caught it...
--tg
RE: Carmina Burana - SC symphony - Drunk Monk - 05-22-2022
(07-24-2007, 09:47 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: Ozzy closed the main stage. He opened with a rocking Carmina Burana, which sounds great over a major sounds system, and then proceeded to do his lounge act again.
And I’ve heard Ozzy sample it…
Yeah getting spit upon by a performer has changed
I remember when ‘I got spit on by Bobby’ T-shirts trended in the dead scene. Ew.
I also remember Elaine Avila (a D00M friend who is now a professional playwright) explaining how good Shakespearean actors spit several rows back when properly enunciating.