mini-post: i love a symphony livestream (19/52)
Hope the neighbors love John Williams as much as I do, because I’m cranking it up to 11!
I used to hate it when people live-tweeted shows on Twitter, especially stuff I wasn’t watching, so it’s particularly hypocritical that I’m writing out my impressions of a livestream performance from the Houston Symphony tonight. Not only have you not seen this, you literally can’t watch it. Yet here we are. Sorry?
It’s an evening of John Williams, and since I am way into movie soundtracks, I couldn’t pass this concert up. I was so happy to see the livestream option because we splashed out on mega-expensive in-person tickets for the Black Panther concert a couple of months ago. (If I ever get rich, I’m gonna have season tickets to the symphony AND the opera.)
I have weirdo habits. That’s probably not a shocking revelation to most of you. So you have to understand that I both mildly heckle the livestream (which you can’t do when you’re in the same room as the symphony) and clap (even though no one knows you’re clapping when you’re at home).
“Shark Theme” from “Jaws,” yeeeessssssss. Let’s get this symphonic party started! I love to watch a stage full of violin players sawing away in unison.
Damn, they’re playing some nice John Williams deep cuts tonight! “The Devil’s Dance” from “The Witches of Eastwick” is especially good.
All right, the concertmaster is no Itzhak Perlman, but he’s no slouch, either. I suddenly experience an intense sense-memory of watching “Schindler’s List” at a preview screening and burst into tears. (We had no idea what it was about when we walked into the theatre, only that it was a Spielberg movie about World War II. Talk about psychic trauma! My friend and I started crying about 30 minutes into the film and were still crying when we did the exit surveys. I took my girlfriend to see it later, and she literally ran out into the lobby during the shower scene and I had to talk her into going back in to finish the movie. I just held her and reassured her over and over, “It’s just a shower, really -- only a shower. It’s not a gas chamber, I promise.” She felt like a trembling, fragile bird. That movie messed people up.)
That piccolo player looks like she might be mean to the flutists. I hope not.
I wonder how that one Black lady in the chorus feels about being surrounded by a sea of white people singing the triumphant Africa song from the end of “Amistad”?
Intermission: I have time to make a cup of tea, show all of the best stamps in the USPS philatelist catalog to Lennox, read half an article about ghosts, AND go to the bathroom. I never want to see a show in person again! (Until the next time I really want to, obviously.)
The chorus has had to do a lot of “ah” and “ooh” tonight. Does John Williams hate lyrics?
More deep cuts. The conductor has to explain the plot of “The Terminal.” That’s a useful public service. I’ve seen the movie but couldn’t remember anything about it.
I may hate the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but I won’t deny that the music is pretty good. (More “ah” and “oh” from the chorus. I wonder idly if I got back into decent condition if I could audition for the chorus.) Remember: The Jedi are kind of bad guys, though.
Rounding it all off with the theme from “A New Hope.” Niiiiiiice.
The conductor looks so jazzed. I would love to be that happy at my job.
And the cantina band music for the encore! Hahaha.
Now I don’t even have to fight through the parking garage traffic to get home. Living my livestream best life. Peace out!
(Photo courtesy of Jacub Gomez via Pexels.)
mini-post: i love a symphony livestream (19/52)
Back when my sister played clubs in New York, we'd watch the livestream from our living room and it was *choice*.
Re: Jedi being the bad guys, it makes sense when you consider the source material, Dune 😏