Write your name and class period on the first line of your entry.
Then write a review of Seattle Symphony's performance of Mahler's 8th, Symphony of a Thousand. In your review use specific details to describe what you experienced, what you heard, and what particularly caught your attention
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
69 comments:
Erika Hodges per. 2
At Mahler's 8th I really enjoyed the way you could tell exactly which chorus member was playing which character of Faust. Something that really caught my eye was the harp players. I had a great seat and could see the whole stage. i could really hear the 'ting' of the triangle the percussionist used in a specific part of the composition. the most interesting thing to me was the unified plucking by the strings section. It was an amazing performance and the standing ovation was rightfully deserved.
Kyle Glaser Period 2
Mahler's 8th was something that I have looked forward to ever since I knew we were going to the Symphony. My favorite part was the Northwest Boys Choir because I heard alot about the Choir before and I was very excited to hear them and they lived up to my expectations. I also thought it was interesting how packed the stage was and how they even had to put some trumpets and trombones in the seats in the theatre. The blend of the choir was amazing and it was crazy how the soloist could sing over hundreds of people. After going to Mahler's 8th I am even more excited for every humanities performance this year.
Andrew Kemis Period 6
The symphony we attended on Sunday was something I had never experienced before and my first impressions of symphonies is great. I have never seen that many people on one stage at a time. I have been to many shows however that was amazing. The symphony drew me in from the start. As soon as it started I was amazed by the sound and I tried to listen to the individual instruments and distiguishing the voices from everything else. My favorite parts were by far the beginning and end just because those were the most intense times with every instrument playing and the tempo fast. Although where I was sitting didn't allow me to hear the choirs very well because the french horns were overpowering, the overall impact was still great. I loved the organ. The deep however musically sounding hum was mezmerising. From what Jill told the class about how the different components were coming together to play together for the first time, I found that there was complete unity and found that everything blended excellent. I couldn't help to stare at the conductor because he was moving so fast and it was amazing to watch how he brought everyone in and had such energy. Great preformance! Don't think it could get any better. I wouldn't mind I better seat that is not right at the side of the stage. Please and thank you
Katie Hodgson per. 2
When i went to go find my seat i did not expect to see so many people on stage. I was in a seat up close to the front..so i didnt have that good of a veiw but i could hear it really well! I was surprised at how loud it really was with nothing being amplified. When the boys choir started to sing it took me by surprise because i wasnt able to see them and they did a really good job. Overall i thought it was an amazing experience and i can not wait to go see electra in october.
Bergen Anderson p. 2
The performance began with an ear catching organ. This caught my interest. The whole performance was beatiful with all the drums. strings, wind section, and beautiful voices. I love the young boys choir as well. Their voices amazed me. The finale was so powerful and I could see emotion come forth from the people around me. It was my first symphony and it was very exciting. I can't wait for the next performance we go to.
Tess Opincarne
Period 6
Honestly before going to the symphony I was worried that it would be too loud and give me a headache, no matter how good the music was. My first critique, however, is that it was too quiet. I don't know if the acoustics were wierd or what but it almost seemed like background music, making it hard to focus and hear all the little details in the music. My favorite part was probably the Boychoir, I thought they brought a lot to the performance, their voices blended well and could definitely pass for a choir of angels. Also, the man who, I assume, sang Faust's part, the short one in the middle of all the soloists (who my friends and I have been refering to as the asian Schindler) had an absolutely amazing voice. I thought his voice blended well with the music, and, while sounding Operatic, didn't sound as overly extreme as some Opera singers tend to be. I don't know much about classical music so I can't really say how the orchestra did, except that I thought the intricacy was fully awe-inspiring. Last but not least, my major complaint was the lack of translation above the stage. I knew mostly what was going on, but I think a translation that didn't have to be read from the play book itself would have been nice, so I could have watched the performance rather than the program on my lap.
Tanner Low Per. 4
Mahler's symphony of a thousand was awesome. I especially enjoyed the orchestra, not that I didn't like the voices but sitting right next to the french horns just blew me away. The sound was so pure and so perfect. I will be the first to admit that the middle sections of the symphony got a little monotonous for me but the beginning and especially the end was amazing. When they started the final verse I remembered when we listened to it in class, but this was totally different. Being there live gave me the chills, the sound wasn't harsh or sharp but perfectly round and triumphant. The trombones and trumpets up in the balcony at the end, were like angels sounding their horns from above. I can understand why that man yelled "YES!!" at the very end, I almost wanted to shout it too, the last verse had me on the edge of my seat not wanting it to be over but at the same time waiting for that final note to come and fill my soul with joy.
