Monday, February 4, 2013

WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA==>Majestic!!


Monday==>It is a bright, sunny and very cold beginning to the week here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. At 8:30am it was only 22º and at 11:30am it has only risen to 25º - burrrrrrr!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I am happy to report that yesterday afternoon’s concert at Carnegie Hall was a fitting climax to what was a wonderful 4-concert series featuring all nine of Beethoven’s Symphonies ...

WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall==>Majestic!! 

The first piece was Symphony No. 2, and it was beautiful and set the stage for the soaring Symphony No. 9. 

For the 9th the orchestra was joined by 4 vocal soloists and the 150+ member Westminster Symphonic Choir from Princeton, New Jersey.

Folks, it was one of the best performances of this symphony that I have ever experienced. When it was over the sold-out house rose to a roaring standing ovation.

An interesting side note ... before the concert started a nice looking lady and a teenage boy took their seats next to me. I remembered that they had been seated in front of me for Saturday’s concert. We struck up a conversation and ... small world ... the lady, Calan, is a graduate of Julliard, a musician (piano), was born and raised in Brooklyn and ... tada ... lived for a number of years in the Tampa, FL. area (Brandon). She said she knew of my hometown, Bartow. How about that?

The young man is her grandson, Adam, who is also a pianist and is currently auditioning for admission to several local college programs. His grandmother got him started on the piano as a little boy.

The connection and chemistry between the two of them was so obvious and both were virtually transfixed during the entire program, particularly the 9th.

Meeting and talking with them before and after the concert added to my extremely positive feeling(s) about the afternoon.

Yes, I am so glad that I booked this series because it was worth every bit of the money, time and energy, even though, honestly, 4 concerts in 5 consecutive days is kinda heavy.

When the concert was over I came back to PHC and settled in to watch SUPER BOWL XLVII.

I think you will agree with me that it was an exciting game to watch. Billi Pod had predicted, and wanted, a Niner win, but, alas, it wasn’t to happen as The Ravens held on to win 34-31.

Of course, everyone knows about the 30+ minute power outage. That was really weird. 

And, yes ... in response to several emails and posts ... as previously predicted ... Billi Pod did not watch a single minute of the halftime show, not one ... instead he watched LIVE FROM NEW YORK: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live, carried on NBC.

With the Super Bowl over, it means that there ain’t gonna be any sporting events that Billi Pod cares about until the Yankees first Spring Training game on February 23rd. Oh well ... just bear with me my loyal and faithful readers and followers, especially you, Marty ... together we will survive this barren sports landscape, trust me ... we will ... so take a deep breath, Marty, and lets ... 

Move on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is ... 

7:00==>GET ME A GUY - “A hilarious one-act comedy about women who chase the wrong men who chase the wrong women.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at a theatre in my immediate ‘hood. 

Oh ... again in response to several inquiries==>No, Billi Pod did not see the much maligned MOVIE 43. Maybe sometime this week ... stay tuned.

Have compiled the entertainment stats for January and they are AWESOME, as usual. Will share them with you loyal and faithful readers and followers later in the week.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.76 miles (or, 6,031 steps)

Total mileage for week==>27.02 miles (average 3.86 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>1,111.63 miles

GO GATORS AND GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”


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