It's been a crazy, busy week, but in a good way. I've been to the Symphony, unexpectedly, twice. Tuesday night was my regular subscription night, and on Thursday, I got a call from a friend, who had another friend who couldn't use her tickets. So I benefited. Bernard Haitink conducted both nights; Tuesday was Schumann, Mozart and Brahms, while ( Read more... )

First opera of the season Friday night! The first trick was figuring out how to get to the garage where I normally park, as there is major construction on Lower Wacker Drive, and I can't get to it from my usual route. I called the building, and they were very helpful, even emailing me a map with all the various closures and alternate routes. But ( Read more... )

Back last year, when the powers-that-be in Chicago were trying to get the 2016 Olympics, local cultural organizations got on board with various promotions. The Chicago Symphony sold tickets to select concerts for a short period of time with a price of $20.16. How could I pass that up, despite my views on the Olympics ( Read more... )

I went to the opening gala of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last night. I don't usually, but Renée Fleming was singing, and she doesn't get out here all that much anymore. The CSO sent out an email a while back suggesting "formal dress", so I broke out the black Mme. X dress and wore long dangly earrings. It was raining, hence the soggy red ( Read more... )

I was awakened by thunder and lightning and rain! Fortunately, it stopped before I left the house. I took off work today in order to go to the dentist to have my new crown installed, so I was glad that the weather improved. The dental work went fine. The new crown fit perfectly - no adjustments needed at all ( Read more... )

Wednesday night, my friends and I went to the Goodman to see a play called "Gas for Less" (yea, really, that's what it's called). It was about an independent gas station on the far north side of Chicago, and it's going under. The play is set on two dates in late 2005, and much of it revolves around the guys watching Bears football games. I'm ( Read more... )

Last night, I braved the cold to go hear the CSO's concert production of Osvaldo Golijov's short opera, Ainadamar. (The librettist is the playwright David Henry Hwang, best known for M. Butterfly.) As I was waiting in the wind and cold at the bus stop, I thought, "If I hadn't paid for this ticket, I might bag this!", but I didn't, thank ( Read more... )

I went to a "subscriber appreciation day" at Symphony Center today. This year, for the first time, I got a subscription to the Chicago Symphony. Just four concerts, but it's still a subscription, so they like me ( Read more... )

Lyric Opera has announced their 2008-09 season, and I can't say that I'm thrilled. Yes, it will be delightful to hear Natalie Dessay again (Massenet's Manon), and Lulu has been thrown in as a bone to those of us who like edgier work, but, honestly, the season smells of chestnuts roasting. Madame Butterfly, Cav/Pag, Porgy and Bess, Abduction from ( Read more... )

No, don't go rushing off looking for tickets. Here's what happened.

I went to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last night. The first piece of the second half was Webern's Five Pieces for Orchestra. Before it was played, the conductor, Mark Elder, addressed the audience, beginning, "I know most of you came for the Brahms . . .", and then ( Read more... )