Mackenzie Engel
Period 6
I had never seen the Seattle Symphony play before this weekend so I had very few expectations for the performance to begin with. I was especially excited to see the Boy’s Choir because one of the members is the son of a close friend of my family whom I have seen perform several times already. However, I was sitting very close to the stage and couldn’t actually see much besides the first two or three rows of the symphony, so I think that hindered my experience a little bit. Even though there was no acting or dance occurring like there will be during the operas and plays we are to see, I still would have liked to have seen some of the choir. Due somewhat to my line of sight, I was focused on the conductor’s movements for the majority of the hour and a half performance. I kept getting lost in thought, not because I found Mahler’s 8th boring, but because the conductor and the rhythmic drum beats seemed hypnotic to me and really got me thinking. The symphony acted as a perfect soundtrack to my various trains of thought and the climactic finale was a perfect end to my experience.
Preston Longoni Per. 4
To start off, my whole experience of Mahler's Symphony was not too acceptional because of the seats Lacey and I had. I could only see the first and second rows of the Orchestra. I would have to say that the thing that caught my eye was the beauty of the theatre with all of the balconies and stuff it was just a place to remember. I heard the parts we listened to in class but it was hard to depict and follow along with the singers. I thought the orchestra was alright but like I said it was hard to make out what the choir was singing. Therefore it was pretty boring since I couldnt look around the stage at all of the different instruments and choir members. Though I must admit the conductor was crazy with all of his sudden jolts and movements. Overall I think everyone was very talented I just believe if I had a better view of what was going on I would enjoy it a lot more. The standing ovation at the end was pretty outstanding, I didnt know when people were going to stop we clapped for so long.
Jacob Carpenter
Period 4
Mahler’s 8th Symphony was amazing, the movements throughout the piece really made it feel graceful and yet surprising at times. Also I thought that Benaroya Hall was very nice as well. I sat in the front row over in the brass section so I could really hear the bass movements, some which were very suddle especially when you were least expecting it. I thought the little boys choir did a great job. I think that’s awesome that young kids like that can get a chance to do something that is that amazing. I loved this performance and I cant wait until Elektra.
Porter Bree Per. 4
Well let me start off by saying I think that, that symphony was longer than an hour and a half. One thing I noticed was that the person next to me fell asleep...I envied them because I too wanted to sleep...
Aside from that the symphony was fairly good...good enough to cry? Not that I'm unsure of cough...cough...Mr. Schindler.
I really wish that the symphony had strobe lights or something that would make watching people play their instruments more amusing...something other than the guy with the Jew fro, or like guy with freakishly long beard....
Anyways...I noticed that the symphony was very very repetitive, I also noticed the unity in choir and the singers when they would flip their pages in their books. I also noticed that the french horn man only played like three notes throughout the whole selection...and I notcied that that there seemed to be more string instruments versus horn/winds.
My likes...
-Boys chior: great little sopranos
-Opera singers: Specifically the blonde woman, the heavy-set woman, the midget man, and the older gentlemen.
Leticia Lopez Period 4
Man, i was really close to the stage so i basically saw nothing at all and yeah. But I thought it was real cool cuz we heard it in the classrom but then when we gotta listen to it live and i jus thought it was mad cool. But really it was kind of boring because it was really repiticious and i kinda didnt really even like it. Im not going to lie. Like i can appreciate it and i understand that it is a great symphony but really it was kind of boring to me. im not ungrateful. im just being honest.
The end
Jordan Adam Per. 4
Watching Mahler’s Symphony #8 was a lot like I imagined it would be. The powerful sock-knocking aspect I imagined was present, and I frequently had chills slither down my spine. All of the musicians performing were incredibly good, delivering the show flawlessly. I was only disappointed by the lack of volume I enjoyed at the back of the hall. The raw power that I heard in the classroom simply didn’t feel as powerful at the live performance, which I’d been looking forward to. Having the conductor flail his arms with indecipherable gesturing was particularly distracting as well. His movements were out of sync enough with the actual music that it distracted my attention from the performance. That may have been because I’m not accustomed to the rituals of symphonies, and with time I could learn to ignore his thrashing, but regardless it detracted from my enjoyment. The whole show was as good as I could expect a symphony to be, and any complaints I have are against symphonies as a whole, not this one. It was entirely a worthwhile experience.
Shae Hurst Period 6
Going to Seattle Symphony’s performance of Mahler's Symphony of a thousand was a completely new experience. I was most impressed initially by the physical size of the symphony. There were so many people and instruments on stage that I could not pick out any one. This beautiful combination was great experience for me because I had never heard so many instruments played together live at once. I was sitting close to the front and while I could only barely hear the singing I was amazed by the instrumentals. The whole thing was huge and colossal. The sounds however, were mostly soft and had a very calming effect. It was nice to listen to the medley of instruments, but if I have one complaint it is that from where I was sitting I could not hear the voices of the choir very well.
