Bob Weir + Atlanta Symphony 02/17/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUHKFacim4

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Is that Michael Tilson Thomas in that last photo?

I went last night and have to say it was excellent.  I would go back for an evening.

Nice mix of band, orchestra, horns section that seemed to weave seamlessly throughout the night and still left room for Elanor Rigby teases and other interplay.    

Only complaint is same as always....  Free Barry Sless!!

Lance, that was my thought when I saw that also.

Just confirmed that is Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti, a Stanford professor that did the original orchestration for this...

Would have been pretty cool if it was MTT, but I think his health issues would prevent that.

I went to all 3 nights, Zang, sorry I missed you, I can't post to the zone with my old phone. I loved all 3 shows, the orchestra would start a song at times, then the band chime in, then back to each orchestra section for a part, it was lovely. Of course you get repeats when you have an orchestra, but you can't have a symphony learn Terrapin Station Suite and only play it once. All of the overtures were interesting. On Saturday night, the composer, Dr. Aquilanti, stood on stage with the band, after the orchestra left for Weather Report Suite into Let It Grow. It was beautiful, so classy, the Wolf Pack is a great band. I was so thankful we didn't get another Saturday Night.

On Sunday night we hung out by the stage and got a nice picture with Barry Sless, he is always so kind whenever you meet him, he takes the time to talk to everyone. (I'll post the pic once I buy a computer that allows me to do it.) You didn't hear much of him with the orchestra but he didn't complain at all. We discussed a Moon Alice gig I saw at Fur Peace Ranch, he only stopped talking to us because the usher ushered us off. We did ask Barry what the orchestra musicians thought about it all, for instance during the overtures, there were loud cheers, The Other One got one. He said none of the musicians stayed once their part was over every night, so he didn't talk to any of them. So odd. Someone did scream up to the first chair violin before the show, asking what he thought of it and he said, "I love it, but don't tell anyone." The first chair did have some beautiful solo parts.

A couple seating next to us were in Atlanta from out of town and decided to see the symphony on Saturday night, expecting just the symphony. They said they were having fun but left soon after break, more dancing room for us.

Atlanta has pianos sitting outside all over town, free for anyone to play. On 2/19/23, the anniversary of my husband Leper Van Atom's passing, I sat at the piano outside the symphony hall and played a song we wrote together. An Atlanta cop listened and said my husband had to be here because it was so beautiful. We asked him about the crowd, he said they were great except he had to clear away the nitrous. We said, oh no we missed the nitrous! Anyway, these shows were very touching, I'm really glad I went.

Sorry to miss you too and glad you had such a great time.   

Love the story of the people visiting Atlanta.