At the risk of of exposing my somewhat shallow knowledge of classical music, I'll confess to being completely overwhelmed by Richmond Symphony music director Mark Russell Smith at tonight's "Unfinished Business" concert at First Baptist Church. He took us on an emotionally breathtaking ride through incomplete works by Schubert, Mozart and Bruckner...two full hours of some of the most dynamic and uplifting music I've ever heard and the conductor had no score. Some sixty gifted and well-rehearsed symphony musicians, all with their sheet music in front of them and their fearless leader with none. Is that unusual? If it's the norm, I don't want to know because I choose to stand in awe of someone who can keep the ebb and flow of music of that complexity, and all the parts that the various sections of the orchestra are playing at every turn, completely in his head. One normally thinks of a maestro conducting with the hand that holds the baton, but I found myself fascinated by Smith's other hand and its graceful ability to express the unspoken nuance and subtlety he was seeking from his charges at any given moment. To hear that many musicians playing in such inspired unity led by someone so utterly in command of his craft was thrilling. Mark Russell Smith departs for Minneapolis after this 50th anniversary season, leaving the Richmond Symphony a cultural treasure that has benefited immeasurably from his tenure. Don't miss a chance to experience music that soars beyond any burden of time or genre. Bravo Mark and Godspeed.
So we were waitlisted for tickets to see k.d. lang and her new keyboard guy, Richmond's own Daniel Clarke at UNC Chapel Hill on March 5th...waited a little too long, hoping I guess that the tour might come a little closer to home. But sometimes, procrastination can work in one's favor as about a week after being told it was sold out, I get a call from a nice kid at the box office saying he had a cancellation on a couple of tickets in the orchestra PIT...that's in front of what would normally be the closest seats in the house! So we lucked out big time. Daniel's just finished rehearsals today and will have a few days off before embarking on the big world tour. Catch him if you can.
I do want to make sure you know about our annual JAMinc gospel concert featuring the 
latest evolution of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. If you missed them at the National Folk Festival back in October, or if you've never experienced the powerful harmonies and showmanship of this award-winning group, please join us at the West End Assembly of God on Parham Road on Friday, February 1st. I promise it'll help you get 2008 off to a proper spiritual start. Click here for ticket info.
If you aren't comm
itted to finishing up all the milk and bread you bought Friday to see you through this weekend's typically lame, what now passes for a snowstorm around here, you might want to show up at Legend Brewery tomorrow and see what all the Johnson Boys have been up to lately, musically and otherwise. Rusty, Slim, Harry, Tiny and Big Red will be holding forth and most likely what's left of a fifth starting around 6:30. They're big and they're boss...don't be scared.
TT
