Last concert of the year extravaganza. Began with the maestro talking about each movement and the orchestra playing a little of what he was explaining, very cool. Also a special mystery short that I'd never heard of before. Superb!
We loved everything about this concert, but the Brahms piece featuring lead violinist and a wonderful cellist was out of this world. My husband and I just looked at each other with that, "Wowwwwwww"look. Thank you Michael Francis and the Florida Orchestra for another fantastic performance.
We heard Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue live for the first time. We loved everything about it. Memorable evening for our Valentine's date. We have been married 54 years.
Wow!!! Just wow! Might have been my favorite rendition of this song. Love, love, love!
I had enjoyed a wonderful time at the Straz for a Gershwin concert so I was excited to see the mahaffey putting on a performance too. It was splashed across the papers-come see Rhapsody in blue - and both I and many others came for that reason. We found out that was going to be finale so we had to sit through the other pieces first. The surprise piece walking the dog was lovely and the actual dog that was part of it was really cute. The first piece was holler and hallelujah and it was ok. Then we had to sit through a experimental piece which I am not a fan. The second movement of the piece has some technical difficulties so they had to stop in the middle of it and restart the 2nd movement. It was alot of banging and buzzing and noise accompanied by choppy instrumentals. The third movement was better with its themes of light and nature and trouble brewing. The next act with the clarinet was sort of lacking and the on the town pieces were decent. The first movement was sort chaotic but the later movement was preppy and cheerful. We finally got to the main piece and it was good. The pianist did alot of flourishes with the piece playing some parts loud and some soft before bursting with sound with the main theme. So I was glad I came for that. I am also thankful for the lady who helped me down the stairs as I was seated in the top of balcony and it was a bit difficult getting up and down the steps with only partial hand rails on the stairs. I am hoping to come back for the Rick Stevens performance in March. I will be back again but I have had much more enjoyable music experiences at the Straz and Ruth eckard hall.
The concert was outstanding. The singer was magnificent . What a voice !! She had all the theatrical moves . One of the best concerts I’ve been to.
The Orchestra and the venue met our expectations. The audience was a shock. There were people coming in late and moving about during a piece. There were parents giving food to children during the concert. People crunching water bottles and one man continually dropping M&Ms on the floor throughout. A man who was clearly upset at being disturbed by the M&M dropper made his displeasure known at the end of the concert and there was a short verbal exchange. I told the man, who was upset that I was with him but it wasn't worth the words because people who have so little self awareness to rustle candy rappers a drop candy on the floor during a classical music concert wouldn't change behavior.
To hear these familiar tunes in person with the orchestra right there was unreal. Makes you really appreciate these soundtrack composers even more.
My husband and I truly enjoyed this performance. The Twelve Days of Christmas using the orchestra as each of the twelve days brought the orchestra alive. The audience participation and enthusiasm was outstanding. Great mix of music to interest all fami,ies and generations made everything come alive.
My girlfriend and I attended the Holiday Pops concert and were overjoyed at the experience! The conductor was very charming and humorous, the orchestra was very skilled and the two choruses (adult and Lumina Youth) were excellent!! The sing-a-long at the end was especially entertaining. We will definitely come back next year if they do it again.
