Agree that the classical selections were too cliché but I was expecting that, as that is always the case with classical music in a pop setting. I liked the set overall because I thought the arrangements were good and I think the crowd enjoyed it. I love Laufey anyway so that was nice.
If I could have made suggestions to the Dude, I would have suggested 2 pieces through which he gained some level of fame, Bernstein's symphonic dances from West side story, and Marquez Danzon No. 2. Aside from those I would have suggested some short modern classics hopefully from a relatively diverse group of composers.
Some West Side Story would have been great - I also was like, maybe an all "Americas" set would have been fun too. He had a lot of options and went in a bizarre direction that didn't gel with the pop stuff too much. I think a more contemporary classical set might have fixed some of that. I love the LA Phil tho to be sure - they sounded great!
That's a really good question - I am so so curious what will happen with Klaus Makela, the 29 year old who is taking over the Chicago Symphony Orchestra two seasons from now. They are really trying to make him a classical music celeb because he is so young and has risen thru the ranks with such ferocity. I'm not totally sold on him personally, but I like him and I think he has quite a modern sensibility, doing a lot of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, 20th century guys. I also think the right kind of featured soloist could heighten any conductor, suited or not, to the occasion: I saw Esperanza Spalding conducted by Susan Malkki last season and that was incredible, modern, strange, and thrilling!
Had a deeply transcendent Wagner moment once at Millennium Park during a CSO show, but that wouldn't have happened if they did Ride of the Valkyries! Play Tannhauser if you're going to do Wagner! And yeah, do parts of Dvorak's New World Symphony! Play some Gershwin! Do a Tchaikovsky! I don't get this setlist at all lol
Tannhauser would have been amazing - I think Valkyries is too loaded/bizarre with a visual or contextualization of how they want it to be interpreted. There's lots of lively stuff, and I think even some more boring stuff would have been fine because people get sleepy around 6pm and want to chill and rally. Mixing in some Richter really threw me for a loop. I feel like Carey Mulligan in She Said...
Pop/Orchestral seems to be heading towards or (since I'm a casual observer) having just passed it's peak. I remember over a decade ago going to a concert of Time for Three with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and while I didn't clock it at the time, a signing/photo opp for all of the audience seems so odd. Now I assume Laufey/Ben Folds/Jacob Collier opps only come with a higher tier ticket price.
RE: Coachella/Zimmer, his set's live director did some of the most interesting live calling when during one of the drum heavy pieces cutting between drummers on either side of the stage disorienting and creating a really wonderful set of images.
Yes, I'm hoping this is the beginning of the end, or at least that there's a more actively curated version going forward. Obv Laufey is like primed and down for stuff like this, but I don't think this is the way to present more objectively musically skilled artists as more legitimate.
I wish I remembered more of Zimmer's live director from when I saw him at MSG... Good show but I also think we've had enough of that whole thing for a while too.
Maestro moment!!! I would do drugs for the first time ever if i could go see live Fantasia with lights
I would also do drugs for the first time for that.
Agree that the classical selections were too cliché but I was expecting that, as that is always the case with classical music in a pop setting. I liked the set overall because I thought the arrangements were good and I think the crowd enjoyed it. I love Laufey anyway so that was nice.
If I could have made suggestions to the Dude, I would have suggested 2 pieces through which he gained some level of fame, Bernstein's symphonic dances from West side story, and Marquez Danzon No. 2. Aside from those I would have suggested some short modern classics hopefully from a relatively diverse group of composers.
Some West Side Story would have been great - I also was like, maybe an all "Americas" set would have been fun too. He had a lot of options and went in a bizarre direction that didn't gel with the pop stuff too much. I think a more contemporary classical set might have fixed some of that. I love the LA Phil tho to be sure - they sounded great!
I need more “Classical Music Fran” on your next Blank Check episode!
i live in this amazing, zen world where i don’t give a flying fuck about coachella. it’s wonderful i got so lucky
What's happening in California is none of my business!!
“(with LL Cool J) (and gospel choir, featuring “The Imperial March” interpolation)” is a breathtaking piece of language
it is giving fascism, yes. i’d like to ask, is there a conductor you think is ideally suited to play coachella? who wouldn’t do, you know, all this?
That's a really good question - I am so so curious what will happen with Klaus Makela, the 29 year old who is taking over the Chicago Symphony Orchestra two seasons from now. They are really trying to make him a classical music celeb because he is so young and has risen thru the ranks with such ferocity. I'm not totally sold on him personally, but I like him and I think he has quite a modern sensibility, doing a lot of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, 20th century guys. I also think the right kind of featured soloist could heighten any conductor, suited or not, to the occasion: I saw Esperanza Spalding conducted by Susan Malkki last season and that was incredible, modern, strange, and thrilling!
My joke answer is Bradley Cooper of course!!!!!!
my church…????? brain fizzled out as soon as i read that
I don’t even know…
random alert. not even the middle?? zedd was literally already there…..
Awesome song alert
Had a deeply transcendent Wagner moment once at Millennium Park during a CSO show, but that wouldn't have happened if they did Ride of the Valkyries! Play Tannhauser if you're going to do Wagner! And yeah, do parts of Dvorak's New World Symphony! Play some Gershwin! Do a Tchaikovsky! I don't get this setlist at all lol
Tannhauser would have been amazing - I think Valkyries is too loaded/bizarre with a visual or contextualization of how they want it to be interpreted. There's lots of lively stuff, and I think even some more boring stuff would have been fine because people get sleepy around 6pm and want to chill and rally. Mixing in some Richter really threw me for a loop. I feel like Carey Mulligan in She Said...
Pop/Orchestral seems to be heading towards or (since I'm a casual observer) having just passed it's peak. I remember over a decade ago going to a concert of Time for Three with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and while I didn't clock it at the time, a signing/photo opp for all of the audience seems so odd. Now I assume Laufey/Ben Folds/Jacob Collier opps only come with a higher tier ticket price.
RE: Coachella/Zimmer, his set's live director did some of the most interesting live calling when during one of the drum heavy pieces cutting between drummers on either side of the stage disorienting and creating a really wonderful set of images.
Yes, I'm hoping this is the beginning of the end, or at least that there's a more actively curated version going forward. Obv Laufey is like primed and down for stuff like this, but I don't think this is the way to present more objectively musically skilled artists as more legitimate.
I wish I remembered more of Zimmer's live director from when I saw him at MSG... Good show but I also think we've had enough of that whole thing for a while too.