I felt bad about the noise from the audience too! It was funny but also slightly annoying when everyone would cough in between the different parts.

I could also make out the three notes we learned in class. I was so happy that I was able to recognize that! I didn’t remember much of the meaning from class, but I’m so appreciative that the program included the translations.

After the performance, I saw Nadine Sierra across the street, and I felt like she was a celebrity! It was breathtaking to watch her sing on stage in her golden gown. The baritone soloist did a great job too, but I wish Nadine had been able to sing more.

I do not have much experience with music, so I don’t think I would be able to tell if there were any flaws in the performance, but it sounded perfect to me. The conductor received so much of my respect instantaneously – I felt awful when he was waiting for people to sit down so he could begin the second part. After learning about the acoustics in Hill Auditorium I understood how noise from the audience could greatly impact the performance of those on stage.

After reading other comments and talking to people that were sitting in the mezzanine, I wish I could have seen more of the instrumentalists. It was very exciting to be so close to the orchestra and the UMS Choral Union, but if I go to a performance like this I will probably sit higher up to be able to see more. Overall one of my favorite performances of the year!

I kind of like that Rodriguez’s back was to the audience during his performance. It allowed us to witness his awe-inspiring talent playing the keyboard! My eyes could not keep up with his hands.

I do agree that the Pedrito Martinez Group sounded a little monotonous. I waited out their entire performance hoping to hear some more variation.

I am sure I am not the only one that was extremely distracted and upset by the many phone noises or alarms that went off during the performance. I just hope that the musicians on stage did not hear them!

While I recognize the talent of Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez, I did not connect with their music. I went into the show expecting jazz music, so perhaps this is part of the reason why I did not get much out of the performance. Neither of the pieces sounded like traditional jazz, and both performances sounded repetitive to me. There were times when I did not think the songs sounded like music but just random notes together. I wish that each song had been shorter to better understand the tone and rhythm of each piece.

However, I was amazed by the solos by Rodriguez and Martinez. At some points I could barely make out their hands moving across the piano or beating the drums. I was also surprised that the artists worked together on the last piece, with Rodriguez coming onstage to play the piano with the Pedrito Martinez group. I felt bad for their female piano player, who seemed to lose some of the spotlight with the change in roles. However, it was incredible to watch the musicians play together and sound like they had practiced together before.

I agreed that the intermission felt long – I wanted to see what was next! This performance could have been a lot longer, and I would have been very happy. I think I liked Agwa the best too, because of the beautiful use of water and the cups, but it is also hard to choose between the cool chase-like dancing in Correria and the amazing individual talents in the encore!

While the dance and movement skills of these performers were truly amazing, I was honestly most impressed with their ability to line up all those cups in such straight lines! When the stage was dark and the audience could kind of see what the dancers were doing, I was expecting to see a mess of cups scattered across the stage, so I was in awe of the flawless vertical lines. This example of the unswerving organization of the cups just illustrates how methodological these dancers are. There is a wonderful contrast between the precision of their choreography and the inherent fluidity and originality of dance. Each performer had his own way of dancing, and the humorous aspects of the performance made it that much more enjoyable to watch. I wish I could go see it again!

The Vrebalov performance was the most stimulating for me not because of the technology, but because of the sounds the musicians made themselves and the power that came with these sounds. When the musicians stomped their feet and made grunting and yelling noises, I was really energized by their performance. The noises were so natural. I would like to learn more about the other instruments that were used during that performance, like the drums and the other stringed instrument that made strong echo noises.

Also during the piece by Vrebalov, noises of children playing sounded in the background. One of the musicians made noises like a swing slowly swinging in a playground which corresponded perfectly with the noises of children. The way the technology background noises and the classical music interacted allowed for a complete experience of the music. I could sit in the theater listening to the music but also picture myself in a scene far away that matched the mood of the performance.