Alyssa De Hoop Period 4
Mahler's 8th was beautiful and very moving. I lost myself in its beauty and it seemed much shorter than I thought it would be. I left wanting more. I had never been to a Symphony before and it was nothing like I imagined it to be. I assumed it was going to be extremely boring just a bunch of violins going at it and old people chanting the same words over and over, but it definitely was not. Each instrument added something different and kept me wondering what would happen next. The voices were the icing on the cake. Although the music was spectacular I have to say that my favorite part was watching the conductor, one man leading so many. Every time he moved his hands just slightly something would happen: an instrument would play or someone would start singing. It is amazing to me that one man could know every part by heart and tell the musicians exactly when to come in. I mean I know he is the conductor and that is his job but I was still impressed.
Jessica Karr, Period 4
Mahler's 8th was an unusual experience because of how there were so many people involved that an extension of the stage had to be added. I have never been to a performance where the main focus was the instrumental talent. It was certainly very different. It amazed me how so many people could play the same piece of music without any noticable mistakes. I was caught off guard when they introduced the use of the enormous organ in the back of the stage. This performance was one of surprises and remarkable talent.
Sarah Elliott
Period 2
Mahler's 8th symphony was a very different experience for me. I've only been to one other symphony in my life and that was just a violin concert that my friend was in. Mahler's 8th was especially good because of the choir. I've never heard something quite like that, especially with how many intruments there were. My personal favorite part of the whole symphony was in when the boy's choir stood up and started to sing. To tell you the truth I had complete forgotten about them until they stood up and I was so excited when I saw them (maybe even a little giddy?). I had never heard a boys choir and I've never heard a single bad thing about them. I've always heard that listening to them is absolutely wonderful and they're voice are so pure. Well I certainly was not disappointed. They sounded wonderful and I was glad that I got to have that experience for the first time. My only compliant about the symphony is the conductor. His timing with the music was a little off and it was a little bit distracting. But I have to give him credit because conducting anything that big is a huge task and overall the music sounded amazing.
Rosie Polaschek, Period 4
I thought Mahler's #8 Symphony was incredibly impressive because of the huge scale of the performance. That was what caught my eye immediately - the sheer amount of musicians and singers on stage. It was so large that some of the trumpeters were pushed up into the wings to accommodate them all, which made for incredible visuals. It was also amazing to watch how into t and excited the musicians got (as well as a lot of audience members) and it was interesting to see just how drawn into the music everyone became.
I really enjoyed Mahler's 8th Symphony of a Thousand. I had great seats and I was able to see all of the performers. I thought the Boys Choir was great I was really surprised to see performers of that age. I also enjoyed the unified "plucking" of the string section in the middle of the performance. Also, I thought it was interesting how the trumpet players came out on the balconies on the sides of the stage. I was surprised to see that so many people fell asleep!
Selena Swaim, per. 2
I think it would be safe to say that I was more disappointed than the rest have voiced. Of course, that is because I was not actually able to make it to Mahler's 8th, which believe me, was a disappointment. From class discussions about the performance, and personally asking people about the performance, I gathered that most people at least enjoyed the symphony. Even though it wouldn't be people's first musical choice, they were at least able to appreciate the many sounds and instrumentals. This review changed based on some student's seats though. Those who were up front were so close to the stage, that they could hardly see or could hardly hear the singing. Some people thought it was difficult to follow the English translation in the program (or maybe this was just Clayton's problem, who was looking at the entirely wrong section). Stephanie told me that the high energy/climactic beginning and end were the parts that caught her attention the most. Others told me that they were amazed by how large the stage was and how many people were a part of it. I guess the title, Symphony of a Thousand, was very appropriate!
Andrew Pilgrim Period 4
I was blown away by the symphony. I was expecting it to be very loud and huge just from what we listened to in class but I thought that the magnitude of the opening and closing was incredible. I was really impressed by the singers and I thought that the whole performance fit together perfectly. It didn't seem like anyone made a mistake. The symphony had the range of being very loud and triumphant but was also able to be very quiet and creeping. The symphony sounded a lot better than what we listened to in class, probably just because it was all around us. I also thought it was interesting that in the performance there were some horns that went to the balcony and played from there to give it a surround sound feel. I thought that it was very good and I was really surprised with the performance.
Heather Thomas Period 2
My favorite part of the symphony was the choir boys. They really caught my attention mostly because i didn't even see them until they stood up to sing. Where I was sitting I could see the whole stage and from what I heard not a lot of people could. Watching that many people play their instruments all at once was absolutely amazing. Some of the music was so peaceful and some was loud and exciting. Also, I never knew how long a standing ovation could last. Two people behind me couldn't stop cheering! It was incrediable.
