I just returned from another Baton Rouge business trip. I usAually like to stay downtown. The hotel selection is short but nice, there's some nice restaurant choices, and I appreciate leaving the car behind. And with each visit, I learn or experience something new.
For this visit, that would be attending a performance of the Baton Rouge Symphony and admiring the Old Capital complex as I walked there and back again. The evening's performance included:
- Handel: Zakok the Priest (Coronation Anthem #1)
- Bottesini: Concerto, Double Bass, No. 2, B Minor
- Brahms: Symphony No. 2. op. 73, D Major.
Here were my thoughts (in no particular order) during the concert:
1. The old Charley Tuna Sunkist commercial - Having good taste for being here?
2. Hall is a little over half full and a lot of these folks are older than me!
3. Loved the Handel Chorus. Time to pull out the Messiah CD for the Holidays!
4, John Madere was "The Bomb" on the Contrabass during the Battesini piece.
5. Only got a little sleepy during Brahms.
6. You know, this is a really nice performance space!
7. Best seats are lower level - middle rows.
8. Conductor sure has some energetic gestures!
9. Entire concert (including intermission) lasted only 90 minutes or so.
10. A community treasure.
I look forward to being in town sometime in the future for another BRSO performance. read more