My friend and I attended Sunday afternoon’s concert – wow! The “Concerto” by Rodion Shchedrin was so interesting and fun, and the following “war horses” were both marvelous. To hear Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto in person, played with such precision and energy was a treat, and I very much enjoyed the grandeur and sensitivity that Gergiev drew from the orchestra for Mussorgsky’s “Pictures…”

BUT… WHAT was that weird buzzy noise that we heard when the orchestra played?? It was horribly distracting. We were sitting on the Main Floor, far left, Section 5, and my friend and I both noticed it, so it wasn’t just a voice in my head… Some weird acoustical issue either from the hall (emanating from the stage, it sounded like) or from the orchestra? Really strange.

I agree. We were seated in what are otherwise good seats in Hill: middle of the Mezzanine, about half way up; however, since much of the actor’s / singers’ performance was in the very front part of the stage, or even up an aisle, we couldn’t see, even with leaning forward, since of course everyone else in front of us was leaning forward. After awhile I just closed my eyes and listened to the glorious music. Mr. Malkovich has remarkable stage presence and an interesting voice, but, really, I didn’t care for the yap-yap of a serial killer character. The singing and the orchestra, on the other hand, were tremendous. THAT was worth the money!

All that said, I appreciate the UMS continuing to go out on various limbs to bring edgy and different programming. Not everything pleases everyone – if it did, then it would all be pretty boring! Michael K & Ken F, keep it up! Margaret Petersen

I loved this performance! I really had no idea what to expect beyond a typical on-the-mark performance by a highly regarded baroque chamber orchestra of a well loved piece. It started to beautifully, so softly, very sensitive playing, and then unfolded with such edgy gorgeousness. Certainly there was a lot of "non-typical" playing – I even liked the "scrape-y" high strings sound in the doldrums of summer and the cold of winter movements – and kept thinking, based on what I've read of Vivaldi's personality and life, that he would have loved it. The piece as played last night had such wonderful life and freshness! Just fantastic. I also enjoyed the Glass "Seasons" and the echoes from the first half of the concert. The power of the orchestra's strings is really wonderful. Thank you, Michael K, for slotting Ann Arbor into this tour – it was a terrific concert.

For a fascinating look at the Mahler 2nd Symphony and its connection to the Jewish Kulturbund in Berlin during the 1930's, I recommend Martin Goldsmith's book "The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany." It's a gripping book and adds further depth of meaning to those who are lucky enough to be able to perform it or hear it live. Every time we in the Choral Union perform this piece I think of the final Kulturbund-Berlin performance described in the book and those who were permitted to perform this symphony before the orchestra was rounded up and sent to the camps. The fact that this is the "resurrection symphony" makes the story all that much more poignant.