SF Symphony @ Davies 4/26/8

[Drunk Monk]

Benjamin Shwartz conducting. We're back in row two for an odd selection of pieces that ended up working out quite well. Saint-Saens' March militaire francaise was pleasant. Rouse's Ku Ka Ilimoku (strictly percussion) would have been more enjoyable if I could see the musicians. Gabrieli;s Canzon septimi toni No. 2 was a grand brass fanfare positioned on either sides of the upper seats, which made it amusing to watch the people seating right in front of them. Mozart's finale form Serenade #10 in B-flat major was solid as Mozart always is. Piazzolla's libertango was, well, tango, whic is excellent from our seats so close to the doubl bases. Ravel's Danse for Daphis and Chloe was like cartoon music, all over the place, a bit too much really. The finale was Ravel's Bolero. Bolero has been besmirched by the cinema like Ride of the Valkerie. It's impossible to dispell bouncing beaded Bo just like attacking choppers in 'Nam. But I heard SF Symphony do Bolero several years ago at Shoreline for 4th of July, on a spectacular afternoon, and it blew my mind. So Bo is now an afterimage. I'm always reminded of that day at SLA. I've heard SF do Bolero again at another one of these family symphonies. Today's rendition was good, but as always, then ending of the piece after so much build up comes off so abrupt and flat to me. Still, it's fun music, and always exquisite to hear live.