I think it would be safe to say that Lang Lang’s Portland Oregon Symphony debut was a triumph.  The roar that came from the sold-out crowd at the Schnitz at the conclusion of the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto was well nigh deafening, such was the response from the audience.  I can’t say that I’ve ever heard such a thing in my 13 years with the OSO. [Read more →]

midnight sun - kevo, finland
photo by josef stuefer 

It’s the morning (afternoon, really, but daylight saving time be damned!) after our first classical series concert with our two Finnish guest artists, conductor Pietari Inkinen and violinist Pekka Kuusisto.  In a previous post, I wrote about the often mysterious process of getting to know a new guest conductor and the factors which can complicate this often elaborate dating dance.  I was withholding judgment, waiting to see what would develop, on Mr. Inkinen, at that time.   Now I think I have some opinions that can actually hold some water on the subject. [Read more →]

Today we had the first rehearsals for our upcoming classical series concerts with Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen. He’s a guest conductor that we’ve never worked with before, and he’s very new to the U.S. conducting circuit - this is his second US orchestra ever, his first having been the Cincinnati Symphony in February. [Read more →]