2022.3.31. Strauss and Malher with Seattle Symphony

3/31, Thursday. Powerful performance by Seattle Symphony.

Richard Strauss   Burleske
Gustav Mahler     Symphony No. 6

Interesting that recent concerts by Seattle Symphony are all conducted by Morlot. After Thomas Dausgaard abruptly left his post early this January, without an obvious reason. I'm glad that Marlot was able to step in.
Francesco Piemontesi on piano. Quite expressive in playing. His long fingers and long limbs danced on the keyboard. He sat so far away from the piano, that I was afraid that he might fall off his bench anytime during "Burleske".

I liked Strauss' Burleske more than Mahler's #6. #6 is just too long. I was also mildly dissapointed by the two great blows. After hearing about them in the pre-concert lecture, I was anticipating something louder akin to a tall tree falling. Today's blows just sounded like large drum, not powerful. I very much enjoyed the large orchestra tonight, and the lecture by Raff Wilson, Seattle Symphony Vice President of Artistic Planning.

2022.3.26. Mrs Caliban @ Boot-it

3/26, Saturday. Openning night of Mrs Caliban by Book-it Theatre at Center House Theatre. I arrived about 15 minutes before the curtain. I had never heard of this play or the author Rachel Ingalls. Thoughrouly enjoyed it. Unlike the regular "he said, she said" reading format, this is a regular play, with a nice stage set of the living room with kitchen, surrounded by a narrow band of adjustable lights (very efficient to hint of the view outside of the house. Just one set, no intermission. Great acting and adaptation by chicago based playwriter Frances Limoncelli.

Dorothy is a lonely housewife, in a stale marriage to Fred, after their child died. She finds companionship with an amphibious sea monster named Larry, who escaped from the "institute", and was hunted by the world. She has only one friend, who has 2 rebellious teenage children. Larry's observation of human actions, the friend's dating and emotion, and Fred's guilt are interesting.

2022.3.24. Cherry blossom at UW

3/24, Thursday, lunch time. I headed to UW's cherry quad to enjoy the annual blossom. It's always a delight to see the cherry blossom here. A lot of people today, warm, partly sunny.

2022.3.20. Celebrate Asia at Benaroya

3/20, Sunday, 4pm. Celebrate Asia at Benaroya Hall. I received an email before the concert saying that we are welcome starting at 2:30pm. There'd be performance before and after the concert. I didn't arrive until after 3:30pm, while a dragon dance was going on. After the concert, a drumming troupe.

Guest conductor Kahchun Wong from Singapore.

Toshio Hosokawa           -- Meditation - to the victims of Tsunami 3.11
Tan Dun                   -- Trombone Concerto: Three Muses in Video Game
Reena Esmail/Kala Ramnath -- Hindustani Violin Concerto
Claude Debussy            -- La mer

The first piece is meditating over Fukushima disaster. Least melodic. 2nd one is US premiere. I didn't get the video game in the title. According to the program note, the 3 movements are muses of Bili, Xiqin, Sheng. Nothing sounds like any of these 3 Chinese ancient instruments. Why trombone? Also the arrangement sometimes buried the trombone in the orchestration. Kala Ramnath's violin concerto is interesting, more melodic. A world premier, commissioned by Seattle Symphony. She sat on a wooden box in beautiful sari when playing, and singing. Not much dynamic, sounds more like wailing, instead of singing. As for Debussy, according to the conductor, it's because of the ocean theme of today's concert. I'm sure Debussy's ocean is not the Pacific. Still, I'm glad to have come, to support the local arts community, and relex. Saw quite some nice traditional clothes in the audience. The auditorium was about 80% full.

2022.3.13. Teanage Dick at Seattle Rep

A modern and satirical take on Shakespear's Richard III. In Teenage Dick, at a high school of 2010, bullied for his cerebral palsy, Richard plots his revenge as well as a glorious and ambitious plan to win senior class president. As he falls deeper into political turmoil, Richard is faced with an unexpected choice. Is it better to be loved or feared?