Melissa Nimon p.2
During the symphony I couldn't tell if I liked it or not. Right now I could write what I think you want to hear but that wouldn't be honest. I love symphonies in general, but there was something weird about this performance. Maybe it was the guy in first violin that had the longest nome beard I have ever seen, or the guy playing cello who had the greatest fro that wobbled every time he moved his bow. The fact that those are the things I remember most and enjoyed most says something. I did love the music, and the older soprano lady was fantastic. I may have zoned out because it was in German and I didn't understand them or because I enjoy movement and the only things that moved were the bows and the man's fro. I didn't dislike it that is for sure. It was great, but not exactly what I expected. I am sure I will enjoy the operas much more. Costumes really pull me in to a stor even if I can't understand them.
Dathan Bauman per.2
I liked Mahler's 8th because of the parts where it would be quiet then it changed to fast a beat. I thought the organ was cool because it was huge and took up the whole back wall. Where they placed the boys choir and horn in the balcony was a great add on. until someone pointed it out I didn't even see the choir. This was something that I haven't experience so that was cool too.
Stephanie Morgan
Period 6
When I first saw the stage I was amazed at how many people were on it, especially at how many people were in the choir. I didn’t have a very good seat so I couldn’t see everyone that was performing. My favorite parts of Mahler’s 8th would have to be the boys choir, drums and the trumpets. I didn’t notice the boy choir for a while because I couldn’t see them from where I was sitting, but once I saw them I was able to pick their voices out. Their voices were so soft and light, they were really amazing. The drums were amazing too because you could hear and feel them though out the performance and it was really cool how the trumpets came out during the performance. I enjoyed Mahler’s 8th a lot and I can’t wait to see Elektra.
Rebecca Taicz. Period 6
I was extremely impressed with Mahler’s symphony. Playing a musical instrument myself, I went in expecting that with a group as large as the one performing, many of the instruments would be covered up by larger ones such as the horns or larger brass instruments. The actual performance proved that to be completely wrong. Even with a seat only a few rows back from the stage the level of noise was still perfect, just enough to let me hear every instrument all the way across the stage but loud enough that I never forgot just how large the group was. They handled their transitions from faster to slower parts of the music excellently, and also blended with the voices really well, especially with the boy’s choir. When they first started I wasn’t even completely sure it was singing. Overall the piece was really well done and exceeded my expectations. It was also really nice to have already gone over the texts in class, since without them I’m sure I would have gotten lost and wouldn’t have been able to fully enjoy it. Knowing who was singing helped me connect between the choir and the orchestra, for example when each of the different Maters were singing I was able to listen to the different changes in the music, something I would have missed if I didn’t know the difference between them.
Montana Ferris / Period 2
Before last Sunday, I had never been to any kind of symphony before. I didn't exactly know what to expect. When I arrived, I remember being somewhat surprised at the size of the stage and how it was completely packed with the orchestra and choir. I am open to all music types and expected to highly enjoy the performance, and I was not disappointed. The orchestra and choir did a great job of projecting their notes and voices, seeing as the symphony did not use anything to amplify the sound. I later found out that the performance was recorded and will be released on a CD. I thought that was interesting, because nowadays famous musicians use all kinds of voice editing and enhancements, but the symphony was preformed flawlessly and requires none of those things. This gave me a new appreciation for symphonies and every person that it takes to create such a musical masterpiece. The obvious big finish at the end, when the music became fairly intense and the orchestra was blaring, had to have been my favorite part. The whole symphony really built up to a climax, turning into an epic piece of music as it all came to an end. Non-stop clapping and a standing ovation were shown as thanks, after the final notes were played. All in all, I enjoyed Mahler's 8th Symphony from start to finish.
Megan Housekeeper
Period 6
I enjoyed Mahler's 8th, being a former band nerd, it was very interesting to me. Though I have to admit I did doze once or twice, i'll just blame the fact it was on a sunday afternoon for that- my normal nap time. I specifically liked the trombones, because that's the instrument I played. They had a very full sound and there was tons of them compared to how many are usually in a symphony. I'm sure this is true for all the other instruments, but I was paying the most attention to the low brass section. As far as the singing went I loved the boys choir, they really stood out of the performance every time they were included. I think that my favorite parts we're the opening, and the finale they really showed what a symphony of that size was capable of. It's a little hard for me, as I think for a lot of people to stay interested in something so long with little action on stage, but it was a great experience.
