Omaha Symphony: Stravinsky's Firebird

The guest conductor for this concert was Christopher Allen and the guest violinist was Francisco Fullana. The orchestra first play the overture for Die Fledermaus.  Fullana only played for the first half of the concert, until intermission.  He played with the orchestra Samuel Barber Concerto for violin and orchestra, Op 14.  The violin was bouncing all over the place so it was very fun.  Just before intermission Fullana and the first chair violinist performed a duet which was also very good.  

After intermission the orchestra layed a short piece,  Starburst.  They then played Stravinsky's Firebird.  I really enjoyed firebird.  I guess Stravinky is Russian.  This music told the story of a dark wizard who was holding many people captive as statues.  It was only with the help of the Firebird that they were set free.  A counter charm forced the dark knight to do whatever the hero wanted until he relented to set the people free.  He never relented but eventually he died as did his minions and the people were free.  

This concert was very enjoyable.  The only boring piece, almost put me to sleep, was Starburst which only lasted a couple minutes.  

Theater Musical Review: The Notebook

The Notebook is playing at the Orpheum.  I have never seen the movie.  So the entire story was new to me.  There were three actors to play each of the main characters at different stages in life, youth, middle age (ten yeas later) and geriatric.  I really like the effect.  Sometimes the character would be singing a duet or a trio with themself.  Noah, older-Sharon Catherine Brown, Alysha Deslorieux, younger Chloé Cheers and Noah, older Beau Gravitte, Ken Wulf Clark, younger Kyle Mangold.

This musical also delves into the consequences of Alzheimers.  Allie the lead has lost her memory which she does not want to do.  She wrote a notebook of she and her husbands love story, and asks her husband, Noah, to read it to her, and she will come back to him.  The action portrays the things he is reading.

The love story is very interesting.  Her parents do not approve, and move her when they are young so as to separate them.  He goes to war, and writes daily but never hears back.  Ten years later she is engaged and goes back to the same town where she sees in the paper he has remodeled a house he said he was gong to buy and fix up for them.  She goes back to him, and the house.  Mother also visits, and admits to having hid the letters.  She gives them to her daughter now.  The song My Days is where Allie has to decide what future she is going to have, one based on love as she really loves Noah.  It is quite a struggle however.

Warning, there is one part where the young lead characters disrobe to their underwear, and then their bed is pulled off stage.  I haven't decided if this adds to the story or not.  It does match the movie.