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Last week I attended the final performance of Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony. I picked my ticket up at the box office and had two hours to kill until the performance. So I went and shopped for a pair of cuff links to complete the buttonless French cuff shirt I had on.
Come Third Call I was thrilled to find that my seat was front and center -- literally! I was looking up the conductor's (Semyon Bychkov) backside. Front row seats are golden for any other concert but not a symphony orchestra.
The piece opens with the Funeral March and, god, what a long procession it was. My eyelids grew heavy (out of respect for the somber moment) and I respectfully fell asleep before the ending. Judging by the rousing applause that awakened me the musicians did it justice. At intermission I had a cup of chocolate and a sip of whiskey and stayed awake for the second half of the performance.
Thursday's evening concert was generously sponsored by Mr & Mrs Joseph A. Hays through their commitment to the Center Stage Society.
on Michigan Ave near Chicago Art Institute
312.294.3000
www.CSO.org
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No 5
Posted on 10:36 AM by Unknown
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