Megan Lowry Per 2
My favorite thing about Mahler's 8th was probably the boys choir, mostly becuase I had never heard on live befor. The entire show was very impressive. I was probably mos suprised by the range of volumes that the orchestra was capable of. in the middle sections with the pizzacato I was watching the violins who were playing extended notes and they were so quiet that it was hard to tell if they were playing or not. I also thought the power of the brass section towards the end of the piece was amazing. Overall I was really impressed with both the concert hall (which I had only been to a few times before) and the level of singing and playing. One last note, I appreciated the really enthusiastic audience member who shouted "YES!" after the last note.
Chris Hong per.6
my experience at mahler's 8th was great. i did not get to go on sunday with my classmates but i went on saturday with my friend gabe. we had great seats and we could see the whole symphonny. first thing i'm going to say is that it was really loud. probably because the size of the choir was like 300 something but it was way louder then i expected. i thought the instrements were played very well. many unusual instrents caught my eye. such as the harp and the giant organ. i thought mahler's 8th symphony was very agressive and exciting. however, the slow part in the middle was a little boring i'm not going to lie. singers (solo) were great and i really enjoyerd the show. i'm pretty sure many people there enjoyed the show as well considering what felt like an hour of clapping. haha
Karin Ochsner Period 3
Mahler's 8th was surprising enjoyable. Before the symphony i thought it would be quite boring and would put me to sleep. But sitting in front of the whole symphony really made a difference. I was entertained through the whole performance. The symphony was great especially the ending which was very emotional. Overall i was really amazed at the boys choir and how they could sing. That was definitely the most interesting part. I just cant wait for more performances and plays.
Ryan De La Riva
P-2
Mahler's 8th and Symphony of a Thousand was an interesting experience for me. Before that day I had never been to a symphony before so it was for me a good first time experience. It was all done so well it is hard to pick just one thing that I liked from what I heard. The choir was great they really did a good job I was impressed and the instrumental was great as well. If I had to choose between all the things I heard i would have to choose the choir all the voices were all great in their singing and even the solo parts were impressive to listen to.
Chanelle Herrera
Period 2.
I personally enjoyed Mahler's 8th Symphony. I thought that the music was really good and it got my attention. I have never before been to a symphony so it was a first time experience for me. I was really amazed by how many people they had fit onto one stage and how it sounded when all of thier music and voices combined. How loud their voices was expecially amazed me. I thought that it wouldnt have been so loud since they werent made louder by like microhones or anything from what I could see. The ending defiantely caught my attention and made it worth seeing the whole thing.
Im definately excited for our next performance we go too now :]
Brendan Cox Period 2
Before going into the symphony I had a pretty good idea of what it would be like because I have been to performances before when I was younger. During Mahlers 8th I was blown away at the sight of so many people performing in one long symphony. I thought everyone did a great job. It takes time and practice to perfect skills like that and everyone involved was doing their part and doing a good job. My favorite section was probably the woodwinds because they have to be ready to play and stop at all times until the maestro points to them. All in all it was a good experience and Im definatly glad I went.
Jinny Kim p.4
From mahler's symphony, I learned and experienced a lot. First, I never seen that large symphony before. I mean I saw in TV or internet but did not went to see it. So it was great experince. My sign seat was very front, so I only see few orchestra people but it was good. I liked the beginning and end of the music, which is very loud and active sound. I also really liked boys choir, when they sing only of them, I was surprised because it was young boys choir but the sounds like women (tones were high) and it was so beutiful sound. It was amazing.
I tried to understand the music but it was hard to understand and feel the music. But it was good. It made me want to learn more about symphony. I thought I want to understand it.
Kayla Aldridge
Period 6
Mahler's symphony surprisingly was not as horrible or boring as I thought it was going to be. That was the first symphony I had been to so it was a new experience and something different. I had good seats and was able to see all the stage very well making the performance much more enjoyable. I really liked how all the different instruments came together. I also liked how the trumpet players came out onto the balcony. It was very interesting to see all the different ages of the performers on stage, I was very shocked to see how young some of the kids were. Overall it was a great experience and I'm excited for the other performances we will be attending.
Danielle Jacobson P.6
While seeing Mahler's 8th symphony I was overwhelmed. I have never been to anything really like it and it was a entirely new experience for me. The music ranged from extremely loud to quite and soft. Watching the musicians having to focus so hard and be so dedicated to what they were was also very interesting. It took so much effort to make everything just perfect and i have alot of appreciation gor that. I was really shocked by the power it gave out and made you feel while you listened. The voices of the singers also caught my attention, mainly the solo singers, because they were so loud and powerful to be coming from one person. The music was really a whole new thing to me i've never been to anything like that and it really took me by suprise. You could see alot of the crowd was very serious about it and very pleased with how it turned out. I am glad i got to experience something so different that what i am used to.
