Sky High with The Flying Karamazovs
By Matthew Heil
This is it, symphony fans! The last weekend of the 2006-07 season, and the last chance to hear the orchestra perform before our annual summertime intermission. And it's an appropriately festive concert, with the zany antics of The Flying Karamazov Brothers performing with the symphony. If you're curious, feel free to check out the Brothers' website at www.fkb.com. The show you'll see, on Friday and Saturday night, and in briefer form during our Family Concert on Saturday afternoon, is the "In Concert" performance. It includes a whirlwind of musical types, and the juggling and physical hijinks that are a trademark of the FKB style.
And now, of course, is a great time to try out our last Family Concert of the season. For those of you who aren't aware, we have a 5-concert series in 07-08, which is underwritten by Target Corporation (the stores where you can buy virtually everything). Thanks to their support we are able to offer our patrons a new reason to bring kids to the symphony: ticket buyers get a free kids subscription with every regular subscription purchased! It's a great deal, and a great opportunity to educate your favorite young people about orchestral music. So catch the Karamazovs in concert, and see what you think!
Public Relations Manager
The Phoenix Symphony
This is it, symphony fans! The last weekend of the 2006-07 season, and the last chance to hear the orchestra perform before our annual summertime intermission. And it's an appropriately festive concert, with the zany antics of The Flying Karamazov Brothers performing with the symphony. If you're curious, feel free to check out the Brothers' website at www.fkb.com. The show you'll see, on Friday and Saturday night, and in briefer form during our Family Concert on Saturday afternoon, is the "In Concert" performance. It includes a whirlwind of musical types, and the juggling and physical hijinks that are a trademark of the FKB style.And now, of course, is a great time to try out our last Family Concert of the season. For those of you who aren't aware, we have a 5-concert series in 07-08, which is underwritten by Target Corporation (the stores where you can buy virtually everything). Thanks to their support we are able to offer our patrons a new reason to bring kids to the symphony: ticket buyers get a free kids subscription with every regular subscription purchased! It's a great deal, and a great opportunity to educate your favorite young people about orchestral music. So catch the Karamazovs in concert, and see what you think!
10 Comments:
I wonder if there will ever be a day when symphony orchestras around the country will find a way to make their Pops series interesting. Many seem to feel that the artistry and Pops can have nothing in common. I am not saying that some Pops shows are not successful. However, when a guest comes along who is a polished act it is usually a surprise and not the norm. I fear that the Pops model here and elsewhere is more dated and far less of a product than the Classics. The only thing that is worse than playing a great Classics concert to an empty hall is playing a bad Pops show to an empty hall.
Interesting observation. Have you any comments that would give me a better idea of what type of experience you are looking for? Are there recent Pops presentations that you felt met your criteria? What is an interesting Pops series to you?
Although you haven't said it specifically, shall we assume you didn't enjoy the Karamazov show?
Friday, June 1, 2007. The Brothers Grinn!
The Flying K’s had me smiling and laughing throughout their set. From their slo-mo entrance to Grieg’s Mountain King to the helmet-banging Ode to Joy, it was a 4-man circus. (Sorry, Maestro Golan made 5.) Even the so-called TAIKO and War Fans were so hilarious as to not offend this Eastern Cat. We knew their juggling would be world class. But, surprise, surprise! Brother Ivan (AKA Howard Patterson) played Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in Bb Major (1st movement) on a baritone horn. His virtuoso silky high notes and the bubbling low notes were all so legit and deserved the biggest Bravos! of them all. They can come juggle their other orchestra show here any time.
Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan led the Phoenix Symphony in a fine first half of orchestral miniatures. What a bold move to play the rarely performed entire 10-movement suite from Kabalevsky’s “The Comedians.” Serious music appreciated by a Pops audience. The only programming snafu was the inclusion of “ET.” Totally out of character in this set. More appropriate would have been Waldteufel’s Skaters Waltz, typical circus tightrope music. The real jewel was Stravinsky’s “Circus Polka.” Mr. Golan has a great habit of exaggerating chosen instrument(s) in particular sections. Master Tubist Dave Pack did a stupendous job in depicting a clumsy elephant with intentionally rough tones lagging a split-second behind. I look forward to something special when Maestro Golan conducts the Brahms Fourth Symphony next season.
Thank you Mr. Golan for bringing Peter Boyer's "Ellis Island: The Dream of America" to the Phoenix Symphony and the West Valley. Yes, we Cats do travel. It was a very respectable and appreciative audience at the old SunDome last Sunday for Memorial Day.
It appears that you have championed Boyer's music, touring across the country with "Ellis Island" and other pieces. I hope that you will program "The Phoenix" and "New Beginnings," the latter featured on KBAQ, here with our orchestra in a future Pops, People's Pops, or another patriotic concert.
I just purchased the only remaining copy of the CD containing these two pieces on Amazon Marketplace. I have your own two orchestral conducting CDs, "Visions, Dreams & Memories" and "Funky Little Crustaceans" on my Wish List. Which of the pieces on these CDs will you and flutist James J. Pellerite perform next season? It is this Cat's practice to study all new pirces of music before the concert in order to give it a more realistic review.
To michael christie,
It seems with all the complaints that classical music is geared to a aging if audience it seems ironic that the Pops seems aimed at an even older audience. I am not referring to the Karamazov because they are essentially a kid's show. But Pops in general seems to be less hip than an all Telemann cocert.
