My laptop was up and going by 8:45 am Arizona time so I could join the audience for the Detroit Symphony's live concert. Titled "Pictures at an Exhibition," the broadcast featured three works by Russian composers, the last of which was Mussorgsky's symphonic poem, "Pictures at an Exhibition."
Befuddled by the modernity of the first work which was composed just eleven years ago, I busied myself doing some house chores. The Prokofiev piano concerto that came second was more standard in nature but still characteristically Russian.
By the time the symphony started the first measures of Ravel's arrangement of Pictures, I could sense that the audience was ready for the more familiar.
By the time the symphony started the first measures of Ravel's arrangement of Pictures, I could sense that the audience was ready for the more familiar.
The DSO did not disappoint. Originally written for piano, "Pictures" as adapted by Ravel contains rich brass, eloquent winds, and ringing percussion. There are gentle moments as well as stirring, lusciously full orchestral strains.
The live stream of the DSO is a feather in the cap of a city that is overly criticized these days. Detroit and all of Michigan can be proud of the orchestra. And for all the criticism that we aim at technology, concerts like this are yet another argument for universal broadband access.
Just like watching a football game on TV, watching a concert is not the same as being there, but live streaming of a concert brings the joy of music right home. That's pretty cool.
Just like watching a football game on TV, watching a concert is not the same as being there, but live streaming of a concert brings the joy of music right home. That's pretty cool.
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