Sam Bellefeuille P-6
I really enjoyed attending the symphony for many reasons. I love getting dressed up and that was really fun. Also it was my first time attending a symphony and it was a really good first one to attend. My favorite part was probably the solos because it really made a select few stand out and that was awesome. I was really happy that there was singing mixed in with the instruments, it gave the symphony more life. Overall it was a really fun experience and i cannot wait for the next.
Tia Bailey P.4
Mahlers 8th was a bit different than i expected. The music was so much more vibrant and alive. When you watched everyone play their instrument and sing you knew where to look and for the most part could follow along in the text. The music was alot more soft than it was loud, that kind of threw me off gaurd. It literally almost knocks the wind out of you! My favorite singer was the mater glorioso! she was amazing. her voice was so clear and pure, that i just wanted to keep on listening to her!!!!!
Dan Reisz Per.6
Seeing Mahler's 8th symphony was a great experience to me. This was the first symphony I had ever been to, and I really enjoyed going into Seattle and getting dress up and getting to see all of my friends and being able to enjoy such a great experience with all of them, I thought the production was amazing and well put together. As for Mahler's 8th symphony I thought the sound was really good and it put me in a very peaceful mood.
Matt MacDougall per 4
I thought mahlers 8th was a really good symphony. It changed how i really viewed symphonies because i thought they were always really quiet. But this one was really loud and kept you on your toes. I also thought the incorperation of some choir was great it really added another demention to the whole sympony because it told a story and im use to a symphony only being instuments and no story. all in all i thought this symphony was great because it really changed my perception of symphonies
I thought Mahler's 8th was very enjoyable, and it was most amazing to see the size of the choir from our seats in the balcony. It was incredible to hear the music quiet down and then pick up with the vocals, and to see every part of the choir and band come together so fluently. The soloists suprised me as well, I would never have guessed that their voices could project around the hall so clearly without the use of microphones. This performance really got me excited for the rest of the year, and was a great introduction into humanities.
Christin Thrane
Period 4
This was my first experience with a symphony, and I was surprised by the variety of voices and instruments and how big the choir was. I was impressed by the acoustics in the room, and how well the different voices blended together. What amazed me most about the performance were the people singing the solos. They had incredible voices which made the experience more alive and emotional. Although the sound was good, I missed something going on the stage to make it more entertaining, and I think there should have been an intermission during the performance. But all in all, I enjoyed it, especially the ending because that part was so intense.
Bryttany Enge, Period 6
As a student of music myself, such an experience was very enjoyable. My favorite part of the performance was the intense ending. Towards the end, the sound became larger and larger. It reminded me of a balloon being filled until it was just about to pop. I enjoyed it when the orchestra released on the last note but the music seemed to hang in the air until it dissolved into the audience. Besides the performance, the various characters performing in the symphony were interesting as well. For example the Northwest Boys Choir. I’ve never seen such a large group of young boys look so serious. The fact that these boys were so young, so talented, and so dedicated, was inspiring. As well as the Northwest Boys Choir, I enjoyed each performers enthusiasm and obvious devotion to his or her music. My band teacher has a saying: “always play like you love your piece, even when you hate it.” This performance reminded me of my band teacher; either the performers really loved their music or they are really good actors. However, I prefer to think that they enjoyed the piece as much as I did.
Going into the symphony I wasn't sure what to expect. And to tell you the truth, before it I was so tired I thought I was going to fall asleep. However, the symphony never ceased to amaze me and it was so awesome hearing all of the instruments coming together like that. I had an idea going into there of what it was going to sound like but then once i actually got there and saw every instrument and singer coming together to make it into an actual symphony was mind blowing to me. I loved the soloists and how different all their voices were.
Talia Cowan per 6
Watching the Symphony of a Thousand come to life was very interesting. There were definitely a lot of people involved in the production. one thing that disappointed me was that i couldn't hear the 5 opera singers very well. The tenor i could hear the most clearly because he was right under one of the hanging microphones. The many different instruments made me smile because the variety in the sound was amazing. Although i think the best part of the whole production was the boys choir. They had such strong voices for being so young, it was awesome. =D One thing i discovered is that watching the performance was nice, but listening to it with out your eyes open made it a lot more entertaining and pleasant.
Sam Franklin Per 6
After listening to parts of Mahler's 8th in class I was looking forward to seeing the rest and thought I had a good idea of what it was going to be like, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw and heard. It was incredible the way so many instruments and voices were able to blend in such harmony that no one part could be identified. Multiple times I closed my eyes and just let my ears observe for me. This was truly a masterpiece.
