Bravissimo, Maestro!

Tonight I went to one of the best concerts I have ever attended in my life. The CSO gave a free concert in Millennium Park to welcome their new Music Director, Maestro Riccardo Muti. Few concerts are this emotional, this powerful, as the one I heard tonight. The venue alone lends itself to being the ultimate surround-sound experience so that you hardly notice that there's a noisy, thriving city in the background. The program, however, was simply amazing, and performed with all the usual intensity and musicality that is the CSO. Verdi: Overture to La forza del destino, one of the best overtures out there. Liszt: Les preludes, Symphonic Poem No. 3, which I had not heard before and found to be absolutely gorgeous. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture, one of my personal favorites to play and to listen to, and is one of the most emotionally charged pieces of music ever. Respighi: Pines of Rome, which I had only heard once before a long time ago (and not live) and which completely enthralled me. The whole experience was explosive...and quite literally at the very end, which consisted of a short fireworks display to complete the Maestro's welcome into the city. I cannot wait to see another concert in the hall and sit behind the orchestra so I can actually see him conduct. I can't even imagine what it must be like to play under him. I think I'd have a heart attack. In short, it was nothing short of amazing, and was the best way I could think of to end this weekend. I'm in a rather good mood. : )