Great Music featuring Chu-Fang Huang, Piano
by Kyla Cook - Chugiak High School
On March 27, Anchorage Symphony orchestra provided an almost-full house with three great pieces, as well as some special surprises.
Among the songs performed was Maurice Ravel’s concerto in G major for piano and orchestra. This proved a special treat, because the orchestra was joined by Chu-Fang Huang, a Chinese pianist, and winner of the Cleveland international Piano competition. She came on stage with high expectations and an elegant up-do, and left the stage meeting those expectations as well as causing her hairstyle to come undone with her passion for the music, which led to more movement than her hair could take. She played hunched over the piano, and at times she seemed possessed by the music. When the orchestra stopped and Chu-Fang Huang played alone you could see the music pulsing through her body, and hear it pulsing through the audience.
Also performed was An Orkney Wedding at Sunrise, the orchestral account of an actual wedding attended by composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. According to the program notes the piece begins with guests arriving to the celebration, continues through a solemn ceremony and tipsy reception, and finishes with a glorious Orkney sunrise. The Sunrise was represented by bagpipes, played by Joe Albrecht.
Along with the bagpipes and Chu-Fang Huang at piano, the third highlight of the evening was unmistakably Randall Craig Fleischer’s energetic conducting style. He wasn’t afraid to jump up and down and move his whole body to the music. You could tell he had gotten his exercise for the evening when he had to pause between songs to mop his forehead.
Overall, the Symphony’s Great Music Concert was filled with just that: great music. But the best part of the evening was bagpiper Joe Albrecht, pianist Chu Fang Huang, and conductor Randall Craig Fleischer.
Great Music featuring Chu-Fang Huang, Piano
Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, March 27, 2010 @ 8pm
Atwood Concert Hall
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Jeffrey Siegel - Keyboard Conversations: Chopin for Lovers
by Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
Keyboard Conversations. You might be wondering, as Jeffrey Siegel says, “Why isn’t there a keyboard on the stage who is doing the talking?” That’s because the conversation happens between many participants, the musician, the audience, and of course, the instrument. Another crucial member of the conversation (present in spirit) is the person who wrote the music, in this case Frederic Chopin was the man of the hour.
2010 celebrates the 200th birthday of Chopin. Although he died at 39 from pulmonary tuberculosis, his music and legacy live on through performances like this. To commemorate the event, an enormous cake in the shape of a grand piano was in the lobby for patrons to enjoy with their eyes and mouths. Thank you Alaska Cake Studio, and thank you Chopin.
When asked, “What inspired you to theme the night around women in Chopin’s life?” Siegel replied, “While researching for this, it just came together. Chopin’s love life is present in many of his works.” Some of them were even dedicated to more than one woman. In the end, “his greatest love was for Poland, his native country, not a woman,” says Siegel.
In some ways, the piano is all Chopin could muster in terms of communicating with his lovers and crushes. Chopin said, “I sing to my piano in tones what I wish I could say...” It’s a bittersweet flavor of shyness. Seigel does a superb job of communicating the meanings and messages behind the music. In what he calls, “Teaching in the sense that you don’t feel lectured to.” (If I could only relate this concept to some of my professors.) By doing this, Seigel shows the audience what the sounds meant to Chopin’s ears. Seigel is gifted with more than a master’s hands, he also has a sense of humor and wit that made the presentation all the more pleasing to watch.
In the final piece, Seigel’s passion for what he does is made clear. It looks like he is attacking the keys and smashing the pedals to pull the emotion out of the instrument. By the end of the show, I found myself compelled to stand and applaud, a feeling that I rarely possesses me so strongly.
If you’re itching to hear a Keyboard Conversation, you can hop over to Seigel’s website http://www.keyboardconversations.com/.
Jeffrey Siegel
Anchorage Concert Association
Sunday, March 21, 2010 @ 4:00pm
Discovery Theatre
by Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
Keyboard Conversations. You might be wondering, as Jeffrey Siegel says, “Why isn’t there a keyboard on the stage who is doing the talking?” That’s because the conversation happens between many participants, the musician, the audience, and of course, the instrument. Another crucial member of the conversation (present in spirit) is the person who wrote the music, in this case Frederic Chopin was the man of the hour.