Andrew Song Period 6
When I watched Mahler's 8th at Benaroya Hall, it was very different than what i imagined. The music was very uplifting, and i was impressed how many people could work together like so. Also it didnt seem like a full 1000 at all but the amount of people was still quite staggering. The music was all very well done, my favortie part was Faust part 2 and the very end of the symphony.
michael haines
p 3
the symphony was a great way for me to see and hear another side of music that i had never really heard before. what impresses me the most was how all the instruments blended so well with the choir and how powerful the soloists were and just took charge of the show.
Kaiti Staup Period 4
I was pleasantly surprised by Mahler's 8th. I expected it to be similar to some of the other symphonies that I have heard, but the sheer number of performers made it remarkably impressive. The way the choir sang together as a unit, with the accompanying instruments making the sound complete kept me interested and involved for the entire performance. Some of the individual instruments would stand out at different times during the performance and that made the final product so much more interesting and entrancing. All in all, I'm really glad that we started the year off with such a popular event so that everyone will be excited for the rest.
Megan Pinzon Period 4
Mahler's 8th was a really interesting symphony. It was very powerful at certain points and also quite beautiful at other times. The main singers had the most amazing voices, I could never imagine being able to sing and project like they did. I also was very impressed by the boys choir, they all were excellent. I was surprised by the amount of people in the choir, there were so many! When I imagined the symphony I thought it would be very long and hard to sit through but it seemed like it was over before I knew it. The entire thing was amazing, I haven't seen anything quite like it. My favorite part was the end though, it was very epic and powerful.
Stuart Dransfield period 4
I had no idea what Mahlers 8th symphoney would be like because I have never been to a symphoney before. I was surprised at the amount of people that attended the symphoney. Also the number of musicians on stage was impressive. The music was in tune the whole time and they where very in sync with the opra singers who where impressive themselves. In the end i ended up really liking it and could not wait to go to another one.
Jessica Taylor per 2
I had a really good time at Mahler's 8th. I thought it was interesting that the boys choir was almost hidden. At the beginning, I was looking for them but gave up after a while. Then when their parts came up, they would stand; if they had not done this, I would never have found them. Also near the end, I thought it was interesting that they had the trumpets come out on the balcony. I felt really bad for the people sitting in front of them. I would have to say that the very end was my favorite part. All of the emotion they put into it just amazed me.
Nathan Zimmerman, Per. 6
I haven't truly been to this type of performance before and it was very enjoyable. My seat was very close to the extended stage on the right side so some of the performance was hard to distinguish. Sometimes the horn section was so loud that I couldn't really enjoy the singing in those parts. Other than those small gripes, Mahler's 8th was just as epic as it sounded in the classroom. At points it gave me chills which I didn't expect at all. Gerard Schwarz seemed to do extremely well with all those different band members. I thought it was really cool to have 300 plus people on stage contributing. I think that the very beginning with Veni Creator Spiritus and the very end were the most enjoyable because the music's pace quickened every section blended so well. Other parts that I really enjoyed were the violinists’ solos, the afro of one of the cello players, and the three foot beard of one of the violinists. But seriously, the performance was extremely enjoyable, the music and singing was extremely beautiful, and I can't wait for our next performance.
Helen Wiltsey Period 4
Upon going to the symphony, I was expecting something less...big. I have been to benaroya hall before, but the actual stage set up and the almost never ending trail of vocalists getting on stage was overpowering. The seat I had didn't get a very good view of the left hand side of the stage when teh boys choir was, but the rest of the choir was in full view, along with all the instrumentalists. For the actual musical part, it was harder to follow along than I had anticipated, and the only really interesting part of the symphony I found was to be the break between the Veni Creator Spiritus and the Faust text. When the strings were all quite and plucky, it was intriguing yet simple. Not having three soloists trying to overpower each other, or one soloist who sat down by the organist and had only three lines. It was interesting to see some of the actual people performing, with their large facial hair features (like an extremely long beard, or huge afro).
Lacey Helmuth period 4
I enjoyed the symphony because of how it would go from quiet to really loud, and then add in things that I wouldn't of expected. But it was really hard to stay awake since a few of us were sitting literally 2 feet away from the french horn player. I couldn't see anything that was going on past him. The actual hall though was really pretty, and it's weird how it is in such a fast paced place such as Seattle. It seemed as if everything slowed down once we got into Benaroya Hall.
Stephanie Bateman period 2
Watching Mahler's Symphony was truely amazing. The beginning and the end were my two favorite parts. The music sort of took me by surprise. I really liked the boys chior they were sooo cute! I also really enjoyed the orchestra. The music sent shivers up my spine. I also thought the organ was super cool sounding. Just being in Benaroya Hall was awesome. It was absolutly beautiful.
