In today’s Orange County Register online, I review last night’s Pacific Symphony concert, with conductor Michael Stern, pianist Joyce Yang and a certain overstuffed piano concerto.
Click here to read my review, or pick up a copy of tomorrow’s newspaper.
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Classical Life 
A Rossini Overture followed by Miraculous Mandarin?? That’s an odd pairing, to say the least. Did it work?
Kind of hard to tell if the pairing worked, Chris. There was probably 10 minutes of talk in between the two pieces. It felt like another concert was starting by the time the Bartok began.
Glad you survived unscathed this time. After a week’s worth of Lohan et al, perhaps Rach3 is a bit more tolerable?
Not really, CK. Every time I hear Rach 3, I try to approach it anew. I can’t say I’m unbiased. I kind of listen to it again to see if it’s as bad I as think it is. It is.
I used to feel this way about Rach 2 … but it is, I feel, far superior to Rach 3. I just happen to be sick of it; but it’s not a bad piece.
I’ve always loved Rach 2. Love at first listen, as cheesy as that sounds.
I sympathize w/ you re: Rach3. I’ve always admired pianists’ abilities to play it rather than admire the music itself.