2010 celebrates the 200th birthday of Chopin. Although he died at 39 from pulmonary tuberculosis, his music and legacy live on through performances like this. To commemorate the event, an enormous cake in the shape of a grand piano was in the lobby for patrons to enjoy with their eyes and mouths. Thank you Alaska Cake Studio, and thank you Chopin.
When asked, “What inspired you to theme the night around women in Chopin’s life?” Siegel replied, “While researching for this, it just came together. Chopin’s love life is present in many of his works.” Some of them were even dedicated to more than one woman. In the end, “his greatest love was for Poland, his native country, not a woman,” says Siegel.
In some ways, the piano is all Chopin could muster in terms of communicating with his lovers and crushes. Chopin said, “I sing to my piano in tones what I wish I could say...” It’s a bittersweet flavor of shyness. Seigel does a superb job of communicating the meanings and messages behind the music. In what he calls, “Teaching in the sense that you don’t feel lectured to.” (If I could only relate this concept to some of my professors.) By doing this, Seigel shows the audience what the sounds meant to Chopin’s ears. Seigel is gifted with more than a master’s hands, he also has a sense of humor and wit that made the presentation all the more pleasing to watch.
In the final piece, Seigel’s passion for what he does is made clear. It looks like he is attacking the keys and smashing the pedals to pull the emotion out of the instrument. By the end of the show, I found myself compelled to stand and applaud, a feeling that I rarely possesses me so strongly.
If you’re itching to hear a Keyboard Conversation, you can hop over to Seigel’s website http://www.keyboardconversations.com/.
Jeffrey Siegel
Anchorage Concert Association
Sunday, March 21, 2010 @ 4:00pm
Discovery Theatre
Bach B Minor Mass
by Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
House lights dim, silence permeates the Atwood Theater. Anchorage’s Concert Chorus prepares and tension builds. Whooom! Silence is shattered with a profound start to a musical tour de force. Those lucky enough to be present in the Atwood Theater on March 20th know exactly what I’m talking about. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor is a testament to his madness turned greatness. Most works of this sort have five major movements, Bach’s has 27.
A complete Latin mass put to symphonic music. My only gripe is that it was in Latin. I firmly believe that some of the power is lost in translation. Thankfully the program had an English version written alongside the original text. Still, reading the text doesn’t have the same effect as hearing and comprehending the words. Perhaps I should just learn to speak Latin. Regardless of my ability to understand the lyrics, I could feel the authority and praise within. In some ways it was like listening to a chorus of angels.
To get the full effect of the performance, I would close my eyes and let my body and ears receive the sounds. Consciousness fades a bit and I revel in that space between the waking world and the dream world. A transcendence of reality is such an amazing experience to get from a show. It’s almost like connecting to Bach on a spiritual level.
I have to give props to the Anchorage Concert Chorus for even attempting to pull this together. Dr. Grant Cochran, the artistic director and conductor, emphasized the difficulty and complexity of the work. He was also very, very grateful and proud of his performers. Taking an extra moment to recognize soloists and lead musicians during applauses. The final of which was a standing ovation. Well done people, well done.
Bach B Minor Mass
Anchorage Concert Chorus
Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 7:30pm
Atwood Concert Hall
by Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
House lights dim, silence permeates the Atwood Theater. Anchorage’s Concert Chorus prepares and tension builds. Whooom! Silence is shattered with a profound start to a musical tour de force. Those lucky enough to be present in the Atwood Theater on March 20th know exactly what I’m talking about. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor is a testament to his madness turned greatness. Most works of this sort have five major movements, Bach’s has 27.
A complete Latin mass put to symphonic music. My only gripe is that it was in Latin. I firmly believe that some of the power is lost in translation. Thankfully the program had an English version written alongside the original text. Still, reading the text doesn’t have the same effect as hearing and comprehending the words. Perhaps I should just learn to speak Latin. Regardless of my ability to understand the lyrics, I could feel the authority and praise within. In some ways it was like listening to a chorus of angels.
To get the full effect of the performance, I would close my eyes and let my body and ears receive the sounds. Consciousness fades a bit and I revel in that space between the waking world and the dream world. A transcendence of reality is such an amazing experience to get from a show. It’s almost like connecting to Bach on a spiritual level.
I have to give props to the Anchorage Concert Chorus for even attempting to pull this together. Dr. Grant Cochran, the artistic director and conductor, emphasized the difficulty and complexity of the work. He was also very, very grateful and proud of his performers. Taking an extra moment to recognize soloists and lead musicians during applauses. The final of which was a standing ovation. Well done people, well done.
