Take a Concertgebouw: Eichler on The Royal

Mariss Jansons in action

Jeremy Eichler was rather impressed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Maestro Mariss Jansons' concert on Friday evening:

"The subtlety of the group's multi-dimensional sound was first glimpsed in the Debussy. Despite some overall diffuseness of textures, daubs of color rose up from the strings. The woodwind blend was wonderfully distinctive, and the subtle horn sound wafted in from the back of the stage like an ocean breeze."

Read all of A Virtuoso Instrument from Amsterdam.

I hate to break it to those of you who weren't in attendance, but the only way one could not have been impressed by this concert is if the works on the program were not to your taste (and even then...). The Concertgebouw is a phenomenal orchestra that produced a multitude of truly fine musical moments.

Still, I couldn't help but be touched by a non-musical moment: Watching the a head-on shot of Jansons at the podium on a back stage monitor (why don't we always have that camera shot that back stage?) someone noticed a gentleman in the fourth row just over the Maestro's shoulder wearing a Teddy Bruschi jersey.

I hope they return soon...