Baltimore Symphony Orchestra wins the Stanley Cup!

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra music director, Marin Alsop

Well, almost. Maybe, they won the Symphony Cup.

The crowd was so enthusiastic and vigorous at Strathmore Saturday night, I thought I was at a Caps' game or the Nats, either one, take your pick, this was not a dry, sophisticated, ho hum, la-dee-daa audience, but one which fell head over heels for violin soloist Gil Shaham who played Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, and, of course, for the second act, the orchestra performed Camille Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, famously known as the "Organ Symphony" (and the reason for my being...there). 

Camille Saint-Saëns/All Music

Audience members leapt to their feet and screamed "Bravo!  Bravo!" so many times, it was like the last of the Caps' games, in the playoffs, in the Stanley Cup race when, at last, they finally made it past the Evil Monsters Pittsburg Penguins, and the Caps won!

No quite, but coming down to Earth, I was at the Baltimore Symphony which thrilled the audience, in love with their orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop like no other.

Last year was the orchestra's 100th birthday! Celebrate!  

And it did with a fine program to thrill any music lover, beginning with The Game commissioned of Christopher Theofanidis, who was on hand to introduce the work, a loud, energetic, delightful piece filled with horns and gaiety, perfect for a birthday commemoration.  Not one of those dull, stifling, silent pieces often associated with contemporary drama.  Baa humbug.

And to add to the celebration was the recognition of three retiring musicians who together have played for the BSO more than 100 years! 

It was the first I have seen scalpers outside a symphony hall pre-performance trying to sell tickets to a sold-out show.

Congratulations, Baltimore!  Let the band play on next season!  Bravo! Bravo! Just in time for subscribers to sign up.

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