Monday 18 April 2016

Rhapsody in Blue

"The sound of a pianica tuning has the concert audiences sit up in curiousity. Suddenly, the stage light switched on and an innocent looking bear mascot holding a pianica stands in front of the still hidden orchestra. The audiences erupted in giggles and girls gush about how cute does the bulky bear looks. Calm and composed, the mascot starts playing a glissando solo that leads the orchestra to chime in..."


The scene from Japanese music drama, Nodame Cantabile was my first encounter with George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, one of his most remarkable and recognisable work. The bold and refreshing combination of jazz piano and orchestra is a rare gem itself since jazz comes in a small band and classical music orchestras are often perceived as rigid. The melody is lively, fun and make you want to dance and swing the night away.


This Friday and Saturday nights, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) brings us Wayne Marshall, conductor and pianist renowned for interpreting Gershwin's works, for Rhapsody in Blue and three other pieces of Gershwin and Bernstein. (Plus point: The concert program includes West-side story!) Ticket price starts at RM60 and student get a special price of RM15. Tickets can be purchased at MPO box office at Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC or its official website.


Details of concert are as follows:

Date and time: 22 & 23 April 2016, Saturday and Sunday, 8.30pm
Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas


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