Traverse Symphony Orchestra

Valkyries, the Devil and Rhodes

Kevin Rhodes, conductor
Isaac Hurtado, tenor
Traverse Symphony Chorus
Sunday, September 20 at 3 pm
Corson Auditorium, Interlochen
Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
Liszt - Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Liszt - A Faust Symphony

 So yeah, I scored a couple of last minute front row tickets to the symphony that I just couldn't pass up.
Okay, so the Ride of the Valkyries was cool as you might guess. I don't need to say much about that even though that is what I was most excited to hear performed...

But the Liszt is what blew me away... in fact my head is still swimming. That is come complex stuff. The Faust Symphony is the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil. Liszt does not write in a linear fashion as Paul Dukas with the tone poem the Sorcerers Apprentice, where you can image what is going on in the story... No, no no, Liszt dissects the personality of each character and basically give you a personality profile, that this guy is crazy, and passionate... looking for love in all the wrong places and can get pissed off too... and then there is the devil that he is selling his soul too.

Well it was intense... if you ever get a chance to see this live prepare yourself... it is 80 minutes long and it is high powered stuff. Issac Hurtado was marvelous.

Say yes to live music and displays of art anytime you can... you will be better for it.