I enjoy reading the end-of- year performance lists. It reminds me of what I haven’t yet done, what I wish I hadn’t done, and what I really enjoyed having done. So, in that spirit, I present my far from exhaustive list of major musical events in my life from 2016.
Beethoven – String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp major, Op. 131 (Arnica Qt)
Messiaen – Turangalila (Oregon Symphony)
Bartók – Bluebeard’s Castle (OSO)
Reich – Triple Quartet, WTC 9/11, Different Trains (Third Angle)
Shostakovich – String Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 68 (Arnica Qt)
Adés – Concentric Paths with Augustin Hadelich, violinist (OSO)
Strauss – Don Quixote* (OSO)
Mahler – Symphony No. 3 (OSO)
Schoenberg – Verklärte Nacht (sextet version) (Methow Chamber Music Fest)
Shostakovich – Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a (James MacMillan, Oregon Bach Festival)
MacMillan – A European Requiem (Oregon Bach Festival)
Brahms – Ein Deutsches Requiem (Oregon Bach Festival)
Janacek – String Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer Sonata” (45th Parallel)
Strauss – Oboe Concerto, with François Leleux, oboe (OSO)
That’s it! My list of my favorite musical experiences of 2016. I’m sure that 2017 will bring as many or more! Happy New Year!