Vivaldi

Interesting show. It was called Seasons, and featured Vivaldi's Four Seasons, played by a quartet. Samantha George, the MSO Associate principal violinist, Tanya Ell, the MSO Associate principal cellist, Stas Venglevski, world renowned bayan (a type of accordion) player, and Misha Litvin, mandolin player. Mixed in with the Vivaldi, were pieces by Astor Piazzolla, which were also seasonal pieces, for violin, cello and bayan. In addition to those eight pieces, Vengelvski played several of his own compositions, as duets with John Simkus playing accordion. The accordion pieces were quite impressive. I guess I never realized they play the bass/harmonies with the left hand, while playing the melody with the right. (Reminds me a bit of playing a Chapman Stick - well, only because the hands are playing independently). We see George and Ell at the symphony, but never this close (we were in the second row). We could hear George breathing. It was cool to see the fingerwork up close.