Bach B Minor Mass
Anchorage Concert Chorus
Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 7:30pm
Atwood Concert Hall
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Force is Strong With This One
By Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
On Thursday, March 18th in the Discovery Theater of the Performing Arts Center, people were taken to the "Borders of the Mind". Sitting down, with provided pencils in hand, the room was filled with skepticism. As the first act progressed people relaxed a bit and started to buy into the flow of things. Joshua Kane, a mentalist and entertainer, requested numbers from random participants. 167435 this is the number that the audience came up with. Each number told Kane something about the person who suggested it. Once he had this written out on a huge white board he asked for a sealed envelope that was held by someone in the crowd. In this were four numbers that when added together totaled 167435. Magic within the math. Our skepticism dissolved in a wash of amazement and shock. I'm fond of numbers and parlor gags, but what he accomplished is well beyond my scope of understanding. Throughout the night Kane was able to continually kick the step it up a notch, with each demonstration of skill more unbelievable than the last.
Kane apprenticed under a mentalist named Gary Lee Williams, who I'm thinking was a Jedi Master or an alien because Kane is capable of some incredible bending of what we perceive to be real. If Joshua Kane were a car salesman, he'd be more than dangerous. Offing cars on customers before they realized that the purchase was complete. From what I can tell, he can read the signs and signals from your subconscious like you're a book in his hands.
We all know what proper etiquette is during a performance, regardless, some unfortunate soul in the front row received a text message during the show and Kane was not ashamed to deliberately point this out. He asked her for her phone and confiscated it saying, in a light joking manner, "We'll talk about you getting it back later.” This sort of interaction is representative of the intimate atmosphere that was held for the duration of the night. Kane is not afraid to walk amongst and mingle with the attendees as audience participation is key to the success of the show. Without an active audience, I could see the whole act falling apart. Fortunately, keeping our attention is Joshua Kane's business, and business is good.
Kane will be preforming again on Friday, March 19th in the Discovery theater. I recommend skeptics and believers alike attend and discover what the borders of your minds hold.
Joshua Kane: Borders of the Mind
Alaska Junior Theater
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:30pm
Discovery Theatre
By Anthony Sallows - Alaska Pacific University
On Thursday, March 18th in the Discovery Theater of the Performing Arts Center, people were taken to the "Borders of the Mind". Sitting down, with provided pencils in hand, the room was filled with skepticism. As the first act progressed people relaxed a bit and started to buy into the flow of things. Joshua Kane, a mentalist and entertainer, requested numbers from random participants. 167435 this is the number that the audience came up with. Each number told Kane something about the person who suggested it. Once he had this written out on a huge white board he asked for a sealed envelope that was held by someone in the crowd. In this were four numbers that when added together totaled 167435. Magic within the math. Our skepticism dissolved in a wash of amazement and shock. I'm fond of numbers and parlor gags, but what he accomplished is well beyond my scope of understanding. Throughout the night Kane was able to continually kick the step it up a notch, with each demonstration of skill more unbelievable than the last.
Kane apprenticed under a mentalist named Gary Lee Williams, who I'm thinking was a Jedi Master or an alien because Kane is capable of some incredible bending of what we perceive to be real. If Joshua Kane were a car salesman, he'd be more than dangerous. Offing cars on customers before they realized that the purchase was complete. From what I can tell, he can read the signs and signals from your subconscious like you're a book in his hands.
We all know what proper etiquette is during a performance, regardless, some unfortunate soul in the front row received a text message during the show and Kane was not ashamed to deliberately point this out. He asked her for her phone and confiscated it saying, in a light joking manner, "We'll talk about you getting it back later.” This sort of interaction is representative of the intimate atmosphere that was held for the duration of the night. Kane is not afraid to walk amongst and mingle with the attendees as audience participation is key to the success of the show. Without an active audience, I could see the whole act falling apart. Fortunately, keeping our attention is Joshua Kane's business, and business is good.
Kane will be preforming again on Friday, March 19th in the Discovery theater. I recommend skeptics and believers alike attend and discover what the borders of your minds hold.
Joshua Kane: Borders of the Mind
Alaska Junior Theater
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:30pm
Discovery Theatre
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