My blog inspiration book, “Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book”
reminds us to “Take in some culture once in awhile”. There is nothing more
cultural than the ballet Swan Lake. In fact, this love story is
the pinnacle of classical ballet with the demanding technique of the dance for
the principle dancer who takes on the roles
of both Odette (White Swan) and Odile (Black
Swan). With the additional pairing of Tchaikovsky’s score which was performed live by the PBT Orchestra, this was a masterful performance!
A way to survive the empty nest and a "cracked "relationship with a fun daily challenge of new experiences, reflections, sources, and some biblical guidance. I hope this blog which offers a fun journey to survive by trying something new, either vicariously or by doing, will result in a survival tool kit to replace the past familiar doing, giving, and/or incorporating the interest of your child or your long gone love interest, with some new self interest(s).
Friday, February 23, 2018
Monday, February 19, 2018
Day 266 Dave Bennett -“From Swing to Rock” with Pittsburgh Symphony POPS-Musical Journey
Dave Bennett, Multi-talented repertoire |
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra collaborated with
Dave Bennett to bring the legendary swing sound of
Benny Goodman and the rock n’ roll sounds of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and
Johnny Cash to Heinz Hall in the show “From Swing to Rock”this weekend. Dave Bennett, a self-taught
jazz clarinet player, also played the electric guitar, piano, drums and sang, taking everyone on a musical journey with the Grammy winning Pittsburgh Symphony
conducted by Sarah Hicks.
Refection
Dave Bennett with his multi-talented repertoire had the audience
on a musical ride from the 1930's big band swing era to the 1950's rock n' roll
beginnings. Opening with "In the Mood", he played the clarinet in the famous Benny Goodman style. He then slid into a "Swing Medley" adding five more big band favorites with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Serenade
in Blue” with the full sounding orchestra was “dreamy” but during most of this set, I
wanted to jump up and do a jitterbug. I joined many in the audience who were tapping
their feet and bobbing to this music.
Then Dave Bennett transitioned into piano playing Jerry
Lee Lewis with a medley of six songs which ended with “Whole Lot of Shakin Going On”.
He injected energetic key pounding adding his foot to the keys, which is characteristic
of “wild man” Lewis!
It was a fun ride. Bennett even produced that smooth low tone “Elvis
voice” with his guitar riffs which
made the Elvis Medley from “Heart Break Hotel” to “"Blue Suede Shoes" bounce. He then cruised into
“Love Me Tender” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” which was impressive with the added
symphonic sound.
In the second half, there was a Johnny Cash set and Bennett performed his original “Lonesome Highway” . The jazzy "Wichita Lineman" allowed his band to jam and then “Sing Sing Sing” gave us all a little
more big band sound near the conclusion of the show both of which are on Bennett's new CD, Blood Moon.
Sarah Hicks was wonderful to watch as she conducted the
PSO down this musical highway. Bennett and his jazz band with the Pittsburgh Symphony gave us a fantastic whimsical musical journey from swing to rock n’ roll!
I will definitely keep the Pittsburgh Symphony POPS 2017-2018
season in my survival tool box. I am looking forward to Midtown Men, with the four original Broadway singers from Jersey
Boys, continuing the musical journey through
the 60’s with this Grammy winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Spiritual Reflection
And the priest said to them,"Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord" (Judges 18:6)
Other Sources
POPs https://pittsburghsymphony.org/pso_home/web/subscribe-pops-17-18
Wichita Lineman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIRudfrOPfo
POPs https://pittsburghsymphony.org/pso_home/web/subscribe-pops-17-18
Wichita Lineman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIRudfrOPfo
Lonesome Highway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IaYRa01JU
Blue Sued Shoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qQ3ULjTbwM
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Day 265 Multiple Choice Events at Wilson Center- (Meetings) Anthony Hamliton, Experimental Dance
Movement
performed to the sound of 64 miniature robotic devices that produce
rhythms for the show Meetings is definitely thinking outside the box which is just
what Austrian choreographer, Anthony
Hamilton is known for, and is just what this blog is all about. I was excited to experience Hamiton's
collaboration with dancer, composer and sound engineer, Alisdair Macindoe, which
brought a unique performance duo
for another Multiple Choice Event to the
August
Wilson Center. I was ready for Meetings, my first “experimental dance/sound instillation” experience!