Hey, let's not forget that The Phoenix Symphony will be in pit providing LIVE music for this week's Ballet Arizona's world premiere - "PLAY" - by Ib Andersen.
June 8-10, 2007 at Symphony Hall.
Music selections for PLAY include:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Twelve Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je Maman” K.265
Franz Schubert – Andante from OCTET in F major D. 803
Benjamin Britten – Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra, Op. 29
Arvo Pärt - Cantus in Memory of Britten and Festina Lente
Igor Stravinsky – Suite no. 2 and Pulcincella Suite
I've got my tickets for Sunday afternoon. How about you, bloggers? Join us for The Phoenix Symphony conducted by Timothy Russell.
It's Symphony "Pops." Not "Hip" Hop. The inarticulate "anonymous" hipster above still hasn't presented what's wrong with the general "Pops" model and what he wants. Are you advocating that the Phoenix Symphony keep accepting rock'n'roll backup band gigs? That's just for show (and extra income); not for making music!
Typically, the guest star(s) come to town with a prepared orchestral "Book" that they tour with. Provided they hired a competent arranger, the orchestra rehearses their parts in advance and then has a dress rehearsal or two with the soloist(s). Also, it is typical for the host orchestra to fill in the 2-hour time slot by playing strictly orchestral music as the "opening act."
This format seems to work out. The Flying Karamazov Brothers did exactly that. No, it was not a kids' show. Friday Night was definitely for all ages.
The 2007-2008 "Pops" season looks like the same deal. Bernadette Peters and Marvin Hamlisch with their touring orchestral gigs. And other pianists, singers, and conductors bringing their proven sets of books. Jamie Bernstein hosting Lenny's "popular" music is a must see! I predict that all of them will do well at the box office.
I am also glad to see Maestro Christie pretty much concentrating his efforts on The Classics next year. No clowning around for you!
For quite a long time the Phoenix Symphony Pops audience has been our oldest one. That's not to say we aren't trying to draw in others as we are with every series. Surprisingly, many orchestras find an older demographic dominating their Pops audiences as well.
The by-line "Music of our lives" has driven our Pops programming strategy over the past couple of seasons. Perhaps the older demographic is more interested in experiencing and reflecting on the music of their lives than other age groups. Hard to say. In the end, the Association tends to make money on the Pops series so we take some comfort in our current programs.
We are committing a great deal of time and effort on developing our Pops series for coming seasons. Our goal is to set a new course for Pops in the US as we did over 20 years ago when the Phoenix Symphony convinced Doc Severinsen to become a Pops conductor.
Orchestras are starting to do more to draw a more diversified Pops audience. With the Brooklyn Philharmonic we are presenting cutting edge bands with the orchestra. I would love to do the same here but from the information we have about what people are buying tickets for it would be a huge risk to present groups that have a cult following in a city like New York. Again, that's not to say we are ruling such things out but an orchestra's tolerance for risk has to be tied on some level to local conditions. I'll bet Bernadette Peters will be a huge hit. Antony and the Johnsons was sold out in Brooklyn but I doubt we'd sell more than a couple hundred seats here. We also compete with the casinos presenting the largest act who, frankly can offer enormous performing fees we can't.
What I've written above isn't meant to be an excuse for what we won't do. It is merely a glimpse at the current thought process for what we present now.
We have an exciting new partnership with the Target Corporation that will enable us to explore all of these points. Stay tuned!
Mr. Christie,
Thank you for the reply. It was very helpful. Sonny, get over it. Pops has been an artistic wash for decades in almost every city. But orchestras all over cling to the idea that they are "making money." Ask an orchestra player and they will answer that they play Pops to support the classics. I don't know for sure the economics of the PSO but there is no way one is paying for the other. just look at the attendance. In a few places, not here, Pops pays for itself and is popular and on that alone it is ok with me. what I do have a problem with is the artisitic nature. we assume that classical programming is in itself "artistic." However we have a whole series which is a blow off. A very expensive, often embarassing blow off.
Dear "Inarticulate & Unfocused Anonymous Hipster."
Which "POPS" concert in the 2006-2007 season are you referring to as a "very expensive, often embarassing blow off?" It's still not clear to me if you are objecting to the Phoenix Symphony having a "POPS" series at all because you cconsider it all an "artistic wash?"
You say "just look at the attendance." Don't you agree that just about all of our "CLASSICS" concerts were less attended than the average "POPS" event? What other major orchestra are you referring to when you say: "In a few places, not here, Pops pays for itself and is popular and on that alone it is ok with me?"
I am simply objecting to your unspecified critism because it doesn't give a suggested direction. Are you saying that you have been sorrowfully subscribing to all the "POPS" concerts every year and finally decided to quit?
I personally consider the "CLASSICS" to be the essential element. I wouldn't know how to live without professional live orchestral music! I consider the "POPS" concerts as "light entertainment" to take in whenever there's something of a curiosity: I've always wanted to see the Flying K's, Doc Severensen, and Bernadette Peters; but not orchestrated "Beatles" music, Marvin Hamlisch, or just a bunch of Christmas carols.
It is my understanding the the Phoenix Symphony, under the direction of Maryellen Gleason, Michael Christie, and the Board of Directors are maintaining a balanced budget. Under these circumstances, I have no complaints whatsoever about programming "POPS" concerts to cater to the "older demographic." Oh, I forgot. I'm past the half-century mark, too. Yikes!
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