Phillip Foshee
period 6
This symphony was unbelievable. I forgot my ticket in my car at home so when i got to the performance i had to go to the box office and get a new one. Little did i know they wernt able to print me a new ticket. Thats when I thought that my symphony experience was going to end early. I turned out to be wrong, they ended up giving me and Evan box seats which were in an great location. When we got up to our box we were greeted by what i could tell to be one of Seattle's biggest opera fans. He continued to tell us how he had been to all three of the performances that weekend, and that this was one of the greatest symphony's in the entire world. Man was he right. This was unbelievable, From the tubas to the violins to the little boys choir everyone sounded great. This music was so unique how the tempo went up and down and slow and fast it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Finally when i thought my experience at Benaroya hall was finally over we were graced by the wild opera fan next to us as he clapped and hollered. The expressions on his face and the movement of his arms were out of this world. After the symphony was over the very nice enterjedic man continued to talk to tell us about his life experiences in the arts of opera and symphony's for what seemed like forever. Overall My experience was great and i really enjoyed it.
Kenny Exelby Period. 4
Mahler's 8th was pretty cool, I'm not a huge fan of the music but the experience was awesome. Benaroya Hall was big and a great work of art, and the way the acoustics in the hall were made the music really got around well. I was toward the front so I couldn't see any of the choir or any of the singers, but I could see the brass section really well, and I also had a perfect view of a guy that looked like one of the Gibbons brothers from ZZ Top. He was shredding with his violin and that in itself was very entertaining. Overall I had a great experience and I look forward to going back to Benaroya for future performances.
Evan Norris P.6
That was my first time being to a symphony or the hall. The box seats were sick. As for Mahler's 8th it was cool how many people they had there to perform it. I was really impressed by the few solo singers. It is a really good piece of music, I could tell other people liked it by the way the guy next to me was getting all excited at parts.
Mike Smolkowski
Per 4
Going into the symphony i had a little bit of an idea of what to expect, but what i actually heard was nothing compared to waht i thought. I thought that it was great. when i saw how big the choir was and how many instruments there i was amazed that someone got all of them to play in harmony.One thing that realy cought my attention was the young boy choir.
Zoe Thiemann Per. 6
Mahler's 8th was in my opinion very enjoyable. Even though i was very close to the stage and could not see much it was still a good experience for me because the music is so much more powerful and different when you hear it live rather than on the cd. This was my first symphony that i attended, and i think that the most interesting concept was the soloist singers. I was so shocked that they can project their voice that loudly throughout the whole room and still make their voice sound beautiful. The one thing that i wish i did see was the conductor because that is another thing that you cannot hear by just listening to a cd, so i would have been interested in seeing his techniques. Other than that it was a beautiful performance.
This performance was a great experience. I had a fairly good seat and was able to hear and see everything at the same time. The music was explosive at points and calming at others. I was amazed at how well the singers did, being able to sing that loud! That shows true talent. I think my favorite part of the whole thing was the ending. It was so dramatic. I even noticed more people come out on the box seats with trumpets and such!.. I guess there was no more room. Overall this symphony was a great experience. It was a first good experience, and who knows, maybe ill go to another one!
Joel Maltos Per.4
The Symphony was pretty legit. I had never been to a Symphony before and i definatly was not expected that many people playing that many intruments. I was very pleased with the choir and the musicians and how elegantly they worked together. Also the soloist singers were amazing especially the man who literally looked like he could of been a legal small person. Overall it was an amazing experience and i would love to go to another one sometime in my life.
Spencer Asavadejkajorn period 4
When we entered benaroya hall i was surprised to see as many people as there were. Overall I though the whole symphony was amazing. I especially enjoyed the instrumentals. I liked how all of the musicians worked in harmony and everything was flawless. I also liked how the boys choir performed. They did a great job. I loved the beard the guy had on the far left, and the grey afro one of the men had in the center.
Michelle Jackson per.4
The symphony was something i didn't expect. First of all, i didn't expect it to be so loud, or for there to be so many people apart of it. However i was really up close so i couldn't see like half of the people that performed, but still pretty cool and loud. I also expected the people to be younger, i don't why i just did.Overall it was a good experience and i'm excited to see Electra in October
I loved the end. The final upheaval of all of the voiced involved, the final burst of life from the entire orchestra. And there was the symphony itself. The resonance, the spine tingling goodness. The only part of the entire production that distracted me was that mans ridiculously long beard. I enjoy the beautiful type of music Mahler uses, unlike the gritty sounds used in Electra. The symphony was structured, but unpredictable.necr
Post a Comment