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
March/February Preview of Events and Posts
Since this blog is all about keeping a forward trajectory in midst of change and reaching your personal best, I wanted to preview some of my planned experiences in the hope that it will inspire some to join in. As Dale Carnegie once said, "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Let's all get busy!
RENT-PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh-March 27-April 1, 2018- Heinz Hall
Rent is a 1996 rock musical about poverty
struck artists living in a NYC Greenwich Village flat who are determined to
follow their dreams but have problems paying the rent. Being
of a practical mind, my first thought about this plot was, “get a job so you can pay the rent”. After experiencing the show several
years ago, I was hooked by the fantastic music that emulates the power of love. Rent chronicles an unforgettable and inspiring year of these individuals in the shadow of HIV/AIDS .
Join
me and experience the power of love in
all forms in this rock musical at the Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh. For tickets go to TrustArts.org.
RUSH: The Pittsburgh
Cultural Trust is sponsoring $25.00 tickets
on a first come in- person bases 2 hours
before the show at the Heinz Hall box office. Tickets
for the RUSH are for the first three rows of the orchestra section
available for cash only and limited
to two tickets per person.
Blog Post to Here
Pittsburgh Opera -Moby-Dick - March 17, 20 23, 25, 2018- Benedum Center
I have recently added the Pittsburgh Opera to my empty- nest repertoire but I have only experienced one American Opera (see Day 212 Summer King). Moby-Dick is an American opera with music by Jake Heggie and lyrics by Gene Scheer . It is based on the classic novel by Herman Melville. With the strong male cast and a story that chronicles Captain Ahab’s feverish pursuit of the great white whale that previously took his leg, this should be a powerful musical night!
Join me and experience this Pittsburgh premier of the American Opera Moby-Dick at the Benedum Center March 17,20,23,25, 2018. For tickets go www.pittsburghopera.org.
Blog Post to Follow
Pittsburgh Opera Fashion show-“ Songs of Thrones”- March 19, 2016-Opera Headquarters, Strip District
The Pittsburgh Opera Fashion Show, "Songs of Thrones" is going to feature some of their ornate costumes in conjunction with fashions by Diana Misetic of Shadyside fashion studio and boutique, Little Black Dress. How fun to mix the pageantry of operatic fashions with life fashions! I have never watched the epic series “Game of Thrones” but know that it has medieval plot. I can’t wait to see how they combine the past with the present in this night of song and fashion.
There will also be resident opera artist molding the costumes from the vault, hair and make up styling by Studio Booth, and jewelry designed pieces for the show and for purchase by artist Deborah Phillips and Murial Spitz.
Heisenberg, March 8 to April 8, 2018 Pittsburgh Public Theater
It’s always fun to laugh at romance and Heisenberg is a romantic
comedy named after physicist, Werner Heisenberg that pioneered the “Uncertainty Principle”- that particles
position and momentum can not be measured at the same time. The play applies this scientific
unpredictability to a relationship between a spirited 40 something year old American women
and a 75 year old Irishman. I can’t
wait to see the stages of this seemly mismatched relationship as it is performed in the round with the
audience on all sides.
Join me for a little Irish/American unpredictable romance in Heisenberg at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. For tickets go to https://ppt.org/production/51429/heisenberg.
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Day 264- Pittsburgh Broadway Series, Wicked The Musical-Friendship and Love in a Mysterious World
Even as an adult I loved the mysterious land of Oz in the movie The Wizard of Oz. The musical, Wicked, tells us more about this world. It’s the story about a woman born with
green skin who is misunderstood and labeled because of her appearance. She
becomes the Wicked Witch of the West but as a young girl she had a beautiful
popular friend, Glinda, the Good Witch. Wicked
is an adventure about political struggles, social injustice, but mostly, friendship
and love in this mysterious world.
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