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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: I hate, hate, hate, hate Boston Symphony!
Post Subject: The Touring Orchestra SyndromePosted by Paul S on: 3/26/2009
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Great description, Romy, and yet another reason I balk before paying the Astoundingly-Big Ticket Prices they get for the Sure Things. As much as I love it when I Score, I experience the biggest let downs when I get all excited and commit so much going in to hear the Special Orchestra do nothing special.
The worst for me is when they do the "orchestra" part very well and I start out very excited by it; but at some point early on I find that my mind has been wandering; and it never gets better.
IMO, there are only a few orchestras that are good enough, top to bottom, to be able to play almost anything well; and LSO has to be one of them, at any given time. But I really don't suppose that any orchestra can keep it Way Up, night after night; let alone a touring orchestra.
Possibly feeding this syndrome is the fact that it generally does not take all that much from the celebrities to please the crowds. It seems like just being there, in the Right Place with the Right People, is reason enough for most to celebrate.
I have wondered many times over the years if the Visiting Artists, Orchestras, and Conductors generally do better (really better) at the Met or Lincoln Center, or if the well-tuned "critical" machines working those venues are what actually spins the magic that makes us believe, a' la Disney, in the inherent worth of the Visiting Name.
In reality, it's pretty cool that the LSO managed to turn it around like they did; at least you got out of there with something...
Best rgeards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site